UPDATE: Falcons sign Hayden, Sanders to 1-year deals
Rex Grossman's misfortune culminated with a game-clinching interception return by Colts cornerback Kelvin Hayden early in the fourth quarter. Kelvin Hayden (26) istepped in front of Bears wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad to make the play, then returned the ball 56 yards for the game's final points in Super Bowl XLI. (Associated Press)
UPDATE: 6:10 P.M.
The Falcons announced the signing of safety James Sanders and cornerback Kelvin Hayden before facing the Baltimore Ravens in their exhibition season finale at the Georgia Dome on Thursday.
“As [coach] Mike Smith and I have said, we will always look to upgrade and fortify our roster,” said Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff, who worked for the Patriots when Sanders was drafted. “We believe that James can be a fine addition to this football team and this defense. He is a tough, hard-nosed football player who has a really fine understanding of the game. He comes from a historic winning organization. He will be a fine addition to this team.”
PREVIOUS POST
The Falcons, perhaps moved by a shaky performance of their secondary in the key third exhibition game against Pittsburgh, have agreed to terms with another defensive back.
Kelvin Hayden, 28, formerly of the Indianapolis Colts, is set to sign a one-year deal with the Falcons, a day after they agreed to terms with safety James Sanders, the team has confirmed Thursday. Both are expected to sign today.
Hayden, 28, was a second-round pick in the 2005 draft. He has played in 76 games and made 46 starts. He has nine career interceptions.
They Falcons did not address their secondary in the draft or in free agency. But before training camp started on July 29, Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff stated that the team would be on the prowl for “salary cap casualties.”
Hayden and Sanders both fit that profile.
Hayden was set to make $8.6 million this season, but was recently cut by the Colts. Sanders was set to make $2.8 million, but was recently cut by the New England Patriots.
Hayden, a 5-foot-10, 198-pounder, has battled injuries over the last two seasons. He hasn’t played a full 16-game season since 2007.
Both moves are designed to improve the Falcons’ pass defense, which was ranked 22nd in the league in 2011. In the game against Pittsburgh last Saturday, they gave up touchdown passes of 77 and 44 yards.
The Falcons acquired Dunta Robinson in a major free-agent signing last season. He signed a six-year deal worth $57 million. He has missed most of the exhibition season for the second consecutive year because of a hamstring injury.
The Falcons are solid at left cornerback with Brent Grimes, who played in the Pro Bowl last season.
However, Dominique Franks and Christopher Owens are in a battle for the nickel back position. Hayden figures to contend for the starting nickel back spot.
–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog
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140 comments Add your comment
Billy
September 1st, 2011
2:50 pm
Depth in the secondary is never a bad thing!!
mark
September 1st, 2011
2:51 pm
what a bust robinson has been man! he is always injured i dont know thath sign TD FAIL THERE FOR SURE LOOK GRIMES HE HAS STEP UP AND WE REALLY NEED HELP IN THE SECONDARY WE SHOULD PAY OR 2 ROUNDER FOR ASANTE
Just Looking
September 1st, 2011
2:53 pm
Steve-O,
There is a reason Nnamdi and Revis are considered the best CB’s in the league. And teams didnt throw at Nmandi. He was thrown at a league low 25 times last year, which is why he has so few tackles/solo tackles and no INTs. Over last 3-4 years he has the lowest targets. Him and Revis numbers are very similiar to last year. Dunta Robinson numbers are average!! He also benefited from QB’s going after the smallish Brent Grimes (he was targeted a league high +120 times which is why he has 6 INTs and so many tackles/solo tackles). I was listening to Aaron Rodgers and James Jones on the NFL extra replay comment “lets go after the short guy” they kept saying that about Brent Grimes. So did Joe Flacco. I dont have Dunta extact target numbers but you can measure it by his tackles/solo tackles.
mark
September 1st, 2011
2:54 pm
IM WITH STEVE O WE SHOULD HAVE WAITED FOR NNAMDI THE SAME THING ITS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH EDWARDS MARIO WILLIAMS IS FREE AGENT NEXT YEAR HELL! WE PASS PEPPERS LAST YEAR AND THAT MEN ITS WORTH EVERY PENNY
Just Looking
September 1st, 2011
3:02 pm
hmm what wrong with the board..my posts not posting
Just Looking
September 1st, 2011
3:03 pm
Steve-O,
There is a reason Nnamdi and Revis are considered the best CB’s in the league. And teams didnt throw at Nmandi. He was thrown at a league low 25 times last year, which is why he has so few tackles/solo tackles and no INTs. Over last 3-4 years he has the lowest targets. Him and Revis numbers are very similiar to last year. Dunta Robinson numbers are average!! He also benefited from QB’s going after the smallish Brent Grimes (he was targeted a league high +120 times which is why he has 6 INTs and so many tackles/solo tackles). I was listening to Aaron Rodgers and James Jones on the NFL extra replay comment “lets go after the short guy” they kept saying that about Brent Grimes.
The Falconator
September 1st, 2011
3:03 pm
People, calm down and let’s think. Dunta would not have been signed to that deal by TD if he didn’t have a track record and something on the ball. You can’t sell from an empty wagon. The new db signings have to be positives. The real problem is absence of a hard pass rush. If the opposing qb can sit in a rocking chair and make his reads while receivers have all day to run around and work themselves open for even a second, the results will be 77 and 44 yard TD completions. The rush up the middle needs to be much more potent and it’s time for Edwards to stand and deliver. These guys need to show the team has a glimmer of a pass rush for any of this to work.
Steve-O
September 1st, 2011
3:32 pm
Mark,
You’re not with me…I reposted a post by “Just Looking” and put in my two cents worth. Look at Nnamdi’s stats next to Dunta’s stats. Do you see a difference? On paper Dunta has superior stats, and I guarantee you that if you look at how many passes were attempted at each CB, their stats are very, very similar.
BOO BOO BEAN... SORRY, BUBBA BEAN
September 1st, 2011
3:33 pm
OOHHHHHHH ….. I’m so ready for some Football !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Steve-O
September 1st, 2011
3:37 pm
Oh, and Mark, you said Dunta is “always injured” but he has started 99 of 112 games in his career, and 7 of those games were in 2007. Not starting preseason games doesn’t count as “always injured”. Do you want Charles Dimry back?
Just Looking
September 1st, 2011
3:38 pm
Steve-O
Dunta numbers do not compare to Nnamdi at all. Only Nnamdi and Revis have similiar numbers. I tried to post a lengthy post about this but it will not show up for some odd reason.
batman
September 1st, 2011
3:42 pm
Duante, the falcon’s corner is over rated.He gets beat alot.He never seems to know when to get his head around when the ball arrives to the receiver.Definitely not a premeier corner in this league.
Just Looking
September 1st, 2011
3:47 pm
Dunta, is only good for tackling. He is not a ballhawk or good defender at all. Brent Grimes is a ballhawk but I’m afraid it is going to hurt in the long run if he only tries for INTs all the time. Teams will steadily go after him because he is short. I was looking at NFL replay extra. The playoff game, Aaron Rodgers and James Jones kept saying “we going after the short guy”. I remember hearing Joe Flacco say it.
Just Looking
September 1st, 2011
3:49 pm
I tried to post something again and it does not come up. Only the small posts show up
RonnieMackATL
September 1st, 2011
3:55 pm
I’m sorry, and at the risk of upsetting Mrs. Grimes, the line “are solid at left cornerback with Brent Grimes” is just crazy to me. The guy made the pro bowl as an alternate because of his interceptions. The problem is, he is all in for every pass play. He either wins big or gives up a touchdown. Perhaps we’d be “solid it left cornerback” if the the saftey would play more like they expect Grimes to go for the pick every time, but they don’t and we give up big plays.
Steve-O
September 1st, 2011
3:56 pm
Just Looking, I will post them for you. You never mentioned Revis, so don’t drag him into the conversation now to try to prop up your argument.
Nnamdi – 99 career starts, 11 INTs, 1 TD, 62 PD, 271 tackles
Dunta – 94 career starts, 14 INTs, 1 TD, 70 PD, 384 tackles
Translated, Nnamdi has 1 INT every 9 games, 0.62 passes defended per game, and 2.73 tackles per game. Dunta has an INT every 6.71 games, 0.74 passes defender per game, and 4.08 tackles per game.
Dunta has more picks, more tackles, and more passes defended per start, period.
QB/DB
September 1st, 2011
3:56 pm
I’ve been critical of TD before for standing pat but I must give him a standing ovation for these moves, they are sorely needed!!!!!! The NFC South will be no joke this year, trust me, though I hope it doesn’t happen the Falcons could end up third in their Division, that’s why we have to be pro active, we should continue to watch the board, I’m telling you there are gonna be some players when they cut to 53 and I hope TD will be ready! We have to have qualit depth on both lines! I have a feeling a good young TE will be out there to go with what they have. TD GREAT JOB!
Jay Cool 4daBirds
September 1st, 2011
3:56 pm
@Kudzu, Grimes outplayed who? Dunta Robinson, you’ve gotta be kidding me. The only reason Grimes stats are so high is because the ball goes to his side of the field. I am a season ticket holder and I think Dunta may have had 6 actual catches on him last year in the dome, 1 for a touchdown. Where as the interception machine, pro bowler Grimes may have had 100’s passes caught on him and countless number of touchdowns. Dunta is better than average at corner and if we didn’t play so much zone, he would definately shut down his side of the field. As Edwards starts to help out the pass rush Dunta will play 1 on 1 on the outside and there will be safety help over Brent Grimes. And not because Grimes is better than Robinson.
What's Important
September 1st, 2011
4:08 pm
Savannah Falcon – you didn’t answer the question about Georgia Southern. Obviously “everyone” doesn’t know that Van Gorder doesn’t know how to use his players and is over his head in the pros, perhaps it is the Falcon’s 11-5; 9-7; 13-3 record since he has been defensive coordinator has them confused. Of course it has to be the defense winning the games, since the rest of the know it alls on the blogs say Mike Mularkey doesn’t know how to use his players. Again the question – are you a Georgia Southern grad, Georgia Southern fan that couldn’t graduate or Georgia Southern Fan that couldn’t even get in?
What's Important
September 1st, 2011
4:11 pm
JayCool4daBirds – Gosh, I feel really stupid, I thought the plays they showed on TV were the same plays as the ones in the Dome. Apparently they play different for ones for the special “season ticket owners” because otherwise what you said doesn’t make any sense.
SeenThisB4
September 1st, 2011
4:12 pm
Just another gimpy falcan’t signing.
Steve-O
September 1st, 2011
4:28 pm
SeenThisB4, your posts here are repetitive and without any substance. Stick to your posts over at nola.com
Just Looking
September 1st, 2011
4:42 pm
Steve-O
Hey I hope you dont think because a CB has more tackles it makes him a better corner, or even if they have more passes defensed. Typically a elite CB will have fewer tackles, fewer passes defensed and few interceptions because teams are staying away from his side of the field. I hope you do realize that.
Steve-O
September 1st, 2011
5:08 pm
Just Looking
September 1st, 2011
4:42 pm
Steve-O
Hey I hope you dont think because a CB has more tackles it makes him a better corner, or even if they have more passes defensed. Typically a elite CB will have fewer tackles, fewer passes defensed and few interceptions because teams are staying away from his side of the field. I hope you do realize that.
________________________________________________________________________
Just Looking, you said earlier “Dunta numbers do not compare to Nnamdi at all. Only Nnamdi and Revis have similiar numbers. I tried to post a lengthy post about this but it will not show up for some odd reason”. What numbers are you referring to? If you are talking about pass attempts at a particular player, or percentage of passes at an particular player, then go find them and post them here. Otherwise you are simply grinding an axe with no facts to support your position. I understand exactly what you are trying to say in concept, but you haven’t shown any numbers that are valid.
D-Bird
September 1st, 2011
5:22 pm
Excellent move with signing Hayden and Sanders. The time is now and Atlanta will not accept anymore excuses. We want to win and we wanted now. Now just get rid of the bum Owens and Frank.
Just Looking
September 1st, 2011
5:54 pm
Steve-O
What numbers have you shown? Passes Defensed, tackles and INTs. Heck from those numbers your posted Brent Grimes is a elite CB. Better then Nnamdi and Revis. Last season Nnamdi targeted 25 times, 17 solo tackles, Robinson 52 solo tackles, Revis 32 solo.
Just Looking
September 1st, 2011
5:56 pm
wow my post doesnt show up again….last year Nnamdi 19 solo, Robinson 52
Just Looking
September 1st, 2011
5:57 pm
Steve O
sorry dude but your way off on your assessments of an elite shutdown his side of the field CB. Robinson nowhere near the ballpark as Nnamdi and Revis
Doesn't look good yet
September 1st, 2011
6:45 pm
Good to know we are getting the warmed over, left for dead , reject road kill from other teams.
realitycheck
September 1st, 2011
6:45 pm
Just Looking…….I’ve had the same problem for a couple of weeks now. I figure because i’m not a believer in all this hype is why my posts could be being filtered out.
Just Looking
September 1st, 2011
7:47 pm
yeah i think my post getting filtered…wow just wow.
Just Looking
September 1st, 2011
7:49 pm
Quizz Rodgers look very nice…just wish we coulda seen him more with the #1’s
Just Looking
September 1st, 2011
7:50 pm
so JJ pushed off and still dropped the ball
D. Orlando Ledbetter
September 1st, 2011
9:27 pm
Just looking — I’ve got my early story done. Let me go try to find your post.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
September 1st, 2011
10:03 pm
Mike is Back — Thanks for the love!
D. Orlando Ledbetter
September 1st, 2011
10:05 pm
longtimefan — Thanks for your kind words.
jonkfalconsdiehard
September 1st, 2011
11:02 pm
I don’ know seems to me they signed other team left-overs but hope that it works…coz what we have now in secondary not working at all.
antman
September 2nd, 2011
12:05 am
What team were u guys watching last year? Robinson struggled all year, and at his best was still lest than average. They threw more to Grimes side because we had just hired a (57 mill.$) shut down corner on the right side. But when they did throw in that direction they burnt him. TD is not unaware that he made one bad decision there.But mabe 2 halfs Hayden and Robinson may make a whole.
antman
September 2nd, 2011
12:11 am
U can make 52 solo’s when u alow a man to catch the ball over u. The more tackles u make comes from the amout of catches u alow. Do u guys know anything about football.
UPDATE: Falcons sign Hayden, Sanders to 1-year deals | Atlanta … « Feeds « Local News Feeds
September 2nd, 2011
12:58 am
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