INJURY REPORT: Grimes out; Franks to see Steve Smith
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith (89) celebrates his touchdown reception in the first quarter of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions in Detroit, Sunday , Nov. 20, 2011. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
By Chris Vivlamore
FLOWERY BRANCH – Brent Grimes, who underwent knee surgery last week, has been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Panthers. It will be the second straight game without the Pro Bowl cornerback.
The Falcons will again rely on Dominique Franks and Christopher Owens to fill in for Grimes as they face Panthers. Wide receiver Steve Smith leads the NFL in catches 20 yards or more (23) and is tied for second in receiving yards (1,092).
The Falcons held seven players out of practice Wednesday. Offensive tackle Will Svitek (groin) and running back Michael Turner (groin) did not participate. Defensive back Kelvin Hayden (toe) and linebacker Stephen Nicholas (thigh) worked with trainers. John Abraham, Tony Gonzalez and Todd McClure were rested.
Offensive lineman Sam Baker (back), wide receiver Harry Douglas (groin), defensive end Ray Edwards (shoulder), offensive guard Joe Hawley (ankle) and wide receivers Julio Jones (hamstring) and Roddy White (shoulder) were limited.
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86 comments Add your comment
Jarrett
December 7th, 2011
4:27 pm
First…..and we’re in trouble.
Jarrett
December 7th, 2011
4:28 pm
I don’t care what Carolina’s record is. They have been playing much better football than our squad has for a while now. The Falcons better step it up and fast.
Willy
December 7th, 2011
4:29 pm
Second – and uh….
DePort
December 7th, 2011
4:29 pm
Im starting Steve Smith in my Fantasy league now …
JSS
December 7th, 2011
4:29 pm
Inside Steve Smith’s mind…
“Suddenly I woke up, and it was Christmas morning!!! Look, it is the Falcons secondary!!!”
PMC
December 7th, 2011
4:31 pm
Oh Lord, Please let the safeties provide adequate support over the top this week and never never never put Franks in single coverage.
SirReal
December 7th, 2011
4:39 pm
Why are the Falcons paying Robinson top dollar to cover No. 2 WRs? yet another whiff by TD. His mystique is fading fast too…
Falcon James
December 7th, 2011
4:55 pm
The falcon have no chance to win this game. with Grime out, we have nobody to cover Smith. He going to run past everybody we got. Maybe Mike Smith can suit up and try to cover him. This whole season is a train wreck.
JSS
December 7th, 2011
5:05 pm
Robinson only covering one side of the field is just the surface of this insanity. Only the Falcons would sign a press cover and then confuse him with zones and hybrid zone blitz schemes that were popular 10 years ago, look there’s old man Abe covering a TE over the deep middle!!!!
True Falcon Fan
December 7th, 2011
5:07 pm
You 8 nay sayers get the nod —- Smitty, TD, Arthur and the rest of you, “The Players” – these top 8 they’ve got your number, might as well forfeit this next game, don’t even show-up, they say it’s a lose.
Good thing these “COWARDS” aren’t your team!
Sound like a bunch of “Don’t Pass Line” gamblers to me..
Go Facons
True Falcon Fan
December 7th, 2011
5:07 pm
OOOOOPPPPS —- “Ole Wizard of OZ” you make #9
JSS
December 7th, 2011
5:12 pm
Look who crawled off under his rock… He’ll be breaking out his ‘Chico and the Man’ “Your Momma” joke book on all of us!
Die Hard Falcon
December 7th, 2011
5:13 pm
Wow, I cannot believe how negative Falcon fans can be. I have been sick this year, but not “deathly” sick. We have had a down year and honestly, this year isn’t that different than last year. If you look at how many “only if” plays haven’t gone our way this year, when last year they did. This team won our close games last year, this year we haven’t, if only Roddy hadn’t dropped the TD pass in the 4th qtr against Tampa or Julio the tying TD pass at the end of the Texans or if we did a QB sneak on the 4 and 1 against the Aints, we could easily be 10-2, but we didn’t execute or execute as well as last year. Last year these things went our way but we’re not dead in the water people.
I don’t put anything passed the Panthers, they are playing very well right now, but to say that we have no chance to beat them is silly, we’re better than they are, we just need to play like it. I can’t guarantee any W’s for this year’s team, but I believe every week, no matter who the opponent, that we can win and I think we’ll get in the playoffs as a #5 seed. The Bears are missing their starting QB and RB for most likely the rest of the reg season, I think even if we lose another, that 10-6 will give us the 5 seed and we’ll likely play the winner of the NFC East, hopefully the Giants, b/c I think we match up better than against the cowgirls.
Go Falcons!
JSS
December 7th, 2011
5:15 pm
Hey Momma Joke teller, how are all of those “guaranteed” victories of yours over the Packers, Saints, and Texans looking there?
Fred-D
December 7th, 2011
5:50 pm
Can anyone tell me just how bad is Turner’s groin? If it is pretty bad, why not just give the ball to #44. To me it looks like Turner hasn’t really hit the line hard for the better part of the season. I wonder just how long #33 has been playing with this problem?
AlanFalcon
December 7th, 2011
5:53 pm
Why oh why do we have to listen to the sos from both the Braves and Falcons?
Can’t we just have some late season sucess instead of bull c@#&.
don
December 7th, 2011
6:04 pm
@ Die Hard; Whites dropped passes have cost us 3 games, not just the Tampa game, and dropped passes are killing this team. More so than anything else. It is epidemic among our receivers, with #84 leading the pack.
nathan
December 7th, 2011
6:12 pm
Falcons hafta want it more, and play with ATTITUDE…and comments about potential playoff teams playing without their starting QB or RB don’t seem to matter, as the Falcons lost to a 3rd string QB. AND lost to a weakened Saints defense. Falcons are gonna hafta execute well, stop the mental mistakes and penalties and man up! (oh, can we pull those “Rise Up” ads talking about how JJ is like “Waffle House” and “Chinchilla hands”? It’s obviously a jinx!)
True Falcon Fan
December 7th, 2011
6:15 pm
Hello “Ole Wizard of OZ” from LA, now back home taking care of Momma, “I commend you “SIR”, and be thankful you still have your Momma, YES for sure!!!!
I just couldn’t resist 8 negatives in a row. Oh yes being that I am a “True Falcon Fan” — I did state victories of the Packers, Saints & Texan and would state again and we will win this Sunday too again “Superman”!
“Truly” – Merry Christmas to You & Your Mother, Best wishes for the New Year
Go Falcons
Tim
December 7th, 2011
6:20 pm
What a bunch of fair-weathered fans!
The Falcons will dominate this game just like they did in ATL. We lost the game versus the Texans due to penalties (some of which were questionable) and dropped passes.
Quit freaking out and trust the facts: We are more talented and deep than the Panties and are without doubt better coached. Quit being whinners and sissies and man-up. The key to victory is the defense shutting down the run, rattling Newton’s cage, and keeping plays in front of them.
The key on offense is catch the !@#$%^&* ball!!!
Samuel L. Jackson
December 7th, 2011
6:44 pm
(choir singing)
ooooooooh…
What happens when a QB chokes up? When a coach tightens up? When a city blows up?
TELL ME MOTHER$%&*#@ WHAT DO FALCONS DO?!?!??!?!?!
OOOOOOOOOOOH LAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY EGGS!
hiramsaint
December 7th, 2011
7:01 pm
franks covering smith- i doubt it. he’ll be doubled and cam will throw for 2 and run for 3. panthers 31 -failclowns 17
hiramsaint
December 7th, 2011
7:04 pm
tim -go back to your legos . your team got smacked upside the head by a rookie qb in his 1st start. the fact that your team can’t catch , throw or be coached added to it
True Falcon Fan
December 7th, 2011
7:05 pm
Ya here RISE UP ATL RISE UP
GO FALCONS we can do this next 4-0 — Maybe the division — for sure “Wild Card Willy” — Don’t forget there was once a GB team 10-6 and ran the table to SB —- and 12-0 today — “FACT”!!!
Go Falcons GOGOGOGOGOGOGOGOGO………….
hiramsaint
December 7th, 2011
7:14 pm
also don’t forget there was once a 13-3 # 1seed that got so embarassed that it’s fans left the game at halftime
True Falcon Fan
December 7th, 2011
7:31 pm
Only schmucks count fans leaving the game at halftime…………..
Enough said innovator of “BAGHEAD”!!!!!!!!!!!!
JSS
December 7th, 2011
7:32 pm
That child has “problems.” Any comparing this years Falcons team to last years Packers team that lost all those 6 games by 3, 3, 3, 3, 4, and 4 points on the road. And they lost 1 game to a non-playoff team when Rodgers was knocked out. Yeah, the team that got their hat handed to them by 3rd string QB is sending fear up and down NFL film rooms… You better be worrying about playing outdoor on grass with Chris “The Oester Toaster” Owens and Dominique “Who me” Franks!
hiramsaint
December 7th, 2011
7:34 pm
didn’t haave to count them- it was on national tv for me and the whole country to laugh at
JSS
December 7th, 2011
7:36 pm
@ HiramSaint…
I normally don’t feed, but I saw who was trying to be snarky…
You mean like this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmpv2i02JNc
JSS
December 7th, 2011
7:39 pm
They started like this… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcX11iBoMro&feature=endscreen&NR=1
hiramsaint
December 7th, 2011
7:39 pm
except for the red seats and no snow , that looked like lambeau.- thanks for the snack jss
hiramsaint
December 7th, 2011
7:41 pm
the second video was obviously before halftime
JSS
December 7th, 2011
7:41 pm
But ended like this…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icrfpkEkon8&feature=related
hiramsaint
December 7th, 2011
7:42 pm
3rd video- just like it was yesterday
JSS
December 7th, 2011
7:51 pm
@ Hiram Saint…
But like a bad 3rd rate horror film, they just keep yacking…
True Falcon Fan
December 7th, 2011
8:26 pm
There will be another day, game and maybe a SB WIN, who knows, “ole wizard of oz’!!!!!!
JSS
December 7th, 2011
8:26 pm
Oh I forgot this one… Checkout the kid at the end…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIkxTIi05uo&feature=related
corydillinger
December 7th, 2011
8:50 pm
Saints lose this to a Titans team that has Chris Johnson back from the dead because we know they can’t stop the run or win on the road
Falcon James
December 7th, 2011
10:42 pm
Anybody that think the falcon have any hope at all of pulling off a wildcard spot is smoking the crack rock. The falcon barely squeaked by on the win last season. they gots lucky in most of they game and should have lost. the difference from last year to this year is not execution. The falcon were just as bad last year and packers showed us exactly how bad we be. Most of the falcon players play like they have no heart. They be out there to draw a pay check. They know themselves how bad they be and the only thing they sorry about is the scoreboard is now showing how bad they be. All the people who be saying TD and MS is our hero is wrong. Look at how he draft picks are playing. Look at how all he free agents are playing. I can’t hardly stand to look at a game anymore because I knows after the first quarter, the falcon are going to serve the game up on silver platter to whoever they play. The falcon fan on this blog need to RISE UP and smell the coffee. This team has a long way to go and is no better than when Bobby Petrino was here. Look for Mike Smith to do the same thing Petrino did.
Rocket1999
December 7th, 2011
10:44 pm
The Falcons will lose this game. They lost to a 3rd string backup? And they did not blitz this guy. Give me a break! Cam Newton is the real deal. 42 – 21 Panthers. Falcons will implode. No playoffs this year!
Mike Smith
December 7th, 2011
10:59 pm
Everyone calm down. This is a process about a process and we are working through the process of a hard fought game. This will be a hard fought game through the process and oh did I mention this is a process and another process and another process with a hard fought game and the process is they made more plays than us in the process. “What the he!! is this Smith? A chicken factory?
hiramsaint
December 7th, 2011
11:07 pm
@ corydillinger- we stopped the run and won on the road at the ga. tent . you appear to be in way over your head son!
hiramsaint
December 7th, 2011
11:09 pm
@ mike smith- you forgot to mention that the failcans did some ” uncharacteristic ” things. maybe this late in the season , they are not uncharacteristic anymore
Mikey
December 8th, 2011
12:43 am
In spite of all the naysayers, I like our chances this week. We have good receivers and they will not drop passes all the time. I’d like to see our secondary get some good practice so they get better fast. Newton and Smith will challenge them for sure this time. I am optimistic but the secondary does concern me at this juncture. I still can’t figure out what is so complicated about the zone defense the Falcons play. There always seems to be at least one of the secondary that is completely lost in it. I’ve never seen a secondary make so many mistakes or stand flat footed in their zone while receivers whistle by them to catch a pass. Not sure if it is too complicated for the players or what. I look forward to seeing this week’s improvements because I know the coaches are working on it. Go FALCONS!
Lamar
December 8th, 2011
12:49 am
If you see Dunta Robinson trying to cover Smith, CLOSE YOUR EYES FAST!! Robinson has to be the worst CB I have ever seen playing in the NFL. Keep your eye on him during the game (#23) . He is always chasing somebody that has just burned him, even though he is always playing off the Wr about 15 yards and he still gets beat! If he is not chasing somebody, he is TACKLING SHADOWS WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN, NOT WHERE THEY ARE NOW! Worst BUM I have ever seen! Instead of giving up picks for Jones, THEY NEED SOMEBODY WHO CAN COVER! PATHETIC!!
Eric C.
December 8th, 2011
1:26 am
Ha…not worried about the Falcons playing the Panthers. They lost 30-3 in their last home game vs Tenn and lost to the Vikings before that at home…then lost by 14 to the Lions in Detroit. Yes, the Panthers have won the past two weeks…defeating the Colts by 8 and a Tampa team that has given up on the season. Panthers are giving up 133 yds/gm and the Falcons don’t lose consecutive games.
It probably doesn’t matter anyway though in the long run because this is the Packers year…at least as long as their defense doesn’t get in the way.
Eric C.
December 8th, 2011
1:30 am
Yeah, Robinson looks out of position way too often. Hopefully Hayden will be ok to go this week? Getting Moore back should be a boost.
Eric C.
December 8th, 2011
1:31 am
that is 133 yds/gm on the ground
joe
December 8th, 2011
7:09 am
Van Gorder continues to show why he should have stayed as a college DC. Between him and Malarky the Falcons have the worst duo in the league.
SeenThisBFalcon
December 8th, 2011
7:17 am
If we don’t win sunday its OVA….GONE FISHING FOR US!!!!