Former Tech star Kevin Cone added to 53-man roster
FLOWERY BRANCH — Former Georgia Tech standout Kevin Cone, who’s been on the Falcons’ practice squad, was added to the 53-man roster on Wednesday.
Also, linebacker Robert James was added to the roster. The Falcons had room after placing linebacker Mike Peterson (torn tricep) and cornerback Kelvin Hayden (dislocated toe/turf toe) on injured reserved.
The Falcons also added linebacker Matt Hansen to the practice squad. He played strong safety while he was with the team in training camp, but he was a linebacker in college at Rhode Island.
Cone was late to football. He didn’t start playing until his junior year at St. Pius X. He started his college career at Shorter College before transferring to Georgia Tech.
He also played basketball and ran track in high school.
Cone is probably the only wide receiver with just five catches during his senior season, who is on an NFL roster. He drew raves for his blocking in Tech’s vaunted triple-option attack.
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73 comments Add your comment
saintbim
December 28th, 2011
9:26 pm
sorry conedip, I dont think a gutter like you could offer me anything of interest. didnt come here to smack talk any of you guys , but I can chat it up with a floater like you.
CONE HEAD SHOP
December 28th, 2011
9:27 pm
Joe, if ya boy Cone was so great why was he buried on the practice squad all season. He was added for special teams and as blocking WR. He’ll be off the team by next season if not before.
CONE HEAD SHOP
December 28th, 2011
9:33 pm
Saintpimp, You Orleans boys should know about floaters, you live in it daily. Go crawl back in that Orleans gutter you came out of. On second thought Stick around swamp boy, I like slapping you Louisanna pig pokers around.
Ichabod
December 28th, 2011
9:33 pm
Get well soon Mike, sorry to hear the news. It seems to always happen that when the coach gives the team time off before a big game, they lose their attitude. Big mistake. If a couple of players really have to be off because of injuries, ok, but not the whole team. The saints got smart and brought in some monster OLinemen, that’s why we couldn’t get to Brees, and they can open holes too. Our OL is just good enough to keep Ryan healthy. How about getting some really big and tall guys next time around, and we need a back that is quick and can cut on a dime. Santa?
saintbim
December 28th, 2011
9:40 pm
conedip, you pretty tough on the keyboard, why dont you trot over to north louisiana, i could use another b1tch in my stable.
Michael M.
December 28th, 2011
9:45 pm
Man up boys and act like adults please, we don’t have no boxing ring section in the forum…….lmao
Michael M.
December 28th, 2011
9:47 pm
nice left a’s and right cross k’s on the keyboard………..oh my too funny !
Michael M.
December 28th, 2011
9:48 pm
Don’t have no band-aids neither ha ! ha !
saintbim
December 28th, 2011
9:49 pm
I agree Michael M, I didnt come to your board for that kind of crap. Im not a football wizard just like to talk a little football.
Michael M.
December 28th, 2011
9:56 pm
It aint gonna matter in about three weeks or so anyhow………there’s a big fella up in GreenBay and his name is the “Jolly Green Giant” ( Packers) and he will show both our clubs what its all about.
Anyways I Congratulate the Saints Team one last time for winning the NFC South Title ! And Congrats to Breezy just the same on his new record………………….so you all have fun, I am out !
saintbim
December 28th, 2011
10:07 pm
You are very right about The Jolly Green Giant. Also thanks for the grats. Your GM isnt blind he sees whats happening with the falcons, they will make adjustments. Mabe not in time for this season but I never count the falcons as an automatic loss, yall have an awful lot of talent on your team.
hiramsaint
December 28th, 2011
10:08 pm
looks like some jealousy on the atl. side
Firsttimer
December 28th, 2011
10:45 pm
hiramsaint-that was weak!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Is that all you got? Your team is suppose to be an elite team. Elite teams should win on the road. If we are as bad as you all say then you should beat us on the road. But, I was not talking about the falcons now, was I? You’re trying to dodge the topic of beating the Packers @ Lambeau because you know it is not going to happen. That is, if you get that far into the playoffs.
JoFo
December 28th, 2011
10:48 pm
Hiramsaint, you are talking about the sAINTS but, I am surprised that you bring that up about your own team!
John
December 29th, 2011
7:57 am
The reason Cone had only 5 catches at Tech was that he could never get open. How does a guy like that manage to get on an NFL team when there are dozens of receivers with better resumes and performance in college? It makes me think maybe he wasn’t trying very hard when he was at Tech. Just biding his time until he got a chance to play for the NFL. If that’s the case, that’s a poor attitude.
Ball Coach
December 29th, 2011
1:30 pm
You shouldn’t be thinking! He didn’t get a chance, he worked his tail off. The coaches recognized his ability, and he’s on the squad. How did so many whiny, negative people get on this planet. Go back to playing your Xbox’s, and leave the comments for people with respect! And a brain!
Glenn
December 29th, 2011
2:34 pm
Kevin Cone made the Practice Squad and then was promoted to the full team roster because he’s a tireless worker, doesn’t mind blocking, he’s one of the fastest players (if not THE fastest) players on the team, and he can catch passes that are thrown to him. His problem was he wasn’t familiar with pro pass patterns, which he’s been working on all season. Coming from GA Tech, he had the mental aptitude to pick up the new schemes and should show well when given the chance.
Now that he’s playing for the Falcons, how about forgetting all of the pettiness of the College rivalries and support the home team?
John
December 29th, 2011
6:18 pm
That’s my point. If the guy was as hardworking at Tech as he is with the Falcons, then maybe he’d have more than FIVE CATCHES in his career. That’s pathetic! Maybe Tech would have won more games. Sounds to me like the guy had a lot of talent but was just loafing around while he was at Tech. That’s a poor attitude! Awful! Tech sure could have used an NFL caliber receiver besides Baybay Thomas. And Stephen Hill has been dropping passes all over the place. Thanks a lot for your “hard work” at Tech, Kevin.
FalconJim
December 30th, 2011
12:36 am
KEVIN CONE IS A BREAST!!!
Hmmm
December 30th, 2011
7:53 am
Let’s see here played WR in wing t in high school, went to Shorter then another wing t team, then Tech, a degree (rare in the NFL) now makes NFL team. Sounds to me like a freaking Disney success movie! John at 618 pm you are so out of it why even offer any opinion at all. Tech doesnt throw the ball and when they do it’s not thrown well enough for D-3 football. The kids dad played rb at Tech RB and in the NFL… look up his stats. His brother 2 nd pick of MLB Texas Rangers this year don’t you read the ajc at all? Loafing around at Tech you gotta being kidding ! Just a note here he has been playing DB at Falcons practices some have you been up and seen any? Sure he will probably be on special teams just how he started at Tech but it’s hard work and a positive attitude that got him where he is today well that and being real fast. What’s the uproar here? If you are disappointed with the Falcons blame the play calling and the lack of pro bowl D they have been playing. Don’t hate a young man who is reached one of his goals in fact how many high school players ever reach the NFL not even 1 in 100. Hey just look on this how many college coaches missed on his ability. Tech coaches have said he had to ask again and again for a chance to even try out. Disney movie here well we will see how it ends won’t we.
BIRDSFLYHIGH
December 30th, 2011
10:38 am
@ Hmmm, well said!
John
December 30th, 2011
8:09 pm
You guys are missing my point. I don’t care about the Falcons. I care about Tech, and I care about former Tech players. When I see a guy who hardly contributed at all to Tech suddenly make the roster of an NFL team, it sets off all kinds of alarm bells. There’s a reason that when asked about Cone, Paul Johnson said Cone changed his body and worked very very hard… after he left Tech. Not sure what he meant by “changed his body,” but note the emphasis on the phrase “after he left Tech.” Gee, it would have been nice if he’d worked that hard while he was at Tech. I hate to see guys use Tech as a stepping stone to the NFL, without giving 100% effort at Tech. You think you’re too good for Tech? Fine. I was always taught you give 100% effort to any job you do regardless of how beneath you you think the job is. Kevin took up a scholarship at Tech that could have gone to a guy who worked his butt off and probably would have caught more than 5 career passes.
Now, to the guy who says the reason he didn’t catch many passes was that Tech doesn’t throw much, that’s misleading. I’ve watched every Tech game in fine detail. Cone did not get the ball thrown to him much because he could NOT GET OPEN. He was loafing. And when he did get the ball thrown to him, he usually dropped it. Now, if you’re dropping the ball because you aren’t any good, I give you a pass. You can’t help lack of talent. But if you drop the ball because you don’t want to get hit and possible injure your NFL-level body, then you have a POOR ATTITUDE. We don’t need guys like that at Tech. We need guys who sacrifice themselves for the Institute. Guys who are proud to don the white and gold and leave blood on the field. The rest of you guys need to move on and play for someone else.
Hmmm
December 30th, 2011
9:47 pm
John are you really that disconnected? Cone was only on scholarship one year at Tech his last. He used his own smarts to get that far….And who gave him the scholarship I think Johnson did duh so if he wasn’t working that hard why did he give him one.. It’s a reward wasn’t it..Now when you are not taking and actually passing classes at Tech you have a heck of a lot more time on your hands to train. You have insulted a great kid and his family. Tech had 2 blue chip receivers when Cone was there that’s where the balls went. You don’t expect Johnson to say we should of worked more with him and not a future NFL hall of famer or maybe should be pro bowl type WR. He was a blocker an special teamed walk-on for gosh sakes don’t you dare call him lazy or taking up space. I will give you that he dropped one and caught another out of bounds against UVA last year. So question why did he keep him? Head coaches rarely mention the fact that they actually signed other WRs that would not block or run down on special teams so those are the ones you need to fret over Mr John. Those are 4 year scholarship winners. The ex-lithoia WR drops 2-3 a game then he limps off for a play or two then comes back running fine. I have been going to Tech games since the Bobby Dodd days I love Tech football so when you get a guy free for 2 years of his 3 and who contributes you are lucky it is COACHING.that you should be mad at or lack of other player development. I can tell you are the type person that would cry over paying taxes if you won 100 million in the lottery.