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
Kramer
December 28th, 2011
4:10 pm
Hate to lose Peterson.
Falconbikerdude
December 28th, 2011
4:20 pm
Peterson is a huge loss!! Get well Mike! Be ready next year!!
Dirty Bird Nation
December 28th, 2011
4:32 pm
Will UGA’s Akeem Dent see in playing time @Linebacker. Peterson didn’t do anything against NO on Monday and Dent should have started that game.
the real Old Gold
December 28th, 2011
4:32 pm
Cone is a worker. TO receivers can’t make it in the NFL. There’s also a 1st Round WR in Denver but I can’t remember where he played his college ball.
Dirty Bird Nation
December 28th, 2011
4:33 pm
*any*
Ball Coach
December 28th, 2011
4:35 pm
Hard work pays off Kevin Cone. Congrats
DesignerJacket
December 28th, 2011
4:44 pm
Enter your comments here
DesignerJacket
December 28th, 2011
4:46 pm
He wasn’t even Tech’s featured receiver. He played (and when I say played I mean he was a downfield blocker) in the shadow of D Thomas and Stephen Hill. Anyone still believe triple option receivers can’t make it in the NFL? Also, he graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. What a class act!
Mike Lum
December 28th, 2011
4:47 pm
Funny how catching five passes makes Cone a “standout”.
Ball Coach
December 28th, 2011
4:51 pm
If you caught a pass in the Triple Option, you are a superstar! Especially when the wounded duck took flight.
DesignerJacket
December 28th, 2011
4:54 pm
He was never a standout except for his blocking. But it’s great to see him chasing his dreams. Shows his work ethic!
Go Jackets!
Falcons4Eva
December 28th, 2011
4:56 pm
Matt Hansen are you kidding me? ? ? ?
Expecting a linebacker from Rhode Island (of all places) to help our team at this juncture of the season is lot like expecting a one-legged man to help you in a 2-man azzzz kicking contest.
What is this team doing?
Ball Coach
December 28th, 2011
4:56 pm
Could be a lot of standouts in the Tech system when you only attempt to pass 3 or 4 times a game. Jerry Rice could be hiding in there!
Sausage King of Chicago
December 28th, 2011
5:08 pm
Finally learned that Cone is a wide receiver in paragraph six?
captain ATL
December 28th, 2011
5:15 pm
Cone can fly. He might be the fastest player on the roster. My guess is he was added to the roster out of fear of being swooped up off the practice squad by the 49ers after releasing Braylon Edwards today. Cone can definetly stretch the defense and occupy the safety.
hiramsaint
December 28th, 2011
5:20 pm
scrapin’ the barrel for players going into the post season. reminds me of a team last year and we know what happened to them
jalex49
December 28th, 2011
5:23 pm
When the play off’s start it really doesn’t matter what your record is.. it’s how bad do want to be in the Super Bowl and are you tired of being the sport’s media lap dog?
What happened this past weekend is over ! Do I honestly think that New Orleans is that much better than the Falcons? No, but in that game on that Monday night, their team was without a doubt the best!
Being an Atlanta fan, I really hate having to admit that, but what was witnessed last Monday night was coming for some time. The Falcons never did go after any top DE’s or RB’s that could have helped their team and New Orleans did and it showed.
I am hoping Atlanta’s idea of just building thru the draft will take a back seat and they will build thru the NFL Free Agency until they have acquired quality and productive veterans. This would allow Atlanta to be a top tier team, if done correctly and allow drafted rookies time to develop.
If what I am saying is foreign to some, then look at all the DE’s that were free agents this past year and their productive with other teams, that Atlanta passed on. It’s amazing!!!!
Michael M.
December 28th, 2011
5:57 pm
The Tampa game Sunday would be a good test for some of the young new blood to really see what they got because the Bucs will be playing all out to win the game but the way the Falcons handled their business MNF I would go ahead and let the Starters play and get them going again because they surely wasn’t ready to play on Primetime !
Me Too
December 28th, 2011
6:00 pm
CONE? Just what the Falcons need – another blocker!!! The Falcons need some people who can get into the end zone.
Mr. SaintsFan Jr.
December 28th, 2011
6:04 pm
@Jalex49, Sir, Do you realize that we are a better team than your Falcon team? For one, we are 2 years removed from a Superbowl apperance and win, two, we are 12- 4 this year and swept your team this year, thirdly, we took the division title back.
bird
December 28th, 2011
6:09 pm
Its just depth fella’s. Cone will not play a down, well maybe kick-off but that’s about it.
SeenThis B4
December 28th, 2011
6:09 pm
I’m watching Monday’s game on DVR and it’s definitely a great watch on tv, not as emotional as being there, but just as riveting! G E A U X. S A I N T S !!!
Michael M.
December 28th, 2011
6:16 pm
one for the trophy case I am sure^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^….lol
Marco Polo
December 28th, 2011
6:21 pm
“For one, we are 2 years removed from a Superbowl apperance”
A typical Saints d o u c h e. You guys win once then bandwagon fans jump on board by the thousands and you put yourselves in the same circle as the Packers, Steelers, and Cowboys. And 1 Super Bowl win doesn’t cancel out the 40+ of mediocrity (and saying NO was mediocre then is being very generous) that is associated with that team pre 2009. I don’t like the Falcons either, but for cripes sake you guys are delusional….and this is coming from a Packers fan.
Firsttimer
December 28th, 2011
6:40 pm
Thank you Marco Polo. The Aints fans are delusional to get on this blog and talk as if they have a winning history and tradition. You are one Brees injury away from showing your true colors. Your team is good but there is no winning heritage there so get over yourselves. Atl wouldn’t it be great if we went back down to that swamp hole in two weeks and sent the Aints packing for the year. An appropriate end for Seen, Hiram and all the other Aint jerks. If you think you are hoisting the Lombardi trophy then think again. Until you beat the world champs you have not accomplished anything.
SeenThis B4
December 28th, 2011
6:44 pm
The Saints plan on beating the former world champs, assumming they themselves make it to the conference title game.
SeenThis B4
December 28th, 2011
6:47 pm
And someone is delusional in thinking that former winning history will dictate this year’s results. It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish, and the Saints will finish strong, very strong.
Big O
December 28th, 2011
6:52 pm
Ball Coach, right on! It’s good to see one or two comments on this blog having football savvy; and, doesn’t equate knowledge as being directly proportional to the size of your mouth.
tidog
December 28th, 2011
6:53 pm
It’s time to cut the Kerry Meier cord after the season ends. The Smith regime cut Laurent Robinson because he couldn’t stay healthy. A bad move but the move was made so now move on from Meier.
Preston Thompson
December 28th, 2011
6:55 pm
Folks, make no mistake. I’m a Falcon fan for the best part of 50 years, but don’t ever think Brees takes a backseat to any quarterback in the league. The man is good. Just plain good. And the best part with him, when he gets bumped, he don’t fall down. Like a certain other QB I can think of.
TheWad
December 28th, 2011
6:56 pm
Sorry fellow Falcons fans but these birds hardly stand a chance against NO, NE, GB, PITT, ….only SF is beatable with this crew. We don`t have the O line or D line to beat anybody. Not mention a running back that could beat me down field. Look at the best teams we played and they shut down Turner after the first two series of the game every time. And notice that all the teams listed above have rotating RB`s with barely any dropoff in production. We use a guy who has lost a step he never had in the first place. Time to look at the draft and Free Agents for next year. Don`t say the darft is wasted, NE has always drafted low and put together SB teams so it can be done.
All I remember is
December 28th, 2011
6:56 pm
Cone can BLOCK.
All I remember is
December 28th, 2011
6:58 pm
matty ice needs some blockers.
Mr. Panic Button
December 28th, 2011
7:01 pm
I hope they’re bringing on to replace Weems sorry butt as a punt returner.
Larry
December 28th, 2011
7:01 pm
Saints Fans,
Your team is better than ours this regular season and you have two (one very convincing) wins over us to prove it!
However, after this weekend the new season starts…hope to see you again soon!
tidog
December 28th, 2011
7:02 pm
Anybody can be beat on any day in the league. The top teams just don’t imtimadate and dominate the teams below their level of play.
wo
December 28th, 2011
7:06 pm
if Cone plays then and only then will I cheer for the birds
Larry
December 28th, 2011
7:06 pm
tidog,
Agreed!
One word: Seattle
Firsttimer
December 28th, 2011
7:27 pm
the old addage is dome teams do not fair well in cold weather. Aints could not beat Green Bay at Lambeau in September and diffucult to believe they can beat them in January. Coupled with the fact that the Aints are an average road team.
hiramsaint
December 28th, 2011
7:37 pm
since we won on the road against the failclowns -what does that make your team –DOUBLE BAM– truly you are a firstimer
Ball Coach
December 28th, 2011
7:57 pm
A real fan supports the decisions made by the organization. They see what goes on everyday. But in this world of fantasy football, every “article reading” person thinks they are the next Vince Lombardi. Congratulate the players that made it to the “Big Show”. They spent a lot of time and effort to get there. Maybe it will all work out for the good of the team. Think “positive”. Negative energy will get you a spot on the comment bench! haha
Michael M.
December 28th, 2011
8:06 pm
I would love to see The Falcons go back down there to that slum dog City and cram a Dawg Turd down their throats just to shut-up these so called Saints fans that can do nothing but just keep on rubbing it in and not knowing when to just shut-up about it and at least show some sort of respect toward the other Team’s Fans and most especially on the Atlanta Falcon’s Sports sites. So shaddup about it now cause we already know and no need just to keep on with the crap !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
hind tit
December 28th, 2011
8:48 pm
How much difference would Peppers have made on this defense? I’ll say at lest two more wins maybe more.
CONE HEAD SHOP
December 28th, 2011
9:05 pm
Cone has a better chance of catching a cold as he does a pass with the Falcons. Weak.
Matt Hansen? Weaker.
saintbim
December 28th, 2011
9:08 pm
Give some respect and you will recieve some respect. Interesting to read all your comments about your team.
saintbim
December 28th, 2011
9:09 pm
Your problem is upstairs. Not your players.
CONE HEAD SHOP
December 28th, 2011
9:11 pm
Saintpimp, must be boring on Alcoholic avenue.
saintbim
December 28th, 2011
9:15 pm
conedip; my avenue is a lot better off than yours. I live in north Louisiana, although New Orleans is a beautiful city.
Joe
December 28th, 2011
9:15 pm
Cone will make his prescence felt. He will be a hall of famer. He’s getting his opportunity and he’s about to make the best of it. He’ll be our 3rd receiver before long! Watch this!
CONE HEAD SHOP
December 28th, 2011
9:22 pm
Saintpimp, nobody gives a rats azz where you live or about cesspool Orleans. Conedip this.
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.