Archive for May, 2012

te Aron White, a football letterman graduating with a degree in management and an African-American studies minor, gives the student speech as President Michael F. Adams watches on during the 2010 Fall Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony at Stegeman Coliseum on Friday, December 17, 2010. (UGA Photo)

FLOWERY BRANCH –  The Falcons signed former Georgia tight end Aron White, wide receiver Kenny Stafford and fullback Lee Meisner to free agent contracts after completion of their rookie minicamp on Sunday.

White and Stafford announced their signings on Twitter.

“It’s official I am a member of the Atlanta Falcons and proud to be one. Just signed my rookie contract God is good #RiseUp,” tweeted Stafford, who played at Toledo and is the nephew of former NFL star Cris Carter and former NBA player and head coach Butch Carter.

White played the last two seasons in the shadow of Orson Charles at Georgia.

“I’m officially a Falcon after this weekend tryout!” White tweeted.

White finished …

Continue reading Former UGA tight end White, Stafford and Meisner signed by Falcons »

Atlanta Falcons top draft pick Peter Konz does his "Dirty Bird" dance saying he " I'm bringing back the Dirty Bird" at the end of his first day of practice with the team in Flowery Branch, Friday, May 11, 2012.

FLOWERY BRANCH — The Falcons signed second-round draft pick Peter Konz to a four-year, $3.58 million deal on Sunday.

Konz, who was projected to be selected in the first round of the draft, was picked by the Falcons with the 55th overall pick, in the second round. His deal includes a $1.05 million signing bonus.

The Falcons also signed rookie draft picks fullback Bradie Ewing (fifth rounder), safety Charles Mitchell (sixth) and defensive tackle Travian Robertson (seventh) on Sunday. Terms of those deals were undisclosed.

Konz spent most of the practice during the three-day rookie minicamp at right guard and received some snaps at center.

“I thought Peter did a nice job,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said after the first practice. “Of course, Peter is being …

Continue reading Falcons sign second-round pick Peter Konz, three other draft picks »

Tweet

–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog

Get instant updates on Twitter at AJCFalcons and you can join the Facebook Fan page at AJC Falcons.

Continue reading Video: Falcons DT Travian Robertson »

Tweet

–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog

Get instant updates on Twitter at AJCFalcons and you can join the Facebook Fan page at AJC Falcons.

Continue reading Video: Falcons coach Mike Smith, Day 2 rookie minicamp »

Bradie Ewing is taking part in the Falcons rookie minicamp. He feels no pressure to replace Ovie Mughelli. (Associated Press)

By Chris Vivlamore

Brady Ewing isn’t about to pencil himself into the lineup.

The fullback was drafted in the fifth round (157th) out of Wisconsin, and the acquisition led the Falcons to release Pro Bowler Ovie Mughelli this week. By rule, the team needed to wait until Mughelli was recovered from the knee injury that cut short his season.

“Whenever you have to make decisions on your roster it’s always tough, especially with a guy who has contributed and helped us have the success that we’ve had,” Smith said of Mughelli. “It was an organizational decision, and we wish Ovie the best. We’ve got to move on. The roster is always changing. It’s never going to be the same.”

Smith said Ewing (5-11, 243) has shown the ability to catch the ball early in camp.

“I’m not really worrying about that situation,” Ewing said of replacing …

Continue reading Ewing not ready to pencil himself into the lineup »

Tweet

–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog

Get instant updates on Twitter at AJCFalcons and you can join the Facebook Fan page at AJC Falcons.

Continue reading Video: Falcons coach Mike Smith after rookie practice »

Southern Mississippi offensive lineman Lamar Holmes runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, on Feb. 25. (Associated Press)

Falcons tackle Lamar Holmes, the team’s third-round draft pick, will not participate in the team’s rookie minicamp because of a left foot injury.

“Lamar has got a minor issue with his foot,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said after practice on Friday. ”It’s more precautionary right now. We’ll try to get him back out there. It won’t be here in this minicamp. It will be closer to when we start our OTAs at the end of the month. It’s something that became evident in his post-draft physical.”

Here’s a Q&A with Holmes on the night that he was drafted.

Tweet

–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog

Get instant updates on Twitter at AJCFalcons and you can join the Facebook Fan page at AJC Falcons.

Continue reading Falcons tackle Lamar Holmes has a left foot injury »

East Carolina's Dominique Davis started his career at Boston College backing up Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan. (Associated Press/Gail Burton)

The nearly 50 players who arrived for rookie minicamp on Thursday have been issued their equipment.

They take the field for their first practice at 3:30 p.m. today. (The minicamp practices, which run through Sunday, are closed to the public. The AJC posse of myself, Chris Vivlamore and Curtis Compton will be on hand for you guys.)

Here are the five top questions for the camp:

1. 1. Can second-round pick Peter Konz earn a starting position?
2. 2. Can fifth-round pick Bradie Ewing beat out Mike Cox and replace Ovie Mughelli at fullback?
3. 3. The Falcons new punt and kickoff returner is likely in this group. (My early favorite is Cody Pearcy, the speedster from tiny Huntingdon College.)
4. 4. Does new defensive coordinator Mike Nolan yell as much as Brian VanGorder?
5. 5. Will quarterback Dominique Davis serve notice to the veteran backups that he’ll …

Continue reading Atlanta Falcons: 5 questions for rookie minicamp »

Falcons wide receiver Roddy White gets into another Twitter dust-up. He doesn't care if he can't walk when he's 50. (Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com

Falcons wide receiver Roddy White got into what is becoming a weekly Twitter fight.

There was the scrap with fans during the labor situation, the fans from New Orleans after he ripped their city, his freestyle tweets on commissioner Roger Goodell and let’s not forget about him expressing remorse for his anti-gay tweets.

This time, White appears to be fighting with himself over the worthiness of former players’ right to bash the game.  

“It’s crazy how football players are killing our game you signed up to play a violent game and made a lot of money now u talk bad about #how”

White later added: “Yes older players didn’t make what we made but I remember when gas was 89 cents so the cost of living was different. I don’t have nothing against old players they made football what it is today and I love those guys and I don’t have …

Continue reading Roddy White gets in another Twitter squabble »

Falcons safety William Moore, linebacker Stephen Nicholas, defensive end Lawrence Sidbury, linebacker Spencer Adkins, fullback Mike Cox, running Antone Smith, cornerback Christopher Owens and safety Shann Schillinger will surprise 50 women and their children from My Sister’s House, the women’s and children’s facility of the Atlanta Mission, with a special Mother’s Day celebration today.

The players will present the women with flowers, serve food, sign autographs, and take photographs throughout the afternoon.

Established in 1938, Atlanta Mission provides overnight shelter, job attainment programming, long-term residential discipleship programming, and transitional housing for more than 950 homeless men, women and children daily.

Atlanta Mission Women’s and Children’s services are provided at My Sister’s House, a 264-bed facility that offers overnight shelter and residential discipleship programs for homeless women and women with children.

Tweet

–D. Orlando …

Continue reading Falcons to go on a Mother’s Day mission today »