Atlanta Falcons: Falcons to play on sloppy track
The field and the lower bowl of Sun Life Stadium has been evacuated because of lightning. (D. Orlando Ledbetter/dledbetter@ajc.com)
MIAMI — Just as the Falcons were about to take the field for warmups it started raining heavily at Sun Life Stadium.
The bowl of the stadium was evacuated because lightning.
Falcons coach Mike Smith places a premium on not suffering injuries in the exhibition season.
This game was supposed to serve as the Falcons’ dress rehearsal for the season. Smith planned to play his starters well into the third quarter.
With a soaked field, the risk for injury is increased. It will interesting to see how the Falcons approach this game.
The team has 89 players on the roster and must cut down to 75 by Monday.
After the Miami game, the Falcons will play at Jacksonville on Aug. 30 in their exhibition season finale. The roster must be trimmed to 53 by Aug. 31.
The storm eventually stopped.
Around 6:30 p.m, about an hour before the schedule kickoff, the Falcons special teams players returned to the field to start warming up.
Cornerback Christopher Owens (hamstring), cornerback Darrin Walls (right quad), safety Shann Schillinger (foot), running back Jason Snelling (lower right leg), defensive tackle Elisha Joseph (concussion), left tackle Will Svitek (upper right arm), wide receiver Kerry Meier (foot) and defensive tackle Corey Peters (foot) will not play against the Dolphins.
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418 comments Add your comment
Bird
August 24th, 2012
6:30 pm
I would not risk injury with starters. Tough call for coach Smith.
Seen This B4
August 24th, 2012
6:34 pm
Oh no! Not rain! Not in Miami! In summer!
What did you all expect? Snow”? Of course it’s going to rain in Miami in the late summer. Geez, caught off guard by rain? It’s football! Get out on the field! Guys are trying to make a team and earn a living, give it everything you got!
Dr J
August 24th, 2012
6:35 pm
Play the starters. Can’t play scared. It’s always messy down in Miami when we play there for some reason. Play them till halftime then let up. It’ll be okay, gotta prepare them for the season.
Seen This B4
August 24th, 2012
6:37 pm
That field drain rather quickly, BUT, and it’s a big but, it’s going to rain all night! LOL!
phil
August 24th, 2012
6:38 pm
We always play scared, especially in the playoffs….
Fire Mike Smith!!
Blue Bayou
August 24th, 2012
6:40 pm
lol
phil
August 24th, 2012
6:41 pm
We can’t run the ball anymore…
Release Baker, Turner, Rogers, Mcclure and Gonzalez!
Michael M.
August 24th, 2012
6:44 pm
Rain ? …………..what is the big deal about some wet warm weather …………..ha !……………….
Another Rick
August 24th, 2012
6:45 pm
Short peer and you got long feet seen. Take a walk
phil
August 24th, 2012
6:46 pm
That’s what I mean….this bunch is soft, like a doughnut.
Rain? Seriously?
It’s so depressing being stuck with excuses makers, year after year….
Here we go again. Now it’s water we’re terrified of.
phil
August 24th, 2012
6:48 pm
Rain?
Good grief!!
phil
August 24th, 2012
6:50 pm
Fire mike mularkey too!!
phil
August 24th, 2012
6:52 pm
Fan interest in this game at an alltime high based on bloggers present here….lol
phil
August 24th, 2012
6:56 pm
We scored 2 points in the playoffs last season.
2
On a safety. Pathetic…..
Exactly why should we have an ounce of enthusiasm for 2012?
Michael M.
August 24th, 2012
6:57 pm
STB4 thinks a rain cloud will whip the Falcons………..Seen, come on mannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
falCANS
August 24th, 2012
6:57 pm
In Falcons we trust
Michael M.
August 24th, 2012
6:58 pm
Phil ………Go live in the past………………………………………………………………….
Dr J
August 24th, 2012
7:02 pm
And can we please win the damn game? Preseason or not. Damn!
Michael M.
August 24th, 2012
7:06 pm
It rain at my place the other day………..I canceled all activities……now if it snowed down there in florida D-led that would be something to write about……………………
Dr J
August 24th, 2012
7:07 pm
This team seems like a scared team. Don’t get me wrong, I love the Falcons, but they just play scared and how your team plays reflects your head coach. Look at Alabama…Nick Saban is hard nosed, disciplined, and to the point, and Bama is dominant. Falcons with Mike Smith are a good team, but when will we become dominant? We have the talent, but damn can we get a killer instinct?
JSS
August 24th, 2012
7:19 pm
@ Phil…
Why is he attacking you? He didn’t know your M.O.?
How have you been doing by the way?
JSS
August 24th, 2012
7:31 pm
Pretender teams should love these games against truly horrible teams like the Dolphins, no excuses…
Choke Ryan Jr.
August 24th, 2012
7:33 pm
Ok this will be a nice measuring stick on where we stand…what you guys think?
Choke Ryan Jr.
August 24th, 2012
7:34 pm
I just took the Falcons first half on the -3…I hope they cover!
DawgNole
August 24th, 2012
7:35 pm
Seen This B4
August 24th, 2012
6:34 pm
Oh no! Not rain! Not in Miami! In summer!
What did you all expect? Snow”? Of course it’s going to rain in Miami in the late summer. Geez, caught off guard by rain? It’s football! Get out on the field! Guys are trying to make a team and earn a living, give it everything you got!
___________________
Have to agree with the loathsome Seen This B4 on this one. Looks like yet another excuse to lose yet another preseason game and then say (yet again), “But it’s only a preseason game.”
Franklin
August 24th, 2012
7:36 pm
Win the damn game! Preseason or not!
No more eggcuses 4 Perrier Jerry
August 24th, 2012
7:40 pm
Fist play for a big gain. Way 2 go Mr Dent
DawgNole
August 24th, 2012
7:40 pm
Twenty yards up the middle on the first play from scrimmage.Offsides on the second play. Nice start, Falcons. Must be the weather.
Franklin
August 24th, 2012
7:41 pm
Too many damn flags! DAMN IT
DawgNole
August 24th, 2012
7:42 pm
Plus, we have the pleasure of enduring the boot-licking homer announcers again this week. Please win, Falcons; I can’t take another night of excuse-making.
Franklin
August 24th, 2012
7:43 pm
Great tackle by Samuel. Good job defense. Gotta clean up the penalties though!
Franklin
August 24th, 2012
7:44 pm
Preseason football is so boring.
DawgNole
August 24th, 2012
7:45 pm
Geez, their crowd tonight makes the Georgia Dome seem like it was packed and rockin’ last week.
Geico Lizard Just Told Me I Saved $$$ By Not Renewing My Season Tickets
August 24th, 2012
7:46 pm
Rain in Miami? Noway!
No more eggcuses 4 Perrier Jerry
August 24th, 2012
7:47 pm
Thee yards and a coud of dust
Franklin
August 24th, 2012
7:47 pm
Looks like Mularkey’s playcalling again. Run Turner on 1st and 2nd down, pass on 3rd. Boring! I’m beginning to think Mike Smith is a boring, vanilla coach.
JSS
August 24th, 2012
7:47 pm
What was was he looking at?
No more eggcuses 4 Perrier Jerry
August 24th, 2012
7:48 pm
Damn near an INT. Way 2 go Rayan
No more eggcuses 4 Perrier Jerry
August 24th, 2012
7:49 pm
OK same ol Tippy Toes……Lets try sumtim diferent
Franklin
August 24th, 2012
7:49 pm
On the bright side, O-line looking good.
Jimmy Crack
August 24th, 2012
7:50 pm
I meant, it’s good they are mixing up the playcalling.
No more eggcuses 4 Perrier Jerry
August 24th, 2012
7:50 pm
Mr Ledbeter what do U mean plaing on a track. I see them on a feild.
JSS
August 24th, 2012
7:50 pm
They crushing the middle 3 O-line
Franklin
August 24th, 2012
7:52 pm
I am sick of Turner. Watching him run pisses me off.
JSS
August 24th, 2012
7:53 pm
Ha ha ha ha…
Franklin
August 24th, 2012
7:53 pm
Horrible play calling once again! Damn! Makes me sick.
Geico Lizard Just Told Me I Saved $$$ By Not Renewing My Season Tickets
August 24th, 2012
7:54 pm
Same ole Falcons.
Franklin
August 24th, 2012
7:54 pm
What happened to the play-action fake? Boot to the left? Do something creative.
Jimmy Crack
August 24th, 2012
7:54 pm
That was just a bad play call right there ye betcha.
No more eggcuses 4 Perrier Jerry
August 24th, 2012
7:54 pm
THey did not lrean form last year on 4th and shot? DONT run the ball U dummys