Atlanta Falcons: Roster trimmed down to 53 players
Atlanta Falcons cornerback Dominique Franks, left, defends against wide receiver Eric Weems during one on one plays at training camp in Flowery Branch on Thursday, August 4, 2011. Curtis Compton ccompton@ajc.com
In surprise moves, cornerback Dominique Franks and linebacker Spencer Adkins were released by the Falcons on Friday.
With a new defensive coordinator in Mike Nolan and secondary coach in Joe Danna, the dismissal of Franks is part of major renovation in the secondary.
Franks is the second cornerback from last season’s opening-day roster to be released. The team reached an injury settlement with Darrin Walls, who made the team last season as an undrafted free agent from Notre Dame, when they cut down from 90 to 75 players.
Offensive line coach Pat Hill confers with (66) guard Peter Konz and center Tyler Horn during the first day of minicamp in Flowery Branch on Tuesday, June 19, 2012. (CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM )
Franks played in 11 games last season and made four starts. He finished with 17 tackles, three passes defensed and had two interceptions. He was a fifth round pick in 2010.
Behind cornerbacks Brent Grimes, Dunta Robinson and Asante Samuel, the Falcons elected to keep Christopher Owens and Robert McClain.
Behind starting safeties Thomas DeCoud and William Moore, the Falcons retained veteran safety Chris Hope and rookie Charles Mitchell. Shann Schillinger was placed on injured reserve.
Adkins, who started in the playoffs against the New York Giants for Stephen Nicholas, was a sixth round pick in 2009.
The team also waived wide receiver Drew Davis, linebackers Pat Schiller and Rico Council, center Tyler Horn, wide receiver James Rodgers, cornerback Peyton Thompson, cornerback Marty Markett, wide receIver Marcus Jackson, offensive tackle Bryce Harris, linebacker Jerrell Harris, safety Suaesi Tuimaunei, defensive tackle Micanor Regis, running back Dimitri Nance and defensive lineman Conrad Obi.
Veterans fullback Mike Cox and long snapper Joe Zelenka were released.
Wide receiver Kerry Meier was waived injured.
The team reached injury settlements with tight end LaMark Brown and tackle Andrew Jackson.
Schiller played at Northern Illinois and amassed 239 tackles over his four-year career. He had 19 tackles for loss, three sacks and eight passes defensed. He had a strong game against Jacksonville on Thursday as he led the defense with eight tackles, including one tackle for a loss.
“Pat Schiller played pretty good tonight,” linebacker Sean Weatherspoon said. “I think he’s been getting better throughout the camp and he kind of showed that tonight.”
The Falcons are going to carry just five linebackers on the 53-man roster. Weatherspoon, Akeem Dent, Stephen Nicholas and Mike Peterson appear to be locks. The fifth spot will likely be filled by Robert James.
Horn started at center for the Miami Hurricanes. He was a second-team all-ACC selection.
Brown played at Minnesota-Mankato after transferring from Kansas State. He was the 50th rated wide receiver by ESPN draft analyst Kiper, but the Falcons played him at tight end.
Obi, 6-3, 290. a native of College Park who played at Grayson High, played at Colorado.
He appeared in 41 games during his career at Colorado and had a breakout season as a senior. In 2011, Obi started seven games and posted 31 total tackles (14 solo) with three passes defensed, one tackle for loss, and one fumble recovery.
He was signed as a free agent by Arizona after the draft, but was released.
Council played at Tennessee State and was named the Ohio Valley Conference preseason co-defensive player of the year. In 2011, he had a team-high 87 tackles (49 solo) with 8.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, one interception, 11 passes defensed, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.
Council turned some heads in training camp with his striking ability and is likely one of the leading candidates for the practice squad.
“He’s a big, burly and thick guy,” linebacker coach Glenn Pires said. “He’s got to bring the wood. Those are his assets. He’s a big and strong guy. He’s physical in the run game. That’s what we want to get from him, getting downhill and playing physical.”
The Falcons must cut down from 75 players to 53 players by 9 p.m. today. We will be updating this file as we confirm the players released.
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Coordinators hand out their exhibition mid-term reports; backups need to step it up
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Falcons finally get fiesty in practice; a couple of fights breakout
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146 comments Add your comment
keep it real
August 31st, 2012
3:19 pm
Unless Turner showed something in practice that he didn’t show in the games, cut him.
stizz
August 31st, 2012
3:20 pm
Davis still on the bubble huh DLed?
D. Orlando Ledbetter
August 31st, 2012
3:35 pm
Thanks to CHRIS VIVLAMORE for jumping in here while I was trying to get back to the house from J.Vill.
We just got the Franks released confirmed.
Hoop235
August 31st, 2012
3:41 pm
Wow!! I can’t believe Franks??? I thought he was a lock for the punt return man??
thouhtful
August 31st, 2012
3:43 pm
It was very obvious in thelast game against the JAGS that the Falcons will need more quality depth if they are going to go deeper in the playoffs. This is where TDcan make us better and be a genius, WATCH THE BOARD!!!! There will be good players there who can help the Falcons. How about FB Ovie Mughelli getting cut, the Falcons should be able to get him for a bargin and we need him. Former Dawg TE Figgins also was a victim of numbers he can help Falcons in the future. Gary Guyton is an experienced LB that knows Nolan’s system could help. Watch the BOARD TD!!!!!
1danielbell
August 31st, 2012
3:55 pm
Franks? Not Owens? Interesting.
Michael M.
August 31st, 2012
4:02 pm
no such thing as job security…………………….
D. Orlando Ledbetter
August 31st, 2012
4:04 pm
WR Drew Davis and OT Bryce Harris have been released.
ATLJBO
August 31st, 2012
4:10 pm
Manley made the roster…. So who didn’t make it… Mike Johnson or Garrett Reynolds ?
arlito
August 31st, 2012
4:21 pm
Franks was the guy trailin’ by 10 yards the wide-open wideout that Gabbert overthrew. I was havin’ CDFS (Charles Dimry Flashback Syndrome).
Grape Nuts are neither grapes or nuts
August 31st, 2012
4:26 pm
Yeah…..I’m not grieving over the loss of Franks after this preseason.
coleski
August 31st, 2012
4:27 pm
Have some of these folks been asleep for the past couple of weeks?
Michael Turner
August 31st, 2012
4:28 pm
Please don’t be me! Please don’t be me!
Please! Please! Please! Please!
Falconfanriseup
August 31st, 2012
4:37 pm
Franks comes as a surprise. I thought they would keep him and get rid of Owens
Michael M.
August 31st, 2012
4:38 pm
Turner isn’t going no where……………………..
Tim McDaniel
August 31st, 2012
4:38 pm
CDFS (Charles Dimry Flashback Syndrome).
That’s funny!!
Truth Serum
August 31st, 2012
4:41 pm
Lol, you hating but if Turner never play again after today he has been more successful at his job than you will ever be at your job on fries at Wendy’s. Do better.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
August 31st, 2012
4:45 pm
Yep, Franks is gone. Got the email from his folks.
Rod — Just worrying today’s cuts, then practice squad, then pickups. 1. 2. 3.
How can you keep Owens over Franks??
August 31st, 2012
4:51 pm
D-Led can you upload a list of all the players cut then just keep updating it. Because i could really careless about the stats, height, weight, college, history, ect on the player. Thanks
terrell
August 31st, 2012
4:56 pm
No freakin way I give Turner a 5 mill $ bonus. Hell, Rodgers looked just as good, if not better. Hopefully Koetter has mentioned this to dumb azz Smitty. And btw, how in the world has Sam Baker made it thru all these years of roster cuts??? And wasnt TD in NE when they drafted Deion Branch? Hmmm??
SirReal
August 31st, 2012
4:58 pm
Wow DLed….didnt expect Atkins but maybe his little off field trouble was his downfall? We know how the brass feels about “ornery souls” (such a joke to me.lol). I can see a GOOD lineman getting away from us too. Mike Johnson and Andrew Jackson come to mind….hope I’m wrong…
SirReal
August 31st, 2012
5:04 pm
@Terrell I STILL wonder why Baker is still on the roster…and have for the last 3 years. I remember on this very same blog getting berated for talking about Baker. Everyone was caught in the euphoria of the team’s resurrection that people didnt wanna notice the whispers among the shouts. I told them Dahl was our best lineman…got berated. Guess it doesnt look so dumb now does it? Hopefully Koetter knows that he’ll pretty much have to have someone chip on 95% of our passing plays this year…the other 5% is for the screen game.
PMC
August 31st, 2012
5:06 pm
Hmm, if Drew Davis is released, that means Kevin Cone made the roster I guess…or Tim Toone.
Dilla
August 31st, 2012
5:07 pm
Wonder if they are going to keep Kerry Meier, he has done anything in 3 years. Don’t understand how everyone seems to think he’s a lock for one of the last receiver positions.
Rowland Lawrence
August 31st, 2012
5:10 pm
I thought D. Franks had a decent preseason. I hope the falcons are not counting on Christopher Owens to be on this roster. There has to be a another plan in place for Defensive Backs. Now if Dunta Robinson was cut it wouldn’t have bothered me one bit, because quite honestly the guy is overpaid and not a very good cover corner. Sorry if I offend you guys I just call it like I see it.
RL
Michael M.
August 31st, 2012
5:10 pm
take Davis over Toone any time……………………………
terrell
August 31st, 2012
5:18 pm
Sir Real ,it’s because TD doesnt want to admit he panicked on the Baker pick. How you gonna move up and take Sam “short arms” Baker? Shouldve just hit the FA market and picked up a vet stop gap to protect Ryan until the following draft.Hell, theres better OT’s on practice sqauds. Btw, can TD hire a Olineman consultant? How bout Bob Weiss? lol.smmfgdh
The Real Rick
August 31st, 2012
5:18 pm
Rowland …you would put franks over duanta ? Do you watch football?
terrell
August 31st, 2012
5:19 pm
Baker, Hawley, Johnson, Reynolds, etc… has any of these guys really panned out?
Jimmy Crack
August 31st, 2012
5:21 pm
Drew will get picked up. So will Franks, guaranteed.
terrell
August 31st, 2012
5:24 pm
And you can probably add last years 3rd rdr with the bad toe to that list. Cant even think of his name right now. Horrible run blocker. Looked ok in pass protection though. Btw, whats up with TD and the 3rd rd?
Chevis Jackson
Chris Owens
Joe Hawley
Bad toe dude
etc………….
terrell
August 31st, 2012
5:25 pm
“this years 3rd rdr.
Michael M.
August 31st, 2012
5:27 pm
Lamar Holmes = bad toe dude …………terrell ?
Big Crimson 75
August 31st, 2012
5:40 pm
Best player cut today was Julio Hanson.
He was the reason Philly dumped Asante to begin with.
Atlanta Falcons 75 to 53: Franks and Adkins Released in Stunning Moves | Football Betting
August 31st, 2012
5:41 pm
[...] nickelback and one of the front-runners for the punt return job this year, was released Friday, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution [...]
Big Crimson 75
August 31st, 2012
5:42 pm
Joselio Hanson!!
PMC
August 31st, 2012
5:42 pm
Here’s hoping some of these cuts mean a few veterans coming in off the heap too.
There are a lot of WR’s that were good in college getting cut today. Mardy Gilyard (sort of small but very good playmaker at Cincinatti Marvin Mcnutt from Iowa both off the Philly Roster.
Kris Durham got cut by Seattle if they want Brian Finneran 2.
PMC
August 31st, 2012
5:43 pm
Shocked Joselio Hanson got cut.
Alphonso Smith got cut by Detroit, he was a pretty high draft pick in Denver (2nd rd) IIRC.
Surg
August 31st, 2012
5:44 pm
Franks looked like Ray Buchanan when he was getting burnt 24/7…before we drafted deangelo hall lol
PMC
August 31st, 2012
5:44 pm
I’m still firmly hoping for Gary Guyton though. I like the cut of his jib.
Surg
August 31st, 2012
5:45 pm
Get Chris Cooley to add swagger to the team.
Bobby
August 31st, 2012
5:46 pm
is the falcons done with the cuts or is there more that need to be made?
PMC
August 31st, 2012
5:51 pm
Tim Hightower got cut, looks like Evan Royster earned a spot.
Decon
August 31st, 2012
5:52 pm
Julio Jones cut!!!! OMG OMG!!!!
Rodney
August 31st, 2012
5:53 pm
Cut Franks and keep Ownes? Are you kidding me! Was not a fan of the Nolan hire to begin with but this seals it! Had a solid preseason as punt returner and CB. Our secondary has been weak and not sold on Daunta. Samuel is old and will get dinged up. Do not get this move at all.
Fanatic Falcon Fan (F3)
August 31st, 2012
5:54 pm
at least 22 cuts coming today, perhaps more if they want to pick up a waiver wire casualty from another team.
OL will have some big cuts coming later I suspect.
CONservative Johnson
August 31st, 2012
5:57 pm
Surprised the pulled the trigger on Franks, but I agree with it. The guy was TERRIBLE the final preseason game. He just can’t cover. And did he really have any other good return besides in the first game?
Paddy
August 31st, 2012
6:02 pm
Dilla……..I am one of those fans that think Meier is a lock. I have always though he had the ability to be that wes welker type of player. But we will see!
Mike Bell 790
August 31st, 2012
6:02 pm
FIRST!!!
Fanatic Falcon Fan (F3)
August 31st, 2012
6:05 pm
As far as Franks goes, I feel bad for the young man – for that matter for all the young men who came here to entertain us, putting their health on the line every week for our entertainment and now find themselves unemployed.
However, his abilities as an NFL CB never improved to the point where he can be considered an improving asset (seemed to regress this preseason), his return skills are easily taken by others on the roster with better position skills/value, and his effort seemed sub par (don’t know if he was slowed by injuries).
Looking at the mediocre effort displayed last night on a blitz, for example, he looked like someone that had already given up – or someone resting on his complacency. The INT was a fluke ball that bounced out of the (open) receivers hands and hit him.