Atlanta Falcons: Franks discusses his return to the team
Dominique Franks slices his way through Raven defenders for a long return during the first quarter of an exhibition game last month. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM
Vivlamore & Ledbetter reporting.
FLOWERY BRANCH — The Falcons signed cornerback Dominique Franks and waived-injured wide receiver Tim Toone Thursday.
“It’s just been hectic,” said Franks, who received a call from the team around 10 p.m. Wednesday night. “I’ve been flying in and out going on team workouts and just waiting to get a phone call from somebody to sign me. Luckily, I got that phone call from Atlanta last night.”
After being released in the final cut down to 53, Franks went on workouts with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins.
He was selected in the fifth round (135th overall) in 2010 and spent the past two seasons with the Falcons as a reserve defensive back and punt returner. In two seasons, he recorded 22 tackles (14 solo) with three interceptions and six passes defensed. Last season, Franks posted 20 tackles (13 solo) with two interceptions and five passes defensed.
Franks handled punt return duties for the Falcons during exhibition games this preseason with Toone fielding some punts later in games.
“They wanted to bring me back and this is where I always wanted to be,” Franks said. “It’s always good to be able to come back and reunite with the guys and the coaches. There are no hard feelings at all. I know it’s a business, so I just have to come in and prepare even harder and make sure that this doesn’t happen again.”
Toone was originally selected by the Lions in the seventh round (255th overall) in 2010. He spent time with the Lions, Bills and Broncos as a practice squad player. He made the Falcons 53-man roster in part because of his punt return ability. He also had a touchdown catch during the preseason. The nature of Toone’s injury is unknown. The Falcons only had two practices, Monday and Wednesday, after setting the 53-man roster on Friday.
The moves leaves the Falcons with four wide receivers on the active roster in Roddy White, Julio Jones, Harry Douglas and Kevin Cone. Marcus Jackson and Drew Davis are on the practice squad.
- Chris Vivlamore
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78 comments Add your comment
Nique
September 6th, 2012
2:52 pm
& it wasn’t the 1 GB game for Owens, its period. He’s really good on sp but not in coverage. I’ll take Franks play at the end of last year & in the playoff game against the G-Men over Owens & the Packers anyday!!! It’s funny, ppl rushing to Owens defense based off of pure speculation & him “earning” the # 4 position while essentially not playing in any of the preseason games. I don’t dislike Owens, he’s been critical on sp but lets not act like he’s been a quality cb nor like he’s played better than Franks has at cb when given the chance! I also don’t think that it’s a coincidence that he was brought back the morning of the whole country knowing that the G-Men we’re gonna be hitting Free Agency looking for a cb either because of their injury issues
Seen This B4
September 6th, 2012
2:57 pm
If they waived Toone cause he had an injury, would they not have had to agree to an injury settlement first?? I guess it would not have been much, since he was an undrafted free agent, but it still eats up more of that pathetic amount of CAP space that the falcan’ts have. What is it? About 1 million? Need to start restructuring some of those contracts! How much CAP money do the falcan’ts have wasted on players who aren’t even on the practice squad?! LOL! What a joke!
FalconsFam
September 6th, 2012
3:01 pm
Regardless of the Giants issues…if Toone does not get hurt is Franks an Atlanta Falcon right now??? Toone was listed as 2nd string PR and now Franks we be in that spot, simple as that. It seems as though Franks had passed Owens on the depth chart last season but between then and training camp had fell behind a hurt Owens, that is interesting to me. In the Mike Smith’s eye Robert McClain outplayed Franks as a CB and Toone outplayed him as a PR. I’m glad the Falcons traded for #22 because they are doing a terrible job at drafting for the nickel spot.
rick
September 6th, 2012
3:06 pm
I hope this lights a fire under Franks to live up to his potential….
Big Crimson 75
September 6th, 2012
3:21 pm
Seen this B4 — at least I know I can count on my Tide disgracing your State again this year if the Saints continue their recent success against the Falcons — which I strongly believe ends this year.
The Saints have one oft he best coaches in the NFL — no question. They will miss Peyton.
But, if in fact, the Saints win the division, guess I’ll have to fall back on the Tide dismantling LSU.
Perhaps y’all will make it past mid-field before the 4th quarter this year.
Devoted Falcons Fan
September 6th, 2012
3:22 pm
hopefully this mean that chris owens is gone…..that guy is suspect to say the least.
FalconsFam
September 6th, 2012
3:35 pm
It didn’t really seem like Owens had to compete to keep his spot on the roster. Most guys that far down the depth chart get hurt in camp get cut.
SINCE66
September 6th, 2012
3:56 pm
Did anyone watch the Giants, Cowboys game? You think the Falcons can handle either team?
FalconsFam
September 6th, 2012
4:07 pm
Gotta see the new schemes in a real game first. Away game in KC will tell us a lot.
Cejay
September 6th, 2012
4:20 pm
Big Crimson 75
September 6th, 2012
3:21 pm
Seen this B4 —
Perhaps y’all will make it past mid-field before the 4th quarter this year.
LOL classic !!
Big Crimson 75
September 6th, 2012
4:37 pm
66 — At their best, the Falcons can beat either Team.
NYs offense looked bad. The Cowboys O didn’t look much better.
I think the Falcons are set to win by throwing.
We have better weapons than either Team.
Is our D as good as NY or Dallas??
Sam
September 6th, 2012
4:56 pm
I know they signed Franks because he knew our system better than someone off the street would, but…I’d have preferred they signed a good vet that was cut by another team.
FalconsFam
September 6th, 2012
4:59 pm
Everything the Falcons want to do is predicated upon how the O-line handles the pass rush on obvious passing downs and 3rd and 2 situations, it’s as simple as that. Sam Baker is still at LT and as far as we know Garrett Reynolds is till at RG. I was hoping Hali was playing because I wanna see how Baker holds up against elite pass rush as early in the season as possible. Pretty sure coach wants to see that too.
FalconsFam
September 6th, 2012
5:00 pm
Sam-Any suggestions?
buckhead benny
September 6th, 2012
5:34 pm
I think the Falcons coaches watched the Giants Cowboys game and saw two corners go down and how Tony Romo started picking apart their last corner and got smart and said we need to go with 6th corners in this league now.
Getaway
September 6th, 2012
6:10 pm
Sam, what vet could they have gotten for the about the same amount of money?
I think Franks is a little over $400k. Toone was at $480k I believe, so barring an injury settlement that was a wash.
Since they only have a mill or so left to play with, I wouldn’t have spent any more than what Franks is getting on yet another DB.
D O L ????????
September 6th, 2012
6:48 pm
Burdell Kevin Cone also played at St Pius and he is DAMM GOOD. To hell with Tech …. Go KC make St Pius proud…….
yellowfever
September 6th, 2012
6:59 pm
Burdell, why do idiots like you come on this blog and say things that make you look more stupid than you already are. THWG-Always.
Mike Franklin
September 6th, 2012
7:05 pm
Is it Sunday yet? Damn!
P B Orr
September 6th, 2012
7:26 pm
They had to bring him back! Who else will take the blame when the Packers torch us in January?
falCANS
September 6th, 2012
7:27 pm
Smjh did yall learn NOTHING from Chris Houston?? Glad Franks is back. Last year I was prayin hed replace Daunte. He just had a bad preseason. Im sure this wakeup call will bring the old franks back
P B Orr
September 6th, 2012
7:27 pm
What really happened with Toone? Are they trying to slip him onto the practice squad?
D O L ????????
September 6th, 2012
7:37 pm
GO Kevin Cone…………………………
D. Orlando Ledbetter
September 6th, 2012
10:34 pm
P B Orr – He suffered a hamstring injury near the end of practice on Wednesday.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
September 6th, 2012
10:40 pm
SWAT Native – Thomas Dimitroff told me that Lou Polite was their fullback and they weren’t interested in bringign Ovie back.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
September 6th, 2012
10:48 pm
Darwin Glover — He wore 29 today at practice.
hammerinhankhammeredsaints
September 7th, 2012
12:31 am
lol can we just look to sign one more DT cause I seen how many line backers we have need one more DT or we will get fried in the middle ,please give our new MLB a lil more help !!!
Gamer
September 8th, 2012
7:34 am
GLAD TO HAVE DOMINIQUE FRANKS BACK……DOMINIQUE TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PROOOOOVE YOUR FOOTBALL WORTH/TALENTS….FASCINATE THE FANS OF FOOTBALL…DOMINIQUE DOMINATE!!!
FALCONS ON THREE, DOMINATE!!!