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
Chris
September 6th, 2012
11:52 am
First
Chris
September 6th, 2012
11:54 am
I think Franks will perform well when called upon in the regular season. I’m not sure why I was so tickled to finally type First.
MaxxFalcon
September 6th, 2012
11:56 am
Good move, I never thought we should have cut Franks and signed Toone. Franks will be a good Punt Returner for us. I wonder if Hope lets him get his number back!
Northern Bird
September 6th, 2012
12:05 pm
Glad to see him back in a Falcon’s uniform. I think he provides decent depth.
Jim
September 6th, 2012
12:06 pm
Hurt? really?
Nique
September 6th, 2012
12:06 pm
Great move, glad to see it!
Felix
September 6th, 2012
12:08 pm
Chris you stayed up late, you deserve it.
bo joe ellis
September 6th, 2012
12:09 pm
Glad he’s back..giv’ em hell son.
Hamp
September 6th, 2012
12:13 pm
Should not have been cut. Maybe this will be an eye opener and light a fire under his butt we need him.
tidog
September 6th, 2012
12:20 pm
The release of Franklin was questionble from the onset. I have nothing against Chris Owens but Franks appears to be the better of the 2 corners. Those career stats for Franks are not bad and may be better than Owens career stats in all phases except tackles.
Mr. Panic Button
September 6th, 2012
12:21 pm
I’m glad none of you work in the Falcons front office…Franks good? WTH? I just hope Franks performs better than that weak azz level of play before he left. He was weak as a PR and a CB. Someone needs to give that boy a dose of “Man Up”! Because he’s soft, soft, soft.
Rise Up Nation
September 6th, 2012
12:23 pm
Here is your second chance Franks! Make use of it!
Jimmy Crack
September 6th, 2012
12:38 pm
These phrases we keep hearing more and more of in roster moves like “waived-injured” and “injury-settlement” seems like purposefully made up terminology for either A) moving roster money around so it won’t count against the cap, B) hiding a player indefinitely, C) keeping a player from signing immediately with another team, or D) just releasing a player for no reason but creating a reason (for any number of reasons).
As Quint said in Jaws…Ya folla?
Nique
September 6th, 2012
12:39 pm
Mr. Panic Button,
if Franks is so weak, please tell me what Owens is??? No one’s saying Franks should be a starter, but come on he’s a better cb than Owens & a better returner than Toone! TD’s comments made it seem like an effort thing with Franks so hopefully he doesn’t take this 2cnd chance for granted & makes it stick, because the talent is there!!! & I’ll give you that for a cb his size he should play tougher at times, but the man can play! Hope he earns the # 4 cb spot & PR spot back because I don’t wanna see Owens if one of our top 3 cb’s go down & i don’t wanna see Harry getting injured
Jimmy Crack
September 6th, 2012
12:40 pm
Woops…As Doyle Lonnegan said in The Sting.
hogmtndawg
September 6th, 2012
12:41 pm
Four active wide receivers? Uh oh.
Burdell
September 6th, 2012
12:50 pm
Yeah…and one of those receivers played at Tech so you know he isn’t any good!
Surg
September 6th, 2012
12:50 pm
Frank better step his game up…he’s athletic but is mediocre in zone and man. Any time he is on the field a good QB will expose him by throwing his way.
Greg
September 6th, 2012
12:52 pm
I understand Smith’s refusal to say anything about injuries to his players, information that might be exploited to some extent by opposing teams; but why so mum about a player you just waived? Maybe Toone wants it that way. Anyway, Franks looked good on that one long punt return he had–very good, actually—so maybe he can step up and really help us.
Seen This B4
September 6th, 2012
12:53 pm
I was wondering why they would choose to sign a low talent WR like Toone. Not that Franks is a stellar CB, cause he’s not, if he were, he wouldn’t have been cut in the first place, not to mentioned overlooked by other teams…..but I guess one healthy poor grade player is better than a wounded poor grade player.
Seen This B4
September 6th, 2012
12:53 pm
I was wondering why they would choose to sign a low talent WR like Toone. Not that Franks is a stellar CB, cause he’s not, if he were, he wouldn’t have been cut in the first place, not to mentioned overlooked by other teams…..but I guess one healthy poor grade player is better than a wounded poor grade player.
Mr. Panic Button
September 6th, 2012
12:54 pm
Nique, the last time I really saw Franks play hard was in college. He was a ball hawk and PR with elusive skills. That’s why I think he got to the NFL and thought he’d made it and didn’t have to play hard any longer. To say his effort has been lacking is putting it mildly. Maybe getting cut will light a fire under his butt. I’ll wait and see. I won’t even debate the Owens vs Franks thing because neither has shown much of anything.
Darwin Glover
September 6th, 2012
12:59 pm
So, D. LED I wonder if Franks gets his number 24 back. I just wondering
Mikefalcon63
September 6th, 2012
1:03 pm
In other words… We figured out Franks is a better return man than Toone, so we made up an injury so we would not have to say we cut him.
rick
September 6th, 2012
1:08 pm
So, Smitty….I guess we now know who your return man is…..
Augustabred
September 6th, 2012
1:14 pm
Glad to have Franks back! I actually think he should be moved to FS to shore that up! He has the size and speed better suited to play FS. Uuuuhhh, we better find another receiver and fast. Another thing, why in the world do we need 10 OL? All this crosstraining nonsense and we still need 10!!!!
jalex49
September 6th, 2012
1:15 pm
Glad they brought Franks back. I still think Toone was a keeper, if on the practice squad.
cb795
September 6th, 2012
1:32 pm
Maybe Franks nor Owens should be with the Falcons. I remember Owens saving a touchdowm last season by chasing down Franks man on a long would be touchdown run, Franks was chasing the play like big play ray use to. Again it’s always about talent and having more than the other teams. Falcons are not accumulating enough of superior talent.
MrShields
September 6th, 2012
1:38 pm
I wish fans wound stop tripping about 4 WRs. With 5 WRs you would have to take somebody off the field. Say like #88. No do you really think Toone or anybody else is going to have as big an impact was Tony… And hell Tony can split out wide as the 5th WR to be honest… We dont need 5 WRs unless someone gets hurt. in which case we can bring in someone from the practice squad who has been here all training camp. Stop being concerned with little things and be ready to ride for the team come Sunday.
Grape Nuts are neither grapes or nuts
September 6th, 2012
1:39 pm
You sure?
MrShields
September 6th, 2012
1:39 pm
*would
SWAT Native
September 6th, 2012
1:45 pm
So, what’s the deal on Ovie Mughelli? Are the Falcons going to bring him back?
Nowwehaveasecondary!
September 6th, 2012
1:58 pm
I am a little disappointed with this news. I wanted to see our offense become as fluid, complex and capable as the Saints, Packers, Patriots, and Lions. I wanted to see an occasional true five wide receiver set. Now we do not have five wide receivers. I wanted to see three wide receiver and two tight end sets. I wanted to see two wide receiver, one tight end and two pass catching running back sets. I wanted to see three, four, and five different skill position players run out on the field between plays to cause opposing defenses nightmares in trying to match up on every play while not knowing who will be on the field from one play to the next. This just limits what we can do on offense with formations and personnel a little.
Defense wins Titles
September 6th, 2012
2:06 pm
Surprised Falcons have not made Drew Davis active and put our 10th lineman on practice squad.
Big Crimson 75
September 6th, 2012
2:07 pm
Enough of the Chris Owens bashing.
The guy had a terrible game against GB in the Playoffs. I don’t recall many Falcons having good games, including the Coaches!!
Owens hustles, which is more than can be said for several Falcons. Remember the TD saving tackle last year!!
Franks had every opportunity at the end of last year & pre-season this year to show something — He was beaten out by Ron McClain, which says it all!!
A little disappointed the Falcons brought Franks back — the rest of the League wasn’t exactly knocking his door down once we cut him.
falcon 4 life
September 6th, 2012
2:11 pm
A person that everyone forgets about, is Antone Smith. He’s just as fast as any receiver we have(maybe Julio is faster). With the receiving skills he showed during the preseason, maybe’ll he’ll get a couple chances to work the underneath routes if we ever go 4/5 receiver sets.
Augustabred
September 6th, 2012
2:14 pm
Mr. Shields, no team in the NFL would go into the regular season with just four WR’s. Hamstring pull, rolled ankle, sprain shoulder, all this could happen in just one game. So yeah, we need depth at that position. I hope they do call up Davis so that will give us 5.
Augustabred
September 6th, 2012
2:16 pm
Exactly *Defense wins titles!
tjhook
September 6th, 2012
2:20 pm
Owens will prove a lot of you fans wrong this year. He was built for man to man schemes, not zones. If you saw his speed catching folks on kickoff returns you understand that he is built for not being beat on single coverage. Apparently, he is slower on anticipating or jumping routes, but Nolan’s schemes will give him an opportunity to learn.
tjhook
September 6th, 2012
2:22 pm
@Big Crimson,
Owens had two touchdown saving tackles on kickoff returns
Augustabred
September 6th, 2012
2:27 pm
I think Owens will also benefit from Nolan’s scheme. Owens can fly. I think Franks would be better suited at FS.
Left Coast Dawg
September 6th, 2012
2:33 pm
@ SeenThis – you’re stuttering….sign of nervousness bruh.
FalconsFam
September 6th, 2012
2:34 pm
Toone is injured, that’s why he’s out. The 5th WR could be left on PS until needed due to an injury to the one of the 4 actives. We need and have depth at WR with Davis sitting there waiting. The Falcons will only use 3 WR’s on gameday and the 4th covers on ST. I would rather see 5 on the roster and then a PS WR or 2 but time will tell if that’s how Smitty sees it. Now you’ve got 6 corners on the roster when you were happy a day ago with just 5 so IMO more changes are in store. Keep in mind Harry Douglas is listed as 1st string PR.
Budy Landel
September 6th, 2012
2:35 pm
Burdell
September 6th, 2012
12:50 pm
Yeah…and one of those receivers played at Tech so you know he isn’t any good!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
GT has 4 WR in the NFL. UGA has 2
Left Coast Dawg
September 6th, 2012
2:36 pm
Regarding Franks, I guess we know who the last man out was when we cut down to 53. I always questioned the Tim Toone decision too but I guess it was a numbers thing. Personally, I think it’s better for us to have more CBs than WRs anyway. A fifth WR wouldn’t likely see the field anyway and there are 2 on the practice squad in the event of an injury. Welcome back Franks!
Big Crimson 75
September 6th, 2012
2:38 pm
hook — 1,2…what difference does it make — the Falcons made him the scapegoat for that loss when plenty of blame was there to go around.
Arron Rodgers has made lots of CBs look bad the last 4 years.
As far as I’m concerned, We finally have a legit D-Coordinator in order to evaluate what we actually have on Defense.
Van Gorder was the BIGGEST joke in the NFL. Can you say “In over your mustache”?
Curtis Lofton
September 6th, 2012
2:40 pm
I think some of you come in here looking for seenthisb4. He or she has really made an impression in your minds. Lol. You harp on his or her every word. Surely there is a vacant room somewhere with your names on the reservation.
Buddy Landel
September 6th, 2012
2:42 pm
Haven’t really noticed his name until you typed it.
Curtis Lofton
September 6th, 2012
2:49 pm
Maybe you are a poor reader then? Or you need a stronger medicine in your glasses?
Samuel
September 6th, 2012
2:50 pm
Dominque Franks caught a break, now do something with it….
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!!!