Saints sign Falcons offensive lineman Bryce Harris (updated with other notes)

Vivlamore reporting from Flowery Branch.

Good morning folks. We are settling back in at Falcons headquarters for another day.

Defensive end Lawrence Sidbury was one of the seven players declared inactive for last week’s season-opener against the Chiefs. It was a surprising move as Sidbury enters his fourth season with the Falcons and in playing in all 16 games last season tied for second on the team with four sacks.

Sidbury, a fourth-round pick in 2009, had seven tackles and a sack in four exhibition games this preseason. He was joined on the inactive list by fellow defensive end Jonathan Massaquoi, a fifth-round pick this year. The Falcons played with defensive ends John Abraham, Ray Edwards, Kroy Biermann and Cliff Matthews, a seventh-round pick last season who was inactive for all 17 regular-season and playoff games.

“It’s my job, but they always say you can only control what you can control,” Sidbury said. “It’s my job to come to practice every day, perform, produce so I try to do that to the best of my ability. I think I did a pretty good job of that but outside of that what happens, what kind of decisions are made, are out of my hands. It’s my job to come out and work hard, produce and I’m going to keep doing that.”

Roster moves

The Falcons signed offensive guard Phillipkeith Manley to the practice squad Tuesday. Manley, an undrafted rookie free agent from Toledo, made the 53-man roster but was waived Saturday when the team added wide receiver Drew Davis to the active roster. Manley practiced with the team Tuesday.

The Falcons lost offensive tackle Bryce Harris from their practice squad Monday after he was signed to the active roster of the Saints. Harris was an undrafted rookie free agent out of Fresno State. The Saints were in need of a tackle after placing Marcel Jones on injured reserve Friday. The Falcons still have one open spot on their practice squad.

Lost bet

Linebacker Sean Weatherspoon proudly sported a black and gold polo shirt with the Missouri logo emblazoned on the chest Tuesday despite the Tigers 41-20 loss to Georgia in their SEC debut Saturday.

Weatherspoon, who played at Missouri, lost a bet to fellow linebacker Akeem Dent. The second-year player out of Georgia got the satisfaction of having Weatherspoon change with Twitter avatar to a bulldog with the victory.

“It was just a weekend thing,” Weatherspoon said. “I took it off [Monday] night.”

Kickoff return job

Jacquizz Rodgers erased any doubt about the Falcons kickoff return position with his 77-yard return against the Chiefs Sunday.

Rodgers’ return in the first quarter gave the Falcons a starting position on the Chiefs’ 24-yard line on their second possession. The drive ended with a field goal.

Rodgers finished with two kickoff returns for 104 yards. Harry Douglas also had a return of eight yards in the final seconds after the Chiefs scored a late touchdown.

“Going into the season we had a concern about our kickoff and punt returner,” coach Mike Smith said. “Jacquizz has kind of showed we’ve got a guy that can do it and do it very effectively. We had some very nice blocking up front. The 77 yarder gave us great field position and was a great run. Jacquizz has got great vision and I think he’s going to be a great returner when he gets his opportunities.”

Ryan up for award

Quarterback Matt Ryan is a nominee for the FedEx Air and Ground NFL Player of the Week award. Ryan completed 23 of 31 passes for 299 yards and three touchdowns in the 40-24 Week 1 victory over the Chiefs. Other nominees for the Air award are the Redskins’ Robert Griffin III and Cowboys’ Tony Romo. The 49ers’ Frank Gore, the Patriots’ Steven Ridley and Bills’ C.J. Spiller are nominees for the Ground award.

- Chris Vivlamore

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