Archive for September, 2012

John Lynch was a bone-rattling hitter in the NFL from 1993 to 2007. (Craig Jones/Getty Images)

FLOWERY BRANCH –Fox anaylst John Lynch has issued a warning to the undefeated Falcons.

“It just seems like the Falcons are playing great, but so were the Niners and the Vikings tripped them up,” Lynch said. “So were the Patriots and Arizona tripped them up. The Giants were beat in Week 1.  There just have been too many examples. No one is unbeatbable in this league.  So the Falcons will certainly be ready to face Carolina’s best.”

Here’s the TV and Radio info for the Falcons’ game against the Carolina Panthers at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Georgia Dome.

LOCAL RADIO COVERAGE – Star 94 (94.1 FM/790 AM): Play-by-play: Wes Durham, Color Analyst: Dave Archer, and Sideline: John Michaels.

TV COVERAGE BY FOX: Play-by-play: Dick Stockton. Color Analyst: John Lynch. Sideline reporter: Jennifer Hale.

NATIONAL RADIO: Dial Global Radio: Kevin Kugler, Mark Malone.

SATELLITE RADIO: SIRIUS: 134 …

Continue reading TV, Radio: Panthers at Falcons, 1 p.m. Sunday »

Atlanta Falcons safety William Moore intercepts a Peyton Manning pass intended for tight end Jacob Tamme on Denver's opening drive during first quarter action at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Monday, Sept. 17, 2012. CURTIS COMPTON/CCOMPTON@AJC.COM

FLOWERY BRANCH — From his spectacular playing days, Fox television analyst John Lynch knows good safety play when he sees it.

After reviewing tape of the Falcons’ wins over Denver and San Diego, the nine-time Pro Bowl player came away impressed with the play of William Moore and Thomas DeCoud.

“[They] were just kind of guys the last couple of years,” said Lynch, who will work the game against Carolina on Sunday at the Georgia Dome, in a phone interview Wednesday. “You saw flashes, but you didn’t see consistency. But these guys have taken it to the next level.”

With Moore and DeCoud leading the way, the Falcons’ defense has morphed, under the direction of coordinator Mike Nolan, into an opportunistic ballhawking …

Continue reading Lynch: Moore, DeCoud have raised their level of play »

FLOWERY BRANCH — The labor impasse between the NFL and the referees is over, with both parties issuing a joint statment Wednesday.

The parties announced that they have reached an agreement on an eight-year collective bargaining agreement, subject to ratification by the NFLRA.

“Our officials will be back on the field starting tomorrow night,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said. “We appreciate the commitment of the NFLRA in working through the issues to reach this important agreement.”

“Our Board of Directors has unanimously approved taking this proposed CBA to the membership for a ratification vote,” said Scott Green, president of the NFLRA. “We are glad to be getting back on the field for this week’s games.”

The replacement officials made some bad calls in the last two Monday Night Football games.

They arguably cost the Green Bay Packers a victory when they rule that Seattle reciever Golden Tate caught a pass that appeared to be intercepted by Green …

Continue reading Video: NFL, referees reach an eight-year agreement »

Matt Ryan and the high-flying Falcons will look to remain undefeated when they welcome the Panthers to the Georgia Dome on Sunday. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s D. Orlando Ledbetter reports.

LATEST NEWS

Coordinators Preview of the Carolina Panthers (1-2)

John Abraham silent in wake of his arrest

Thomas Davis doubles down on Ryan Kalil’s Super Bowl bet

Falcons and Carolina Injury Reports for Wednesday

Roddy White visits Benjamin Mays High School

OTHER NEWS

Vaughan added to the practice squad, LeGree released

Mike Smith addresses John Abraham’s arrest

Tight end Michael Palmer out for Carolina game

Falcons throttle Chargers 27-3 to remain undefeated

Get instant updates on Twitter at AJCFalcons and you can join the Facebook Fan page at AJC Falcons.

Continue reading Video: Spoon tells Newton to leave his cape at home »

Falcons defensive end John Abraham did not comment to media today on his Monday arrest on charges of obstructing police and firefighters.

Abraham was not in the locker room when it was open to media and was escorted off the practice field by two of the team’s public relations officials.

Atlanta police said Abraham was “obviously intoxicated” when he entered a restricted area and refused to leave when ordered. Officials were responding to a call about a woman who threatened to jump from a building at Atlantic Station in Midtown.

Falcons coach Mike Smith said Tuesday the organization was “very disappointed” that a player was involved in an alleged negative incident but wouldn’t say if Abraham would be disciplined. Falcons running back Michael Turner was arrested a week earlier and charged with DUI.

Continue reading Atlanta Falcons: John Abraham silent in wake of arrest »

FLOWERY BRANCH–Panthers center Ryan Kalil caused a stir before the season when he took out out a full-page newspaper advertisement in Charlotte predicting his team would win the Super Bowl.

Since then the Panthers have started 1-2, including a 36-7 drubbing at home from the New York Giants, and wide receiver Steve Smith publicly criticized quarterback Cam Newton for sulking. Now the Panthers have to face the Falcons (3-0) Sunday at the Georgia Dome.

But Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis doesn’t see any of that as a reason that Kalil’s prediction can’t still be accurate.

“We’ve got a goal in mind,” said Davis, the former Georgia Bulldogs star. “Ryan Kalil said it best: ‘We are going to win the Super Bowl.’ We still believe that wholeheartedly.”

Kalil’s ad drew ridicule in large part because Carolina finished 6-10 last season and last won a playoff game in 2005.

Davis noted that the Packers and Patriots are among the teams with two defeats.

“Can you look …

Continue reading Thomas Davis doubles down on Ryan Kalil’s Super Bowl boast »

Falcons tight end Michael Palmer (81) has the ball knocked loose on a hard hit by Jacksonville Jaguars safety Sean Considine (37) as Jaguars cornerback Terrell Whitehead follows up the play. Associated Press

FLOWERY BRANCH–Falcons tight end Michael Palmer (shoulder), fullback Lousaka Polite (hamstring), cornerback Christopher Owens (head) and running back Antone Smith (hamstring) did not practice today.

Coach Mike Smith already has ruled out Palmer for Sunday’s game. Palmer had his right arm in a sling Wednesday.

Owens and Smith missed the game at San Diego on Sunday.

Five Falcons participated in practice on a limited basis Wednesday: defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux(groin), tackle Tyson Clabo (hip), wide receiver Julio Jones (hand) and linebackers Stephen Nicholas (thigh) and Mike Peterson (ribs).

For Carolina linebacker Jon Beason (knee), guard Mike Pollak (shoulder) and defensive ends Antwan Applewhite (knee) and Greg Hardy (hand) did not practice.

Tackle Byron Bell …

Continue reading Falcons fantasy injury report: Polite has a hamstring »

Roddy White works it out with the Mays High cheerleaders (Photo: Jason Getz/AJC)

Roddy White said he never got to meet a professional athlete during his high school days in South Carolina.

The Falcons wide receiver made that happen for the students at Mays High School on Tuesday, and as a bonus, White got to to fulfill another of his childhood wishes.

For one day at the southwest Atlanta school White took on the roles of teacher, cheerleader, band member and football coach. In what should produce little surprise considering White’s loquaciousness, the highlight for him may have been making an announcement over the school’s public-address system.

“I always wanted to do that since I was a little kid,” White said.

White, 30, told the school’s students he was excited to be there and that he’d walk around the building to talk with them.

“I didn’t even tell them my name, but they figured it out,” White said. “So I know they are football fans. That was a great …

Continue reading Atlanta Falcons: Roddy White visits Mays High School »

Falcons head coach Mike Smith and Panthers quarterback Cam Newton greet each other at mid-field during pregame warmups last season. Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com

FLOWERY BRANCH –In this preview of Carolina, the Falcons coordinators – Dirk Koetter (offense), Mike Nolan (defense) and Keith Armstrong (special teams) — break down the Panthers’  offense, defense and special teams.

The Falcons (3-0) face the Panthers (1-2) at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Georgia Dome. 

CAROLINA OFFENSE

WR — Steve Smith, Louis Murphy, Joe Adams

 LT — Jordan Gross, Garry Williams

LG — Amini Silatolu, Mike Pollak, Jeff Byers

C — Ryan Kalil, Geoff Hangartner, Mike Pollak

RG — Geoff Hangartner, Mike Pollak

RT — Byron Bell, Bruce Campbell

TE — Greg Olsen, Gary Barnidge, Ben Hartsock

WR — Brandon LaFell, Armanti Edwards, Kealoha Pilares.

QB — Cam Newton, Derek Anderson, Jimmy Clausen

RB — DeAngelo Williams, Jonathan Stewart

FB — Mike Tolbert, Richie Brockel

NOLAN ON CAM NEWTON: I didn’t play him last …

Continue reading Atlanta Falcons: Preview of the Carolina Panthers (1-2) »

FLOWERY BRANCH — Running back Josh Vaughan was signed to the practice squad on Tuesday.

To make room for Vaughan, the Falcons released safety Mark LeGree.

Vaughan, 6-0, 225 pounds, was originally signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a college free agent out of Richmond on May 1, 2009. He was signed by the Carolina Panthers in 2010 and has seen action in 10 games over the past two seasons.

LeGree, 6-0, 211 pounds, was originally selected as a fifth round (156th overall) draft choice by the Seattle Seahawks in the 2011 NFL Draft.

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FLOWERY BRANCH — The Falcons worked out a couple of defensive backs — Marlin Jackson and Syd’quan Thompson — today.

Neither of the players were signed. The Falcons generally consider it their due diligence to work out some of the top free agents on Tuesdays during the regular season.

Jackson, 29, 6-foot, 196-pounds, was a first-round draft pick by the Colts in 2005. He has started 32 NFL games and played in 56.

Thompson, 25, 5-9, 191 …

Continue reading Atlanta Falcons: Vaughan added to practice squad, LeGree released »