Atlanta Falcons: Fullback Polite cut, Mike Cox re-signed
Atlanta Falcons running back Mike Cox comes off the field after cutting his nose during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Stephen Morton)
FLOWERY BRANCH — In a move to spruce up their rushing attack, the Falcons have released Lousaka Polite and have re-signed Mike Cox.
The Falcons are 25th in the league in rushing at 98.5 yards per games.
Michael Turner has rushed 128 times for 517 yards and is on pace for another 1,000-yard season.
But the offense is averaging 376.5 yards passing, which is eight in the league. They Falcons are hoping to provide some balance with some better lead blocking.
The Falcons drafted Bradie Ewing with the hopes that he’d win the fullback job. But he is out for the season after suffering a knee injury in the exhibition season opener against Baltimore.
Ewing, a former walk-on at Wisconsin, was a fifth-round (157th overall) pick.
Cox was beat out in training camp by Polite and released.
Ewing was expected to compete with Mike Cox for the starting fullback position. His acquisition led the Falcons to release Pro Bowler Ovie Mughelli.
The fullback position has been problematic for the Falcons this season. When Polite was slowed by a hamstring injury, offensive lineman Joe Hawley played some fullback in two games.
The Falcons said they weren’t about about the run-game when it wasn’t producing in the exhibition season.
“To be honest, I never worry about the running game in preseason,” offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter said after the Saturday walk-through pracgtice. “I just don’t see why you want to plow it up in there and get your backs beat up. We know that Michael Turner can run the football.”
The Falcons did try to get Turner a little work against the Bengals, but fullback Mike Cox had a tough day lead-blocking.
“We are trying to get guys evaluated,” Koetter said. “I don’t think we forgot how to run the ball overnight.”
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55 comments Add your comment
JD
November 7th, 2012
9:17 pm
I know great spelling on my part…just typin too fast…faster than Polite ever moved
Falcon James
November 7th, 2012
10:12 pm
Wow….drop one pass on the opening play and you get cut.
CDFALCONS
November 8th, 2012
9:19 am
Hindu Elvis wanna be pimp, Remember before Brent Grimes got injured Dunta was moved to nickel back. since Grimes is hurt, he is now back to right corner back, yes he was torched deep last week. But as a liability far from it. Dunta will bust your azz, and WR know this. it is very easy to say cut someone a starter, BUT REALLY whom would you wanna be Hindu Elvis Pimp replace Dunta with? take you time am waiting! GO DIRTY- BIRDS!!!
biscuteater
November 8th, 2012
10:43 am
Until this team learns to block and tackle..its up for grabs!! Ryan goes gown..then what? Wonder why other teams are trying to “kill” him?
marcus
November 8th, 2012
5:42 pm
i thought ovie was in st.louis i think they just cut cox because polite did a better job at catching the ball out of the back field in the preseason cox looked good blocking in the preseason to me if our running game comes throw sunday we win