Atlanta Falcons

Atlanta Falcons top draft pick Peter Konz does his "Dirty Bird" dance saying he " I'm bringing back the Dirty Bird" at the end of his first day of practice with the team in Flowery Branch, Friday, May 11, 2012.

FLOWERY BRANCH — The Falcons signed second-round draft pick Peter Konz to a four-year, $3.58 million deal on Sunday.

Konz, who was projected to be selected in the first round of the draft, was picked by the Falcons with the 55th overall pick, in the second round. His deal includes a $1.05 million signing bonus.

The Falcons also signed rookie draft picks fullback Bradie Ewing (fifth rounder), safety Charles Mitchell (sixth) and defensive tackle Travian Robertson (seventh) on Sunday. Terms of those deals were undisclosed.

Konz spent most of the practice during the three-day rookie minicamp at right guard and received some snaps at center.

“I thought Peter did a nice job,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said after the first practice. “Of course, Peter is being …

Continue reading Falcons sign second-round pick Peter Konz, three other draft picks »

Tweet

–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog

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

Continue reading Video: Falcons DT Travian Robertson »

Tweet

–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog

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

Continue reading Video: Falcons coach Mike Smith, Day 2 rookie minicamp »

Bradie Ewing is taking part in the Falcons rookie minicamp. He feels no pressure to replace Ovie Mughelli. (Associated Press)

By Chris Vivlamore

Brady Ewing isn’t about to pencil himself into the lineup.

The fullback was drafted in the fifth round (157th) out of Wisconsin, and the acquisition led the Falcons to release Pro Bowler Ovie Mughelli this week. By rule, the team needed to wait until Mughelli was recovered from the knee injury that cut short his season.

“Whenever you have to make decisions on your roster it’s always tough, especially with a guy who has contributed and helped us have the success that we’ve had,” Smith said of Mughelli. “It was an organizational decision, and we wish Ovie the best. We’ve got to move on. The roster is always changing. It’s never going to be the same.”

Smith said Ewing (5-11, 243) has shown the ability to catch the ball early in camp.

“I’m not really worrying about that situation,” Ewing said of replacing Mughelli. “I know that’s the …

Continue reading Ewing not ready to pencil himself into the lineup »

Tweet

–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog

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

Continue reading Video: Falcons coach Mike Smith after rookie practice »

Southern Mississippi offensive lineman Lamar Holmes runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, on Feb. 25. (Associated Press)

Falcons tackle Lamar Holmes, the team’s third-round draft pick, will not participate in the team’s rookie minicamp because of a left foot injury.

“Lamar has got a minor issue with his foot,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said after practice on Friday. ”It’s more precautionary right now. We’ll try to get him back out there. It won’t be here in this minicamp. It will be closer to when we start our OTAs at the end of the month. It’s something that became evident in his post-draft physical.”

Here’s a Q&A with Holmes on the night that he was drafted.

Tweet

–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog

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

Continue reading Falcons tackle Lamar Holmes has a left foot injury »

East Carolina's Dominique Davis started his career at Boston College backing up Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan. (Associated Press/Gail Burton)

The nearly 50 players who arrived for rookie minicamp on Thursday have been issued their equipment.

They take the field for their first practice at 3:30 p.m. today. (The minicamp practices, which run through Sunday, are closed to the public. The AJC posse of myself, Chris Vivlamore and Curtis Compton will be on hand for you guys.)

Here are the five top questions for the camp:

1. 1. Can second-round pick Peter Konz earn a starting position?
2. 2. Can fifth-round pick Bradie Ewing beat out Mike Cox and replace Ovie Mughelli at fullback?
3. 3. The Falcons new punt and kickoff returner is likely in this group. (My early favorite is Cody Pearcy, the speedster from tiny Huntingdon College.)
4. 4. Does new defensive coordinator Mike Nolan yell as much as Brian VanGorder?
5. 5. Will quarterback Dominique Davis serve notice to the veteran backups that he’ll …

Continue reading Atlanta Falcons: 5 questions for rookie minicamp »

Falcons wide receiver Roddy White gets into another Twitter dust-up. He doesn't care if he can't walk when he's 50. (Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com

Falcons wide receiver Roddy White got into what is becoming a weekly Twitter fight.

There was the scrap with fans during the labor situation, the fans from New Orleans after he ripped their city, his freestyle tweets on commissioner Roger Goodell and let’s not forget about him expressing remorse for his anti-gay tweets.

This time, White appears to be fighting with himself over the worthiness of former players’ right to bash the game.  

“It’s crazy how football players are killing our game you signed up to play a violent game and made a lot of money now u talk bad about #how”

White later added: “Yes older players didn’t make what we made but I remember when gas was 89 cents so the cost of living was different. I don’t have nothing against old players they made football what it is today and I love those guys and I don’t have a …

Continue reading Roddy White gets in another Twitter squabble »

Falcons safety William Moore, linebacker Stephen Nicholas, defensive end Lawrence Sidbury, linebacker Spencer Adkins, fullback Mike Cox, running Antone Smith, cornerback Christopher Owens and safety Shann Schillinger will surprise 50 women and their children from My Sister’s House, the women’s and children’s facility of the Atlanta Mission, with a special Mother’s Day celebration today.

The players will present the women with flowers, serve food, sign autographs, and take photographs throughout the afternoon.

Established in 1938, Atlanta Mission provides overnight shelter, job attainment programming, long-term residential discipleship programming, and transitional housing for more than 950 homeless men, women and children daily.

Atlanta Mission Women’s and Children’s services are provided at My Sister’s House, a 264-bed facility that offers overnight shelter and residential discipleship programs for homeless women and women with children.

Tweet

–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The …

Continue reading Falcons to go on a Mother’s Day mission today »

Clark Atlanta defenders Harcourt Farquharson (5) and Dominque Hodges (29) celebrate Hodges' interception during their game against Morehouse at Clark Atlanta University Saturday afternoon in Atlanta, Ga., Oct. 30, 2010. Jason Getz jgetz@ajc.com

 

 

FLOWERY BRANCH – The roster, with a heavy local flavor, is set for the Falcons rookie minicamp that will run Friday through Saturday.

In addition to the six drafted rookies and the 23 undrafted rookies, six veterans and 10 players on tryouts will participate.

The veterans are wide receiver Kevin Cone and Drew Davis, tight end Tommy Gallarda, linebacker Matt Hansen, offensive lineman Andrew Jackson and safety Suaesi Tuimaunei.

Clark Atlanta cornerback Harcourt Farquharson, Georgia Tech wide receiver Tyler Melton and Georgia tight end Aron White head up the list of tryout invitees.

Here’s a youtube video of Farquharson.

In 2010, two players who received tryouts were signed to the roster in quarterback Eric Ward and cornerback …

Continue reading Clark Atlanta CB Harcourt Farquharson to receive tryout »