ATLANTA FALCONS WEEKLY PRESS RELEASE WWW.ATLANTAFALCONS.COM
• 4400 FALCON PARKWAY • fLOWERY bRANCH, ga 30542
PRESEASON WEEK 2 ATLANTA FALCONS (0-1)
at St. Louis Rams (1-0)
8:00 p.m. (EST), Friday, August 21, 2009, Edward Jones Dome http://pr.atlantafalcons.com
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FALCONS FINISH PRESEASON ROAD SCHEDULE AT ST. LOUIS The Atlanta Falcons hit the road for the second consecutive week of the preseason when the team visits the St. Louis Rams. The contest is only the second between both teams in the preseason as the Rams claimed a 3817 victory in 1991 at a neutral site in Jacksonville, Florida. Atlanta will be making its first trip to the Edward Jones Dome since a 2007 regular season battle. The Falcons lost their preseason opener to the Detroit Lions on a last second field goal, 27-26. Despite the outcome, Atlanta witnessed several Matt Ryan completed five of seven solid performances, including one passes for 33 yards in the opening from running back Michael Turner, who logged 63 rushing yards and had two drives against Detroit. one carry for a 40-yard touchdown in the first quarter. Defensively, linebacker Tony Gilbert returned an interception 42 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter.
Password: afmedia
BROADCAST INFORMATION RADIO Coverage Provided By DAVE-FM (92.9)
TELEVISION Coverage Provided By WXIA-11 Play-by-Play: Randy Waters Color Analyst: Brian Baldinger Sideline: Fred Kalil
Play-by-Play: Wes Durham Color Analyst: Dave Archer
2008 nfc south standings Team Carolina Atlanta Tampa Bay New Orleans
W 12 11 9 8
L 4 5 7 8
T 0 0 0 0
Pct. .750 .688 .563 .500
PF 414 391 361 463
PA 329 325 323 393
Div. 4-2 3-3 3-3 2-4
Conf. 8-4 8-4 8-4 5-7
This season, Atlanta will look to put together another winning campaign after finishing 11-5 last year, which included the team’s first playoff berth since 2004. Head Coach Mike Smith and quarterback Matt Ryan, the first rookie head coach and quarterback duo to compete in a playoff contest since 1945, want to continue the momentum in 2009 as the two, along with General Manager Thomas Dimitroff, all earned Sporting News accolades at the conclusion of 2008. The Falcons will return home on Saturday, August 29, when they host the San Diego Chargers in a nationally televised preseason contest on CBS from the Georgia Dome.
Falcons running back Michael Turner carried the ball six times for 63 yards which included a 40-yard touchdown in the first quarter.
THIS WEEK’S MEDIA AVAILABILITY Monday, August 17
Tuesday, August 18
Wednesday, August 19
Thursday, August 20
Friday, August 21
Saturday, August 22
- Practice 9:30 a.m. and 3:45 p.m.
- Practice 8:30 a.m. and 3:45 p.m.
- Practice 8:30 a.m. and 3:45 p.m.
- Practice 10:25 a.m..
- Players Day Off
- Coach Smith available after the first practice.
- Coach Smith available after the first practice.
- Coach Smith, Matt Ryan and Tony Gonzalez available after the first practice.
- Coach Smith available after practice.
- Atlanta Falcons at St. Louis Rams
- Players available after the first and second practices
- Players available after the first and second practices
- Players available after the first and second practices
- Falcons Travel Day (players not available)
No availability
8:00 p.m. Edward Jones Dome
REGGIE ROBERTS - Vice President of Football Communications
[email protected], (770) 965-2761
MATT CONTI - Manager of Football Communications
[email protected], (770) 965-4350
FRANK KLEHA - Senior Director of Media Relations
[email protected], (770) 965-2763
BRIAN CEARNS - Football Communications Coordinator
[email protected], (770) 965-4318
THIS WEEK’S OPPONENT: THE st. louis rams ALL-TIME RESULTS
2009 regular season schedule PRESEASON Date Aug. 15 Aug. 21 Aug. 29 Sept. 3
Opponent at Detroit at St. Louis SAN DIEGO BALTIMORE
REGULAR SEASON Date Opponent Sept. 13 MIAMI Sept. 20 CAROLINA Sept. 27 at New England Oct. 4 BYE WEEK Oct. 11 at San Francisco Oct. 18 CHICAGO Oct. 25 at Dallas Nov. 2 at New Orleans Nov. 8 WASHINGTON Nov. 15 at Carolina Nov. 22 at New York Giants Nov. 29 TAMPA BAY Dec. 6 PHILADELPHIA Dec. 13 NEW ORLEANS Dec. 20 at New York Jets Dec. 27 BUFFALO Jan. 3 at Tampa Bay * Denotes Flexible Scheduling
Time 4 p.m. 8 p.m. 8 p.m. 7:30 p.m.
Result/Network L, 27-26 WXIA WGCL (national) WXIA
Time 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m.
Network CBS FOX FOX
4:05 p.m. 8:20 p.m. 4:15 p.m. 8:30 p.m. 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m.
FOX NBC FOX ESPN FOX FOX FOX* FOX* FOX* FOX* FOX* CBS* FOX*
gameday storyline The Falcons finish out their road preseason slate with a contest against the St. Louis Rams at the Edward Jones Dome. Atlanta looks for its first preseason win after dropping its opening contest to Detroit at Ford Field. Despite the long regular season history between the Atlanta and St. Louis, Friday’s game marks only the second preseason match-up as the Falcons look for their first win in the series.
TALE OF THE TAPE 2008 Final Regular Season Statistics Falcons (rank) 24.2 (10) Points Per Game 361.2 (6) Total Offense Per Game 152.7 (2) Net Rushing Yards Per Game 208.5 (14) Net Passing Yards Per Game 30:49 Possession Average 20.3 (11) Opponent Points Per Game 347.9 (24) Opponent Total Offense Per Game 127.5 (25) Opponent Net Rushing Yards Per Game 220.4 (21) Opponent Net Passing Yards Per Game -3 (21) Turnover Differential
Rams (rank) 14.5 (30t) 287.3 (27) 103.1 (25) 184.2 (26) 29:32 29.1 (31) 371.9 (28) 154.7 (29) 217.2 (19) -5 (23)
2008 regular season leaders Leading Passers: Matt Ryan Marc Bulger
Yards 3,440 2,720
TDs 16 11
INTs 11 13
Yards Avg. 1,699 4.5 1,042 4.1
Long 70 56t
TDs 17 7
Leading Receivers: Rec. Yards Avg. Roddy White 88 1,382 15.7 Torry Holt 64 796 12.4
Long 70t 45t
TDs 7 3
Leading Rushers: Michael Turner Steven Jackson
Comp. Att. 265 434 251 440 Att. 376 253
Rating 87.7 71.4
All-time preseason results: Rams lead series, 1-0 All-time regular season results: Rams lead series, 47-25-2 All-time postseason results: Falcons lead series, 1-0 Falcons regular season home record vs. Rams: 19-19 Falcons regular season road record vs. Rams: 6-28-2 Falcons regular season record at Edward Jones Dome: 2-7 Current regular season streak: Falcons - one game Last preseason meeting: 1991 - Rams 38 Falcons 17 (Neutral) Last regular season meeting: 2008 - Falcons 31 Rams 27 (Atl) Preseason Rams lead, 1-0 Year Result
Location
1991 Rams 38 Falcons 17 Jacksonville, Florida
Regular Season Rams lead, 47-25-2 Year Result
Location
1966 Rams 19 Falcons 14 1967 Rams 31 Falcons 3 Rams 20 Falcons 3 1968 Rams 27 Falcons 14 Rams 17 Falcons 10 1969 Rams 17 Falcons 7 Rams 38 Falcons 6 1970 Tie, 10-10 Rams 17 Falcons 7 1971 Tie, 20-20 Rams 24 Falcons 16 1972 Falcons 31 Rams 3 Rams 20 Falcons 7 1973 Rams 31 Falcons 0 Falcons 15 Rams 13 1974 Rams 21 Falcons 0 Rams 30 Falcons 7 1975 Rams 22 Falcons 7 Rams 16 Falcons 7 1976 Rams 30 Falcons 14 Rams 59 Falcons 0 1977 Falcons 17 Rams 6 Rams 23 Falcons 7 1978 Rams 10 Falcons 0 Falcons 15 Rams 7 1979 Rams 20 Falcons 14 Rams 34 Falcons 13 1980 Falcons 13 Rams 10 Rams 20 Falcons 17 OT 1981 Rams 37 Falcons 35 Rams 21 Falcons 16 1982 Falcons 34 Rams 17 1983 Rams.27 Falcons 21 Rams 36 Falcons 13
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1984 Falcons 30 Rams 28 Rams 24 Falcons 10 1985 Rams 17 Falcons 6 Falcons 30 Rams 14 1986 Falcons 26 Rams 14 Rams 14 Falcons 7 1987 Falcons 24 Rams 20 Rams 33 Falcons 0 1988 Rams 33 Falcons 0 Rams 22 Falcons 7 1989 Rams 31 Falcons 21 Rams 26 Falcons 14 1990 Rams 44 Falcons 24 Falcons 20 Rams 13 1991 Falcons 31 Rams 14 Falcons 31 Rams 14 1992 Falcons 30 Rams 28 Rams 38 Falcons 27 1993 Falcons 30 Rams 24 Falcons 13 Rams 0 1994 Falcons 31 Rams 13 Falcons 8 Rams 5 1995 Rams 21 Falcons 19 Falcons 31 Rams 6 1996 Rams 59 Falcons 16 Rams 34 Falcons 27 1997 Falcons 34 Rams 31 Falcons 27 Rams 21 1998 Falcons 37 Rams 15 Falcons 21 Rams 10 1999 Rams 35 Falcons 7 Rams 41 Falcons 13 2000 Rams 41 Falcons 20 Rams 45 Falcons 29 2001 Rams 35 Falcons 6 Rams 31 Falcons 13 2003 Rams 36 Falcons 0 2004 Falcons 34 Rams 17 *2005 Falcons 47 Rams 17 2007 Rams 28 Falcons 16 2008 Falcons 31 Rams 27
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quoting coach smith
Falcons Head Coach Mike Smith on the team’s first preseason contest against Detroit “You hate to lose a game the way it ended, but we’ll get a chance to evaluate a bunch of young players and a bunch of guys who are competing for positions on the roster. The second drive from the offense was outstanding. We were able to move the ball and score, which gave us a 10-3 lead at halftime. We got our first team out (of the game) very early and I thought they did a nice job. The second unit came in and played better. We will see a lot of improvement from Week 1 to Week 2.”
THIS WEEK’S OPPONENT: THE st. louis rams notable connections Former Falcons: • Rams LB Chris Draft played for the Atlanta Falcons from 2000-03. • Rams TE Daniel Fells was signed as a UFA by the Falcons in 2006. • St. Louis WR Laurent Robinson was drafted by the Falcons in 2007 and competed in 21 games over the course of two seasons (2007-08). • Rams Quality Control/Offense Coach Andy Sugarman served as the Offensive Assistant with the Falcons in 2007. • Rams Special Teams Coordinator Tom McMahon spent the 2007-08 seasons as the Assistant Special Teams Coach for the Falcons. • Rams General Manager Billy Devaney was the Falcons Senior Personnel Executive in 2006 and Assistant General Manger in 2007. Former Rams:
• Falcons Offensive Line Coach Paul Boudreau coached the Rams offensive line from 2006-07. • Falcons C Brett Romberg played for the Rams from 2006-08. Georgia/Missouri Connections:
• Rams SS James Butler played college football at Georgia Tech University. • Falcons S William Moore grew up in Hayti, Mo., and attended Univ. of Missouri. • Rams LB Will Witherspoon and TE Randy McMichael both attended UGA. • St. Louis WR Sean Walker attended Jefferson County High in Louisville, GA. • Rams CB Cord Parks played football at Stone Mountain High School. • Rams LB Larry Grant attended Meadow Creek High School in his sophomore and junior seasons and played his senior season at Norcross High School.
• Falcons Director of Athletic Performance Jeff Fish and Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach Bill Hughan both spent three seasons with the University of Missouri (2001-03) strength and conditioning program. NFL Connections: • Falcons FB Ovie Mughelli and QB Chris Redman were members of the Baltimore Ravens with the Rams QB Kyle Boller and C Jason Brown. College Connections: • Falcons LB Coy Wire played at Stanford University with Rams DE Oshiomogho Atogwe for two seasons (2000-01) and LB Chris Draft for one season (1998). • Falcons LB Tony Gilbert played at the University of Georgia with Rams LB Will Witherspoon and TE Randy McMichael. Coaching Connections:
• Rams Running Backs Coach Sylvester Croom was the Head Coach at
THE LAST TIME OUT... Falcons 31 Rams 27 December 28, 2008 Georgia Dome Falcons Rams
1 3 7
2 14 7
3 7 3
4 7 10
Final 31 27
Recap: Kicker Jason Elam put the Falcons on the scoreboard first with a 39-yard field goal in the opening quarter. Following a Rams score on a four-yard Steven Jackson TD run, the Falcons responded with two touchdowns in the second quarter. Running back Michael Turner added his franchise record 17th score of the season while Jerious Norwood hit paydirt with an eight-yard scamper. St. Louis kept it close at halftime with a Donnie Avery touchdown reception, however Atlanta held on to a 17-14 advantage. With a Roddy White 18-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter, the Falcons took a 10-point lead. The Rams stormed back with 13 unanswered points, grabbing a 27-24 lead with 6:39 remaining in the game. On the ensuing Atlanta posession, the Falcons drove 80 yards, capped off by a Jerious Norwood 45-yard touchdown to seal the victory. Highlights: • The Falcons finished the season with an 11-5 record and a 7-1 mark at the Georgia Dome as the team reached the playoffs for the first time since 2004. • Michael Turner posted his eighth 100-yard rushing outing of the season and the second-highest single-game rushing total in franchise history after finishing with 208 yards. • Wide receiver Roddy White finished the contest with 48 receiving yards, setting a franchise record for total receiving yards in a season with 1,382. • The Falcons special teams unit tallied an NFL record for punt return yardage allowed in a season (49 yards) after holding the Rams to zero punt return yards. • After logging 417 yards of net offense against St. Louis, the Falcons ended the regular season with a team record 5,779 net yards, surpassing the previous mark of 5,661 yards set in 1981.
Mississippi State when Falcons RB Jerious Norwood competed for the school.
MIKE SMITH
STEVE SPAGNUOLO
Coaching Years in NFL: 11th Year Falcons Head Coach: 2nd Year Regular Season: 11-5 (.687) Postseason: 0-1 (.000)
Coaching Years in NFL: 11th Year Rams Head Coach: 1st Year Regular Season: 0-0 (.000) Postseason: 0-0 (.000)
In his first season as Head COACHING Coach of the Falcons, Mike BACKGROUND Smith led Atlanta to one of 1982 S.D. State Asst. Coach the biggest turnarounds in 1983-85 S.D. State Linebackers Morehead St. Def. Line NFL history (+7 wins from 1986 Tenn. Tech Def. Line 2007) while finishing sec- 1987 1988-95 Tenn. Tech Spec. Teams Coord. ond in the NFC South 1996-98 Tenn. Tech Def. Coord. Division and guiding the 1999-2001 Balt. Ravens Def. Asst./Def. Line Balt. Ravens Linebackers team to their first playoff 2002 appearance since 2004. 2003-07 Jac. Jaguars Def. Coord. 2008-09 Atl. Falcons Head Coach For his efforts, he earned NFL Coach of the Year honors from the Associated Press and Sporting News. Smith’s 11 victories tied him for the best record for rookie head coaches in the NFL taking over a team that finished below .500 the previous season. Atlanta witnessed several improvements from the 2007 season, which included points per game average, rushing yards per game average, passing touchdown to interception ratio and sacks allowed. Atlanta also ranked first in the NFL in first quarter points scored and sixth in first quarter points allowed.
Steve Spagnuolo became COACHING the Head Coach for the St. BACKGROUND Louis Rams after a stellar 1984-86 Lafayette College Def. Line Def. Backs career with the New York 1987-89 Univ. of Connecticut Univ. of Connecticut Def. Coord. Giants as Defensive 1990-91 1992 Barcelona Dragons Def. Line Coordinator (2007-09), 1993 Univ. of Maine Def. Backs Univ. of Maine Def. Coord. which included a 17-14 1994 Def. Backs victory over the undefeat- 1994-95 Rutgers Univ. 1996-97 Bowling Green Univ. Def. Backs ed New England Patriots 1998 Frankfurt Galaxy Def. Coord. Def. Asst. in Super Bowl XLII. Before 1999-2000 Phi. Eagles Def. Backs his two seasons with the 2001-03 Phi. Eagles 2004-06 Phi. Eagles Linebackers Giants, Spagnuolo spent 2007-08 N.Y. Giants Def. Coord. eight seasons on the 2009 Stl. Rams Head Coach defensive staff for the Philadelphia Eagles (1999-2006). His first pro-level experience came when he interned for the Washington Redskins (1983). That year, the team earned an NFC title and secured a berth in Super Bowl XVIII. Spagnuolo has also logged collegiate experience at schools including, the University of Connecticut, the University of Maine, Rutgers University and Bowling Green University.
THIS WEEK’S OPPONENT: THE st. louis rams Probable starters this week
Probable starters this week
OFFENSE
DEFENSE
WR Roddy White - After setting a franchise record for receiving yards in a season (1,382) and earning his first Pro Bowl berth in 2008, White is looking to post his third consecutive 1,200-yard campaign this year.
RE John Abraham - Will look to top his career and franchise record of 16.5 sacks which he set last season. He also posted three-sack performances in Weeks 1, 9 and 15 of 2008.
LT Sam Baker - Enters his second NFL season as the starter at left tackle. Last season, he logged three starts.
DT Peria Jerry - Atlanta’s first-round selection will look to make an instant impact on the defensive line after earning Associated Press first-team honors in his senior season at Ole Miss.
LG Justin Blalock – Will look to start every game of the season for the second consecutive year.
DT Jonathan Babineaux - Enters his fifth season as an Atlanta Falcon this year. In 2008, posted 3.5 sacks and 38 tackles. He was also selected to the USA Today All-Joe team.
C Todd McClure – In his 11th season with the Falcons, will enter the season looking to improve his consecutive games started streak to 113.
LE Jamaal Anderson - In his first two seasons with the Falcons, he has totaled 81 tackles and two sacks. His sacks came in back-toback games against Chicago and Philadelphia in 2008.
RG Harvey Dahl - Started every game in 2008, and will look to block for a successful rushing attack, which finished second in the NFL last season.
OLB Mike Peterson - A veteran and vocal leader, Peterson enters his first year with the Falcons starting at linebacker. In 135 career games, he has totaled 1,365 tackles (792 solo) and 19.5 sacks.
RT Tyson Clabo - Listed as the starter at right tackle following an impressive season last year where he started every game for the first time in his career.
MLB Curtis Lofton - Will look to build off of his impressive rookie campaign where he totaled 108 tackles (second in the NFL among rookie players). Lofton also garnered 2008 All-Rookie honors by the Sporting News and Pro Football Weekly.
TE Tony Gonzalez - Holds NFL records for the most receptions (916), receiving yards (10,940) and touchdown catches (76) by a tight end. His 10 Pro Bowl selections are more than any other tight end. WR Michael Jenkins - Posted a career-high 777 receving yards in 2008 while adding three touchdowns. Has finished second on the team in receiving in each of the last four seasons. QB Matt Ryan - In 2008 was voted Associated Press NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and Sporting News Rookie of the Year after completing 265 of 434 passes for 3,440 yards and 16 touchdowns for a 87.7 passer rating. He became the first player in franchise history to earn NFC Rookie of the Month accolades (October). RB Michael Turner - Earned his first career Pro Bowl berth last season after finishing second in the NFL with 1,699 rushing yards. Last season also marked the first time he topped the 1,000-yard plateau in his career. FB Ovie Mughelli - In 2008, opened holes for a Falcons rushing attack, which averaged 152.7 yards per game. He also added eight receptions for 57 yards.
LAST GAME AT A GLANCE Preseason Game #1 (8/15/09)
Lions - 27
Falcons - 26
The Falcons jumped out to a 10-3 halftime lead on a 40-yard touchdown run from running back Michael Turner and a 46-yard field goal from Jason Elam. Following a Lions field goal on their opening offensive possession, Atlanta’s defensive unit held Detroit scoreless for the next four drives into the third quarter. The Falcons found the scoreboard first following the half when, linebacker Tony Gilbert intercepted a pass and returned the ball 42 yards for a touchdown. Following Detroit’s first touchdown of the game in the third quarter, Atlanta responded when running back Jason Snelling crossed the goal line for a one-yard run. With the Falcons holding a 23-17 lead entering the fourth quarter of play, Detroit kept the offensive pressure on Atlanta’s defense and completed a 27-26 comeback victory on the foot of Jason Hanson as time expired.
OLB Stephen Nicholas - Entering his third year with the Falcons, Nicholas has collected 46 tackles, two sacks and one fumble recovery over the past two years. He also ranked third on the team in special teams tackles with 12 last season. RCB Chris Houston - Last season, Houston started every contest at cornerback and finished the season with 59 tackles and two interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown. LCB Brent Grimes - After entering the NFL as a rookie free agent in 2006, Grimes has made his mark after seeing action in 14 games over the last two seasons. In 2008, he contributed with 36 tackles and added his first career interception. SS Erik Coleman - The leader in the secondary unit, Coleman enters his second season with the Falcons after piecing together a steller campaign in 2008. He set a career-high with 127 tackles and added three interceptions. FS Thomas DeCoud - One season after contributing heavily on special teams, fans will look for DeCoud to up his game and compete with the same athleticism which earned him All-Pac 10 honors following his senior season at the University of California.
FALCONS BEST GAMES VERSUS ST. LOUIS RB Michael Turner 2008 - Set the second-highest single-game rushing total with 208 yards on 25 carries with one touchdown. WR Roddy White 2007 - Totaled 10 receptions for 146 yards and one touchdown. RB Jerious Norwood 2008 - Compiled 56 rushing yards and two touchdowns on three carries. 2007 - Posted 94 rushing yards on eight carries for an 11.8 yards per carry average. TE Tony Gonzalez 2006 - Notched five receptions for 63 yards and two touchdowns. 2000 - Caught five passes for 117 yards (23.4 avg.) and one touchdown. S Erik Coleman 2008 - Collared 12 tackles (seven solo). LB Mike Peterson 2005 - Posted 13 tackles (seven solo) and one sack for a loss of seven yards.
falcons vs. lions postgame notes 8/15/09 Quarterback Matt Ryan • QB Matt Ryan completed his first pass of the pre-
season and his first reception to TE Tony Gonzalez at the 13:38 mark in the first quarter. The reception earned Atlanta a first down. • Ryan finished the contest having completed five of seven passes for 33 yards and a long completion of 11 yards. He also completed passes to five different receivers.
Running Back Michael Turner • RB Michael Turner posted the first touchdown of
the game on a 40-yard run to give the Falcons a 7-3 advantage. Turner totaled six rushes for 63 yards and that score. The 40-yard gain was the longest preseason rush for Turner since a 63-yard scamper against Indianapolis last year (August 16, 2008) at the Georgia Dome.
Linebacker Tony Gilbert • Falcons linebacker Tony Gilbert intercepted
Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford and returned the pick 42 yards for a touchdown. The score gave Atlanta a 16-3 advantage. Gilbert has never intercepted a pass in the regular season.
Defensive Tackle Thomas Johnson • DT Thomas Johnson started the contest in place
of Peria Jerry and logged his first sack in a Falcons uniform. The sack, which came on third down with the Lions lined-up on the two-yard line, forced a Detroit field goal.
• WR Eric Weems started the game as the Falcons punt returner. After fair-catching the first kick, Weems took his second return 34 yards into Lions territory. The return set up an Atlanta field goal. • RB Jason Snelling logged his first touchdown of
the preseason on a one-yard run in the third quarter to give Atlanta a 23-10 advantage. With D.J. Shockley at quarterback, the Falcons drove 67 yards in four plays for the score.
Quoting Ryan... “I thought we did a good job. There were a couple of mistakes, but that’s to be expected in your first game. I thought it was good to shake off some of the rust. We got into a rhythm during the second drive and we made some plays. Mike (Turner) made a great run. The offensive line opened up a big hole and we were able to get a touchdown there.”
Quoting Turner... “(The touchdown play) was a great call by our coaching staff. The linebackers collapsed the middle and Ovie (Mughelli) did a great job of setting them off. Justin Peelle made a great block and I just had to make a move on their safety.”
Quoting Gilbert... “I was in my spot, made a big play on the ball and took it back for a touchdown. I thought we did some good things on defense along with some bad things. We are going to go back, look at the film and make the corrections.”
Quoting Johnson... “It was the design of the goal line package that we have. It was a great call. I got off the ball, put my hands on (Daunte) Culpepper and made the sack.”
• True to form last season, wide receiver Roddy
White led the team in receiving with 29 yards on three receptions. White also caught a 12-yard pass on a third down play in the second quarter continuing the Falcons drive. Last season, White led the NFL in third down receptions as well as first down receptions on third down plays (27).
WING TIPS Training camp schedule
2009 sTRENGTH OF SCHEDULE The Falcons will face the NFC East and AFC East in cross-division play while continuing to battle NFC South opponents, Tampa Bay, New Orleans and Carolina twice a year. Atlanta will also match-up with the Chicago Bears on Sunday Night Football in a home game at the Georgia Dome and will travel to San Francisco to battle the 49ers. Collectively, the Falcons hold a 74-64 record against their NFC South foes while totaling 90 all-time victories against their remaining opponents on the 2009 schedule. The Falcons rank fourth in strength of schedule this season with their opponents combining for a .588 winning percentage in 2008 (150 wins, 105 losses and one tie). The Carolina Panthers are the only NFC team ranked higher in strength of schedule entering the season (second). 2008 Record 12-4 8-8 9-7 11-5 9-7 8-8 9-6-1 7-9
Last Time Played Result November 23, 2008 W, 45-28 December 7, 2008 L, 29-25 December 14, 2008 W, 13-10 OT November 6, 2005 W, 17-10 October 12, 2008 W, 22-20 December 3, 2006 W, 24-14 October 26, 2008 L, 27-14 September 25, 2005 W, 24-16
AWAY 2008 Record Carolina 12-4 New Orleans 8-8 Tampa Bay 9-7 New England 11-5 San Francisco 7-9 Dallas 9-7 New York Giants 12-4 New York Jets 9-7
Last Time Played Result November 23, 2008 W, 45-28 December 7, 2008 L, 29-25 December 14, 2008 W, 13-10 OT October 9, 2005 L, 31-28 November 4, 2007 W, 20-16 December 16, 2006 L, 38-28 October 15, 2007 L, 31-10 October 24, 2005 W, 27-14
HOME Carolina New Orleans Tampa Bay Miami Chicago Washington Philadelphia Buffalo
The Falcons 2009 training camp includes 28 practices, coupled with 12 two-a-day sessions. Fourteen of the practices were open to the public as well. Practice lengths and times are subject to change based on weather and Coach Smith’s discretion. Media members are encouraged to obtain updates to the schedule by: • Calling a member of the Falcons Communications staff • Logging on to www.atlantafalcons.com • Calling the Falcons Training Camp hotline: (770) 965-2752
# of practices Practice Times Open to the Public Date Aug. 16 No Practice Aug. 17 2 9:30 a.m., 3:45 p.m. Both Closed Aug. 18 2 8:30 a.m., 3:45 p.m. Both Closed Aug. 19 2 8:30 a.m., 3:45 p.m. Both Closed Aug. 20 1 10:25 a.m. Closed Aug. 21 Falcons at St. Louis - 8 p.m. Aug. 29 Falcons vs. San Diego - 8 p.m. Sept. 3 Falcons vs. Baltimore - 7:30 p.m.
what to look for on atlantafalcons.com AtlantaFalcons.com is an award-winning website, which features exclusive team content for fans and the media alike. This week’s schedule includes: Tuesday, August 18 -
A new edition of “Time Machine,” a look at Falcons history from Senior Director of Media Relations Frank Kleha.
Wednesday, August 19 - Updates on training camp and more in J. Mike’s Missives. Thursday, August 20 -
Preview coverage of the Falcons trip to St. Louis for the second preseason game.
Friday, August 21 -
LIVE coverage of the Falcons second preseason game against the St. Louis Rams.
Saturday, August 22 -
A recap of the Falcons second preseason game, including exclusive interviews on Falcons First Take.
Sunday, August 23 -
Feature coverage from AF.com, including new sights at the Georgia Dome for 2009.
WING TIPS support staff
2009 preseason opponents
The Atlanta Falcons enter the 2009 season with essentially the same coaching staff as the previous year, complete with 17 coaches who hold more than 200 years of NFL experience. Last season, Offensive Coordinator Mike Mularkey guided a Falcons offense which ranked second in the League in rushing (152.7 ypg.) and sixth in total offense (361.2 ypg.). In his first season as Defensive Coordinator, Brian VanGorder coached a defensive unit that held opponents to 20.3 points per game as defensive end John Abraham logged a franchise record 16.5 sacks. Speical Teams Coordinator Keith Armstrong and the Falcons punt coverage unit set a NFL record allowing only 49 punt return yards in 2008. Falcons kicker Jason Elam also posted 129 points, falling three points shy of his personal high.
The Atlanta Falcons 2009 preseason includes road meetings at Detroit (Week 1) and St. Louis (Week 2) and home contests against the San Diego Chargers (Week 3) and Baltimore Ravens (Week 4). The Falcons matchup against San Diego will be broadcast nationally on Saturday, August 29, 2009 at 8 p.m. on CBS. Preseason Week 1 - at Detroit Lions Lions 27 - Falcons 26 Recap: Detroit kicked a game-winning field goal as time expired to defeat the Falcons, 27-26. Quarterback Matt Ryan completed five of seven passes for 33 yards while running back Michael Turner led all rushers with 63 yards, including a 40yard touchdown run. On the defensive side of the ball, linebacker Tony Gilbert returned an interception 42 yards for a touchdown and defensive tackle Thomas Johnson posted the team’s lone sack to force a Lions field goal. Preseason Week 2 - at St. Louis Rams Friday, August 21, 2008, 8 p.m.
Offensive Coordinator Mike Mularkey
Defensive Coordinator Brian VanGorder
Special Teams Coordinator Keith Armstrong
Below is a breakdown of the Falcons 2009 coaching staff and their NFL experience including this season. Assistant Head Coach/Secondary Emmitt Thomas - 29th year Wide Receivers Coach Terry Robiskie - 28th year Offensive Line Coach Paul Boudreau - 23rd year Defensive Line Coach Ray Hamilton - 22nd year Defensive Backs Coach Alvin Reynolds - 17th year Offensive Coordinator Mike Mularkey - 16th year Special Teams Coordinator Keith Armstrong - 16th year Linebackers Coach Glenn Pires - 14th year Head Coach Mike Smith - 11th year Quarterbacks Coach Bill Musgrave - 11th year Assistant Special Teams Coach - Eric Sutulovich - 6th year Defensive Coordinator Brian VanGorder - 4th year Running Backs Coach Gerald Brown - 2nd year Defensive Assistant Joe Danna - 2nd year Assistant Offensive Line Coach Paul Dunn - 2nd year Tight Ends Coach Chris Scelfo - 2nd year Offensive Assistant Glenn Thomas - 2nd year Total Years of NFL experience - 207 sutulovich new to staff The Falcons hired Eric Sutulovich as the club’s new Assistant Special Teams Coach this offseason. Prior to joining the Falcons, he served as an Offensive Assistant for the Detroit Lions in 2008. He logged a one-year stint as a Football Assistant for the University of Kansas, before spending four seasons (2002-05) as the Assistant Special Teams Coach for the Houston Texans. Sutulovich also spent time in the collegiate ranks with Fort Scott Community College as the Offensive Coordinator (2001), the University of Pittsburgh as the Offensive Graduate Assistant (2000-01) and Louisiana Tech as the Offensive Graduate Assistant from 1997-99. Sutulovich’s coaching experience also spans to the Indoor Football League as he spent one season as the Offensive Coordinator for the Casper Calvary in 2000.
The Falcons will battle the Rams in the preseason for the first time since a 1991 neutral site contest in Jacksonville, Florida. Los Angeles won the game by a 38-17 margin. Atlanta will travel to the Edward Jones Dome for the first time since a 2007 regular season meeting. Preseason Week 3 - vs. San Diego Chargers Saturday, August 29, 2008, 8 p.m. In a nationally televised preseason game, San Diego and Atlanta will meet for the sixth time in the preseason with the Chargers holding a 4-1 series advantage. Atlanta’s win against San Diego came in 1994 at Jack Murphy Stadium (21-17). The Chargers will be making their first trip to the Georgia Dome since 2004 when the Falcons claimed a 21-20 regular season win. Dez White’s 32-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter proved to be the gamewinning score. Preseason Week 4 - vs. Baltimore Ravens Thursday, September 3, 2008, 7:30 p.m. The Falcons have pieced-together three consecutive preseason victories against the Baltimore Ravens, two in each of the last two years (2007 and 2008). The Ravens will visit Atlanta for the fifth time in the preseason series. In six overall contests, both teams have won three games each. Last year, reserve quarterback D.J. Shockley led the Falcons to a 10-9 victory over Baltimore after he completed seven of 14 passes for 98 yards and one touchdown. Quarterback D.J. Shockley completed a 20-yard touchdown strike to Brian Finneran in second quarter against Baltimore.
WING TIPS Matt Ryan by the numbers in 2008
Matt Ryan impresses in first year Last year was a special season for Matt Ryan who revitalized the Falcons organization as a rookie, leading the team to an 11-5 regular season record and Atlanta’s first playoff berth since 2004. For his efforts, he was named the Associated Press and Sporting News NFL Rookie of the Year. Having started in all 16 contests in 2008, Ryan completed 265 of 434 passes for 3,440 yards, 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions for an 87.7 passer rating. His passing total ranked sixth in a single season in Falcons annals as he became only the second rookie quarterback ever in the NFL to amass over 3,000 passing yards. Along with Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, Ryan became the first rookie quarterback to start all 16 regular season games and lead his team to the playoffs.
1 - The number of passes it took for Matt Ryan to throw his first career touchdown pass (62 yards to Michael Jenkins, Week 1 of the 2008 season).
2 - The number of conference accolades Ryan earned (NFC Rookie of the Month in October of ‘08 and NFC Offensive Rookie of the Week following a contest vs. Oakland in November of ‘08).
6 - The number of victories Matt Ryan and the Falcons earned in games decided by one score
DOME SWEET DOME
or less. Matt Ryan will look to build upon a 7-1 career home record heading into the 2009 season. Ryan and the Falcons won the first four contests at the Georgia Dome in ‘08, before falling to the Denver Broncos by a 24-20 margin in Week 11. Two of the last three victories at home came against division opponents (Carolina and Tampa Bay). Atlanta defeated visiting opponents by an average of nearly 10 points as the Falcons record at the Georgia Dome was the best since the 2004 NFC Championship Game season.
11 - The number of wins Matt Ryan compiled in 2008, becoming the first rookie quarterback in team history to win 11 games in a single season.
11 - The number of interceptions Matt Ryan threw in 2008 becoming one of two rookie quarterbacks in the history of the NFL to start every regular season game and throw under 15 interceptions.
16 - The number of games Matt Ryan started in Matt Ryan contributed with impressive numbers at the Georgia Dome, completing 121 of 188 passes for 1,777 yards and six touchdowns.
2008 (entire regular season) while becoming one of two rookies in NFL history to lead his team to the playoffs in his first season.
12.98 - The yards per completion average for playoff first
Matt Ryan in 2008, which ranked second in the NFL.
In Atlanta’s NFC Wild Card playoff meeting against Arizona last season, quarterback Matt Ryan and Head Coach Mike Smith became the first rookie head coach and quarterback to compete in a playoff game since the Cleveland Rams accomplished the feat in 1945. Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco and Head Coach John Harbaugh followed with the same acheivement last season as well. Against the Cardinals, Ryan set a franchise record for completion percentage in a postseason contest with a 65.0 mark. He completed 26 of 40 passes, which included a streak of nine consecutive completions in the first half.
3,440 - The number of passing yards Matt Ryan threw for in his rookie campaign, which ranks sixth in a season in team history. He also became this first rookie in team history to throw for over 3,000 passing yards.
Against the Chicago Bears in Week 6 of the 2008 season, quarterback Matt Ryan completed 22 of 30 passes for 301 yards and one touchdown. He completed an all-important fourth quarter 26-yard strike to wide receiver Michael Jenkins with one second remaining on the clock, which set up kicker Jason Elam’s 48-yard game-winning field goal. The game marked the first contest since the NFL merger (1970) in which a team won despite the fact that their opponent took the lead with fewer than 15 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.
WING TIPS Take a pass At the conclusion of his rookie season, quarterback Matt Ryan logged 3,440 passing yards, the highest total for a Falcons quarterback in a season since Jeff George threw for a franchise season-record 4,143 yards in a pass-first offense in 1995. Ryan’s total was the highest for a Falcons rookie and it also ranks sixth in a season in team annals. Along with Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, Ryan became only the second rookie quarterback in NFL history to reach the 3,000-yard passing plateau. Part of his success in reaching the milestone last season were the nine consecutive 200-yard passing outings from Weeks 6-15. He tallied his highest game total with a 315-yard performance at New Orleans in Week 14. This year, Ryan will look to become only the third quarterback in team history behind Jeff George and Steve Bartkowski to finish with back-to-back 3,000-yard passing seasons. Player Matt Ryan Jeff George Steve Bartkowski
Years 2008, ? 1994, 1995 1980, 1981
FRANCHISE FIND Following a stellar 2008 season which featured Sporting News and Associated Press Rookie of the Year honors, Matt Ryan earned other accolades throughout the media, which included a top honor from FoxSports.com. Ryan was voted the NFL’s top franchise player under 30 years old. Adrian Hasenmayer of FoxSports.com wrote the following:
Steve Bartkowski
Jeff George
Total Passing Yardage 3,440 (2008), ? (2009) 3,734 (1994), 4,143 (1995) 3,544 (1980), 3,830 (1981)
ENCORE, encore In 2008, Matt Ryan completed 265 of 434 passes for 3,440 yards, 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions for an 87.7 passer rating in his rookie season. His 3,440 passing yards ranked sixth for a Falcons single-season as he became only the second rookie quarterback ever in the NFL to amass over 3,000 passing yards. Ryan became one of two rookie quarterbacks in franchise history to win 11 games and along with Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, became the first rookie quarterback to start all 16 regular season games and lead his team to the playoffs. Among other accomplishments, Ryan became the first player in club history to earn NFC Rookie of the Month accolades (October) and tallied a streak of nine consecutive 200-yard passing games from Weeks 6-15. Below is a list of where Matt Ryan ranked among the NFC last season. 3,440 Passing Yards - Ranked 6th in the NFC. 265 Completions - Ranked 9th in the NFC. 61.1 Completion Percentage - Ranked 8th in the NFC. 16 Touchdowns - Ranked 8th in the NFC. 87.7 Passer Rating - Ranked 6th in the NFC.
“It's a quarterback's league, so our top building block is Ryan (24 years old), who completely changed the mindset for folks intending on starting a rookie quarterback with a historic 2008 season. Now a year later with a full season and NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year under his belt, Ryan proved how much Atlanta's front office thinks of him by building its offseason around him — namely trading for veteran tight end Tony Gonzalez. You only deal away a second-round draft pick for a 33-year-old tight end if you are planning to win ... NOW.” — Adrian Hasenmayer Other players that Ryan topped on the list include: 5. Cowboys linebacker DeMarcus Ware 4. Vikings running back Adrian Peterson 3. Browns offensive tackle Joe Thomas 2. Texans defensive end Mario Williams WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE In his rookie season, quarterback Matt Ryan’s numbers topped numerous passing categories compared to Falcons totals over the past five years. In 2008, Ryan pieced together a passing attack which ranked 14th in the NFL and took the top spot in completion percentage, yards per attempt, interceptions and passer rating among all Falcons quarterbacks dating back to 2004. Against the Oakland Raiders in a Week 9 meeting last season, Ryan compiled a 138.4 passer rating, which was the ninth-highest total for a single game among any NFL quarterback. For his efforts, he was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week. Listed below are Ryan’s 2008 final statistics compared to collective Falcons quarterbacks over the past five seasons. Category (stat and rank over 2008 NFL Passing Rank 14th (1) Passing Yards 3,440 (2) Completion % 61.1 (1) Yards Per Attempt 7.93 (1) Touchdowns 16 (3) Interceptions 11 (1) Passer Rating 87.7 (1)
the last five seasons) 2007 2006 2005 18th (2) 32nd (5) 27th (3) 3,573 (1) 2,682 (5) 2,907 (3) 60.5 (2) 53.4 (5) 54.8 (4) 6.44 (5) 6.50 (3) 6.45 (4) 18 (2) 15 (4t) 19 (1) 15 (3t) 15 (3t) 13 (2) 78.9 (2) 75.2 (4) 76.6 (3)
MR. POPULARITY After leading the Falcons to an 11-5 regular season record and the team’s first playoff berth since 2004 last season, quarterback Matt Ryan not only captivated Falcons fans, but fans around the world. This point was proven this offseason as Ryan’s jersey ranked No. 15 in jersey sales among all NFL players and first among all 2008 rookies from April 1 - June 30, 2009. Below is a list of the top 15 players. 1. Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears 2. Troy Polamalu, Pittsburgh Steelers 3. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers 4. Mark Sanchez, New York Jets
5. Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys 6. Brett Favre, Green Bay/N.Y. Jets 7. Tom Brady, New England 8. Michael Crabtree, San Francisco
9. Terrell Owens, Buffalo 13. Peyton Manning, Indianapolis 10. Hines Ward, Pittsburgh 14. LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego 11. Eli Manning, N.Y. Giants 15. Matt Ryan, Atlanta 12. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota
2004 30th (4) 2,692 (4) 54.9 (3) 6.82 (2) 15 (4t) 16 (5) 72.0 (5)
WING TIPS He is arguably the best player to compete at his position in NFL history and he is a future Hall of Famer. This past offseason, the Falcons aquired 10-time Pro Bowl tight end Tony Gonzalez in a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs on April 23, 2009. In exchange, the Falcons gave the Chiefs their second round selection in the 2010 NFL Draft. Gonzalez, 6-5, 251 pounds, has established himself as one of the premier tight ends in NFL history following 12 seasons, all with Kansas City. A native of Torrance, California, Gonzalez holds League records for the most receptions (916), receiving yards (10,940) and touchdown catches (76) by a tight end. His 10 Pro Bowl selections are more than any other tight end in the game and he has also earned eight first or second-team Associated Press AllPro selections, his latest coming last season.
Gonzalez’s career numbers lead all Kansas City receivers in franchise history and his 916 career catches are the ninth-most in NFL history and fourth-highest among active players. “Tony is one of the best tight ends in NFL history and will be a great addition to our team,” said Head Coach Mike Smith. “He will be a leader both on and off the field for our organization.” In 2008, Gonzalez caught a team-high 96 passes for 1,058 yards (11.0 avg.) and 10 touchdowns (second in the AFC). His reception total led all NFL tight ends and was tied for fourth among all receivers while his yardage total ranked sixth overall in the AFC. Gonzalez also ranked tied for first among tight ends in the League and was second in the NFL among all receivers with 29 third down catches. Against the Tennessee Titans on October 19, 2008, he surpassed Shannon Sharpe (10,060) for the most receiving yards by a tight end in NFL history on a six-yard catch in the first quarter. For his efforts in 2008, Gonzalez was selected to his 10th Pro Bowl as a starter and was named a first-team Associated Press All-Pro.
“Tony brings a new dynamic to the Falcons offense and we are very pleased that we were able to make the trade with Kansas City,” said Falcons General Manager Thomas Dimitroff. “His career numbers and records are top notch and he will no doubt be an integral part of our offense.” Gonzalez has competed in 190 career games with 174 starts in a Chiefs uniform. The University of California graduate has compiled four 1,000-yard receiving campaigns, 26 100-yard receiving contests and is just the fifth player and the first tight end in NFL history to produce 11 consecutive seasons with 50 or more receptions.
“Tony’s arrival will make an instant impact not only on the offensive side of the ball, but on the overall team in general,” said Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan. “I feel privileged to be throwing the ball to a future Hall of Famer.”
for the record... Below is a list of records achieved by Tony Gonzalez over the course of his 12 NFL seasons. NFL RECORD & FACT BOOK MOST RECEPTIONS TIGHT END, CAREER Rank Receptions Player Years 1. 916 Tony Gonzalez 1997-08 2. 815 Shannon Sharpe 1990-03 3. 662 Ozzie Newsome 1978-90 4. 541 Kellen Winslow 1979-87 5. 505 Frank Wycheck 1993-03
NFL RECORD & FACT BOOK MOST RECEIVING YARDS, TIGHT END CAREER Rank Yards Player Years 1. 10,940 Tony Gonzalez 1997-08 2. 10,060 Shannon Sharpe 1990-03 3. 7,980 Ozzie Newsome 1978-90 4. 7,918 Jackie Smith 1963-78 5. 6,741 Kellen Winslow 1979-87
NFL RECORD & FACT BOOK MOST TD RECEPTIONS TIGHT END, CAREER Player Years Rank Yards 1. 76 Tony Gonzalez 1997-08 2. 62 Shannon Sharpe 1990-03 3. 60 Jerry Smith 1965-77 4. 54 Wesley Walls 1989-03 5. 52 Dave Casper 1974-84
NFL RECORD & FACT BOOK MOST 100-YARD REC. GAMES, TIGHT END, CAREER Player Years Rank Games 1. 26 Tony Gonzalez 1997-08 2. 24 Kellen Winslow 1979-87 3. 22 Jackie Smith 1963-78 4. 19 Shannon Sharpe 1979-88 5. 14 Todd Christensen 1979-88 Mike Ditka 1961-72
NFL RECORD & FACT BOOK MOST 1,000-YARD REC SEASONS, TIGHT END Years Rank # Seasons Player 1. 4 Tony Gonzalez 00, 04, 07-08 2. 3 Kellen Winslow 1980-81, 83 Todd Christensen 1983-84, 86 Shannon Sharpe 1994, 96-97 2 Ozzie Newsome 1981, 84
MOST CONSECUTIVE GAMES WITH A RECEPTION, ACTIVE PLAYERS Games Player Team(s) Streak Began 183 Terrell Owens Buffalo Dallas, Phi., S.F. vs. Cincinnati (10/20/96) 162 Hines Ward Pittsburgh vs. Green Bay (11/9/98) 153 Torry Holt St. Louis vs. Cleveland (10/24/99) 131 Tony Gonzalez Kansas City at New England (12/4/00)
WING TIPS RUSHING REVAMPED In his first season in an Atlanta Falcons uniform, Michael Turner posted 1,699 rushing yards, which ranked second the NFL in the category. Along with producing eight 100-yard games last season, Turner set a franchise singlegame rushing record with a 220-yard performance against the Detroit Lions in the opening week of the season. He also tied a club record with four rushing touchdowns in one game against the Carolina Panthers in Week 12 and in the same contest, topped the 1,000yard rushing plateau for the first time in his career. Turner scored 17 touchdowns last year, which set a team record for rushing touchdowns in a campaign. On three occasions, Turner was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week. The first was for his performance against the Lions in Week 1. Turner earned the award again following Week 3 against Kansas City and the season finale against the St. Louis Rams. Turner along with teammate Roddy White, was named to his first Pro Bowl.
carrying the load In 2008, Michael Turner led the NFL in carries with 376, which also set his personal career-high. The sixth-year NFL veteran also established a franchise record with 17 rushing touchdowns, which included four multiple-touchdown games. Last season, Turner averaged one touchdown per every 22.1 carries leading all running backs in the NFL with 300-plus rushes. Below is a look at the top five running backs on this list. Players Michael Turner, Atl. Adrian Peterson, Min. Clinton Portis, Was. Matt Forte, Chi. Ryan Grant, G.B.
Carries Touchdowns TDs per carry 376 17 22.1 363 10 36.3 342 9 38.0 316 8 39.5 312 4 78.0
TURNER’s 2008 ACCOMPLISHMENTS • Set a Falcons single-game rushing record with 220 yards against the Detroit Lions in the first week of the season. • Set a franchise record with his 17th rushing touchdown in a game against St. Louis (Week 17). • Topped the 1,000-yard rushing plateau for the first time in his career after posting 117 yards on 24 carries against Carolina in Week 12. • Tied a team record with a four-touchdown game against the Panthers in Week 12. • Recorded eight 100-yard games last season (third most ever for the Falcons in a season). • Ranked second in the NFL in rushing yards (1,699) behind Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings. • Was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week on three occasions and Fed Ex Ground Player of the Week twice. • The Falcons posted an 8-0 record when Turner rushed for 50 yards or more in the first half of a game. • Totaled four multiple-TD games in 2008.
IT ONLY TOOK ONE In just his first season with the Falcons, running back Michael Turner rushed for 1,699 yards, the third-highest total in franchise history. If Turner can record another 1,000-yard campaign in 2009, he will already surpass Haskel Stanback for seventh place on the club’s all-time rushing yards list (needs 964 yards to jump Stanback).
taking it to the next level The Falcons organization knew one of the steps to improving the team’s offense following the 2007 season would be the acquisition of a running back. Just days into free agency, General Manager Thomas Dimitroff signed Michael Turner who was ready to break into a starting role following four seasons playing behind perennial Pro Bowler LaDainian Tomlinson in San Diego. Atlanta led the NFL in rushing for three consecutive seasons from 2004-06. After the ‘07 campaign, Offensive Coordinator Mike Mularkey was hired to rejuvenate the rushing attack that opposing defenses have known to fear. Turner’s solo performance last season was among the best in franchise history (1,699 rushing yards ranking third for a single season). Even with the Falcons leading the League in rushing for three straight seasons, Turner’s numbers in 2008 trumped any running back since 1998 when Jamal Anderson set the club record with 1,846 yards. To the right is a look at Turner’s rushing presence directly affecting the Falcons win/loss total last season.
With Turner in 2008... Note When Turner rushed for over 100 yards in a game
Falcons Record 8-0
When Turner recorded 20 or more carries per game
10-1
When Turner averaged 4.5 yards per carry or more in a game
7-0
When Turner scored one or more touchdowns in a game
8-2
When Turner posted a long 7-3 rush of 20 yards or more in a game
WING TIPS taking it to the next level In 2008, Michael Turner contributed with one of the most consistent rushing seasons in Falcons history. Along with Jamal Anderson (1998) and Gerald Riggs (1985), Turner became only the third running back in franchise history to rush for over an average of 100.0 yards per game (106.2). Turner dipped below 50 total rushing yards in a game on only two occassions last season (42 vs. Tampa Bay in Week 2 and 42 vs. Arizona in the NFC Wild Card Playoff game). More impressively, Turner tallied eight contests having recorded over 100 yards. That includes his inaugural game with the team in Week 1 when he set the single-game rushing record with a 220yard performance against the Detroit Lions. Turner provided an encore in the season finale when he rushed for 208 yards against the St. Louis Rams. His 1,699 yards ranked second in the NFL to Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings. For his efforts, he was named a 2008 Associated Press first-team All-Pro and was voted to his first career Pro Bowl selection. The chart to the right shows Turner’s 2008 yardage per game in relation to his carries.
WHITE ON PACE
BIG PLAY RODDY
Last season, Falcons wide receiver Roddy White became the first player in club history to post back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons through the air since 1998-99 and the first player in team history to register back-toback 1,200-yard campaigns. His 1,382 receiving yardage total ranked fourth in the NFL and set a new franchise record for receiving yards for a season. White also broke career highs in receptions (88) and Wide Receiver Roddy White touchdowns (seven). He recorded seven 100-yard games in 2008, which included a Week 14 performance at New Orleans where he set a career-high in receiving yards (164) on 10 receptions. White ranked second in the NFL in third down receptions (29) and led the League in third down receiving yards (516). For his efforts last season, the fifth-year receiver earned his first Pro Bowl nod. This season, White is looking to become the second player in team history to record three consecutive 1,000-yard campaigns. Only Andre Rison has accomplished the feat in a string of 1,000-yard seasons from 1992 (1,119), ‘93 (1,242) and ‘94 (1,342). Below is a look at where White compares to Rison’s streak. Player Roddy White Roddy White Roddy White
Yards ? 1,382 1,202
Season 2009 2008 2007
Andre Rison Andre Rison Andre Rison
1,088 1,242 1,119
1994 1993 1992
2008 Michael Turner Rushing Attempts vs. Rushing Yards
Wide Receiver Andre Rison
Roddy White has logged four seasons in an Atlanta Falcons uniform and in the past two years alone, he has established himself as a deep threat. With a 1,200-receiving yard campaign in 2007, White followed his performance with a career-high and franchise record 1,382 yards en route to his first Pro Bowl berth last season. In his career, White has now posted 36 “big plays” or receptions of 25-plus yards. He ranks tied for second in franchise history behind club leader Terance Mathis who caught 49 receptions of 25-plus yards in his eight-year career with the Falcons. Below is a look at Atlanta’s career “big play” receivers in franchise history. Falcons Player Terance Mathis Roddy White Bert Emanuel
Leaders in Career “Big Plays” Seasons Plays of 25-plus yards 1994-2001 (8) 49 2005-2008 (4) 36 1994-1997 (4) 36
Fourteen of White’s 36 receptions of 25-plus yards came last season, which also includes his career long reception of 70 yards for a touchdown against Kansas City in Week 3. He also posted seven contests where he notched a long reception of 35-plus yards. Below is a look at the Falcons franchise leaders for plays of 25plus yards in a season. Falcons “Big Plays” For a Season Season Plays of 25-plus yards Player Michael Haynes 1991 16 Roddy White 2008 14 Andre Rison 1994 14
WING TIPS the predator earns his keep Last season, Falcons defensive end John Abraham registered 16.5 sacks setting a new season-high for the 10-year veteran, topping his previous mark of 13.0, which he set with the New York Jets in 2001. His 16.5 sacks also rank first in a season in Falcons annals. Throughout the season, Abraham made several impacts on the field. While contributing with 42 tackles (35 solo), one pass defensed and four forced fumbles, Abraham also posted three contests in which he tallied three sacks each. At the conclusion of the season, he has now totaled 18.5 sacks in his last 17 games, 26.5 in his last 31 contests and has notched 84.0 for his career, which ranks second in the NFL among active players from 2000-08. Atlanta Falcons Highest Sack Totals in a Season NFL Sack Leaders 2008 Player Year Sacks Rank Player Sacks Yards John Abraham 2008 16.5 1 DeMarcus Ware, Dal 20.0 113.0 Joel Williams 1980 16.0 2 Joey Porter, Mia 17.5 96.0 Claude Humphrey 1976 15.0 3 John Abraham, Atl 16.5 109.5 4 James Harrison, Pit 16.0 114.5 Abraham’s 16.5 sacks in 2008 came from both sides of the defensive line in Atlanta’s 4-3 defense. NFL Sack Leaders 2000-2008 (Active Players) Player Sacks Yards Rank QB 1 Jason Taylor, Mia 104.0 680.0 RT RG C LG LT 2 John Abraham, Atl 84.0 534.0 DE NT NT DE 3 Joey Porter, Mia 81.0 510.07 (five sacks, one FF) (11.5 sacks, three FF)
KEEPING PACE
sack attack After nine seasons in the NFL, it’s no surprise to opposing offenses that John Abraham makes a difference on every snap. His 84.0 career sacks currently rank second in the League among active players and last season, he posted a career-best and franchise record 16.5 quarterback takedowns. To take it a step further, Abraham’s 19 multiple-sack games over his career have made an even bigger difference as he has contributed to a collective 14-5 record. Last year, the Falcons posted 4-0 mark when Abraham logged a multiple-sack performance. Those games included: three sacks against Detroit (Week 1), two sacks against Kansas City (Week 3), three sacks against Oakland (Week 9) and three sacks against Tampa Bay (Week 15). Year 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 Total
Multiple-Sack Games Four Games Two Games One Game Two Games Two Games Two Games Three Games Two Games One Game 19 Games
Team Record Falcons 4-0 Falcons 1-1 Falcons 1-0 New York Jets New York Jets New York Jets New York Jets New York Jets New York Jets 14-5
1-1 2-0 0-2 2-1 2-0 1-0
Now entering just his fourth season in an Atlanta Falcons uniform, defensive end John Abraham has already broken into the top 10 sack leaders list in franchise history, holding down the 10th spot with 30.5 sacks. His total with the Falcons has contributed to his career mark of 84.0, which ranks second in the John Abraham (left) is shown here with former NFL among all active players Falcons linebacker Joel Williams who played on the famed “Gritz Blitz” defenses of the 1980s. Last sea(2000-08). “The Predator” is son, Abraham topped Williams’ franchise record for sacks in a single-season with 16.5. The two connect- looking to piece together ed on Alumni Day at Russell Falcons training camp. another impressive campaign, which would have major implications in the stat books. If he matches his career-high and franchise record of 16.5 quarterback takedowns from last season, he will finish the year with 47.0 career sacks as a member of the Falcons, which would rank tied for fourth in club annals with John Zook who logged seven seasons with the team. Atlanta Falcons Player Claude Humphrey Chuck Smith Patrick Kerney John Zook Travis Hall Don Smith Jeff Merrow Brady Smith Lester Archambeau John Abraham
Career Sack Leaders Years Sacks 1968-78 (11) 94.5 1992-98 (7) 58.5 1999-2006 (8) 58.0 1969-75 (7) 47.0 1995-2004 (10) 41.5 1979-84 (6) 38.5 1975-83 (9) 36.0 2000-05 (6) 32.0 1993-99 (7) 31.0 2006-08 (3) 30.5
WING TIPS leaders of the pack Following the 2008 season, it was clearly evident that two members of the Falcons would return the following year to take more of a leadership role. Sixth-year safety Erik Coleman and second-year linebacker Curtis Lofton fit the trend as both compiled impressive 2008 campaigns, leading the Falcons to an 11-5 regular season record and their first playoff berth since 2004. Coleman, one of the more tenured players in the secondary, will continue to help the development of young cornerbacks Chris Houston, Brent Grimes, Chevis Jackson and 2009 third round draft pick Chris Owens while doing the same for safeties Thomas DeCoud and William Moore. In 2008, Coleman pieced together one of his best statistical seasons, finishing with a career-high 127 tackles (82 solo), three interceptions, two forced fumbles and six passes defensed. In his rookie season, Lofton ranked second in the League in tackles among rookies behind Jerod Mayo (according to STATS, Inc.) and garnered 2008 All-Rookie accoLinebacker Curtis Lofton lades by Sporting News and Pro Football Weekly. Competing in all 16 games (15 starts), he contributed with 108 tackles (67 solo), one sack, three passes defensed and one forced fumble. LOOKING FOR 17 In 2008, Falcons kicker Jason Elam logged 129 points, three shy of a career-high and nine shy of a Falcons franchise record. Last season was also Elam’s 16th 100-point campaign, which made him the first player in NFL history to record at least 100 points in each of his first 16 seasons. Elam also ranks second in the League in consecutive games scoring at least one point (252) and sits behind former Falcons kicker Morten Andersen who totaled one point in 360-straight contests. Jason Elam’s Top Three Seasons (Points) PAT FG Total Points Year 1995 39/39 31/38 132 2008 42/42 29/31 129 2004 42/42 29/34 129
BET YOU DIDN’T KNOW... • The oldest player - K Jason Elam, 39 years old (3/8/70) • The youngest player - OT Garrett Reynolds, 22 years old (7/1/87) • The tallest player - OT Garrett Reynolds and OL Michael Butterworth, 6-7 • The shortest player - RB Thomas Brown, 5-8 • The heaviest player - OT Tyson Clabo, 331 pounds • The lightest player - WR Chandler Williams, 176 pounds • Most seasons with the Falcons - C Todd McClure, 11 seasons • Most seasons in the NFL - K Jason Elam, 17 seasons • The farthest distance a player has to travel from their hometown to Flowery Branch, Ga. - OT Will Svitek is 4,800 miles from his birthplace of Prague, Czech Republic. • The shortest distance a player has to travel from their hometown to Flowery Branch, Ga. - RB Thomas Brown is 32.2 miles away from his hometown of Tucker, Ga. • The college that is represented the most on the roster - Ohio State and LSU with four players each. • The state that is represented the most on the roster - The state of Florida with 11 players.
Safety Erik Coleman
FALCONS MAKE ROSTER MOVES Since the start of training camp on July 31, 2009, the Falcons made three significant roster signings. Atlanta inked eighth-year veteran linebacker Jamie Winborn and followed with the addition of wide receivers Marty Booker and Robert Ferguson. Winborn, 5-11, 230 pounds, competed primarily with the San Francisco 49ers from 2001-04. In 92 career games (32 starts), he has logged 407 tackles (105 solo), 10.0 sacks, three interceptions, 23 passes defensed, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. Last year with the Denver Broncos, he saw action in all 16 games while contributing with 117 tackles (84 solo) and nine passes defensed. An accomplished special-teamer, Winborn has also posted 46 career tackles covering kicks. Booker, 6-0, 205 pounds, is entering his 11th NFL season after spending the majority of his career with the Chicago Bears (1999-2003, 2008) and four seasons with the Miami Dolphins (2004-07). In 141 career games (116 starts) he has totaled 523 receptions for 6,522 yards (12.5 avg.) and 36 touchdowns. Booker currently ranks tied for third in Bears history in receptions (329) and sixth in receiving yardage (3,895). He posted two 1,000-yard receiving campaigns in 2001 and ’02 while combining for 14 touchdowns in those seasons. In 2002, Booker posted his best statistical season with 1,189 yards on 97 receptions and six touchdowns, earning his first Pro Bowl nomination. Ferguson, 6-1, 219 pounds, is a seven-year veteran who recently competed with the Minnesota Vikings (2007-08). He also logged five seasons with the Green Bay Packers after the team selected him in the 2001 NFL Draft. In 82 career games (34 starts), Ferguson has totaled 151 receptions for 1,993 yards and 13 touchdowns.
WING TIPS draft breakdown
georgia on my mind
The Atlanta Falcons selected eight players in the 2009 NFL Draft, which included seven players on the defensive side of the ball. The Falcons also made a trade with Dallas, giving the Cowboys their fifth round (143rd overall) pick in exchange for Dallas’ fifth (156th overall) and seventh round (210th overall) selections.
Currently, the Falcons yield seven players from the state of Georgia on their roster. Three Falcons including: QB D.J. Shockley, RB Thomas Brown and LB Tony Gilbert all attended the University of Georgia.
With the 24th overall selection in the first round of the 2009 NFL Defensive tackle Peria Jerry Draft, the Atlanta Falcons selected defensive tackle Peria (pur-ray) Jerry from the University of Mississippi. Jerry became the Falcons first defensive tackle selected in the first round since Tony Casillas (Oklahoma) was drafted in 1986. Jerry is also the first player from Mississippi to be selected by Atlanta in the first round and only the third player from the university to be selected in franchise history. Jerry was a first-team All-America selection by the Associated Press and ESPN following the 2008 season. He finished the year ranked first in the SEC in tackles for loss (18.0), fifth in quarterback sacks (7.0) and tied for sixth in forced fumbles (two). A consensus first-team All-SEC selection, Jerry also helped the Rebel defense rank second in the conference and fourth in the nation in rush defense (85.5 ypg.) last year.
Where They’re From 1. Thomas Brown - Tucker, Ga. 2. Tony Gilbert - Macon, Ga. 3. Aaron Kelly - Marietta, Ga. 4. William Middleton - Atlanta, Ga. 5. Robert Shiver - Thomasville, Ga. 6. D.J. Shockley - College Park, Ga. 7. Tony Tiller - Stone Mountain, Ga.
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2 “We are very excited about having Peria on board,” said Falcons General Manager Thomas Dimitroff. “Peria is a big, strong, country guy. He is going to hold the point of attack. He also has the ability to be a one-gap guy and be disruptive behind the line of scrimmage.” In his Ole Miss career, Jerry totaled 132 tackles (79 solo), 11.5 sacks, 33.0 tackles for loss, three passes defensed, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one interception. He also recorded his first career touchdown on a 13-yard fumble recovery against Vanderbilt in 2008.
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“I think (Peria) is a guy that can be very disruptive,” said Atlanta Head Coach Mike Smith. “He creates plays in the backfield. I think that is very important when you have negative yardage plays presented by the defense. I like his work ethic and he did a great job last season at Ole Miss.”
251 Consecutive regular season games K Jason Elam has scored at least one point.
Below is a look at the Falcons 2009 draft class.
112 Consecutive regular season games C Todd McClure has started, dating back to 2001.
Rd. Overall Player Pos 1 24 Peria Jerry DT 2 55 William Moore S 3 90 Christopher Owens CB 4 125 Lawrence Sidbury DE 5 138 William Middleton CB 5 156 Garrett Reynolds OT 6 176 Spencer Adkins LB 7 210 Vance Walker DT
Ht 6-2 6-0 5-9 6-2 5-11 6-7 5-11 6-2
Wt 290 218 181 266 186 310 246 293
College Mississippi Missouri San Jose St. Richmond Furman North Carolina Miami (Fla.) Georgia Tech
current falcons streakS
36 Consecutive regular season games in which WR Roddy White has caught at least one pass. 32 Consecutive field goals K Jason Elam has converted from 20-29 yards dating back to 2006. 26.5 The number of sacks John Abraham has totaled in his last 31 games on the defensive line. 15 Consecutive field goals K Jason Elam has converted from 40-49 yards dating back to 2007. 10 Consecutive years TE Tony Gonzalez has been named to the Pro Bowl.
WING TIPS KEY ACQUISITIONS TE Tony Gonzalez 6-5, 243 pounds California Trade - ‘09 (Kansas City) • In 12 NFL seasons, has earned 10 Pro Bowl appearances and eight first or second-team Associated Press All-Pro selections. • Holds NFL records for career receptions (916), receiving yards (10,940), touchdown catches (76), 100-yard receiving games (26), Pro Bowl appearances (10) and 1,000-yard seasons (four) among all tight ends. • Is the only tight end in League history to record 900 or more receiving yards in seven seasons and currently stands as only the third tight end (Ozzie Newsome, Cleveland and Shannon Sharpe, Denver) in NFL history to lead their respective franchises in all-time receiving. • Will enter the 2009 season looking to extend his streak of catching at least one pass in a game, which currently stands at 131 contests. Trails Ozzie Newsome (150 games) for the longest streak by a tight end in NFL history.
LB Mike Peterson 6-1, 233 pounds Florida Unrestricted Free Agent - ‘09 (Jax) • In 135 career games (127 starts), Peterson has totaled 1,365 tackles (792 solo), 19.5 sacks, 15 interceptions, 40 passes defensed, six forced fumbles and seven fumbles recoveries. • Collected 837 tackles in his Jaguars career, which ranks second in team history behind safety Donovin Darius (858). • Has tallied double-digit tackles in 73 career games and 15-plus tackles in 23 games.
WR Marty Booker 6-0, 205 pounds Louisiana-Monroe Free Agent - ‘09 • In 141 career games (116 starts) has totaled 523 receptions for 6,522 yards and 36 touchdowns. • Currently ranks tied for third in Bears history in receptions (329) and sixth in receiving yardage (3,895). • Posted two 1,000-yard receiving campaigns in 2001 and ‘02 while combining for 14 touchdowns in those seasons.
WR Robert Ferguson 6-1, 219 pounds Texas A&M Free Agent - ‘09 • A seven-year veteran who has posted 151 receptions for 1,993 yards and 13 touchdowns in 82 career games (34 starts).
2009 DRAFT PICKS DT Peria Jerry 6-2, 294 pounds D1 - ‘09 (Mississippi) • In 38 career games at Ole Miss, totaled 132 tackles, 11.5 sacks, 33 tackles for loss, three passes defensed, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one interception. • Named to the All-SEC team twice in his collegiate career (first team in 2008 and second team in 2007). • Jerry became the first defensive tackle selected by the Falcons in the first round of the NFL Draft since Tony Casillas (Oklahoma) in 1986. S William Moore 6-0, 218 pounds D2 - ‘09 (Missouri) • Started 32 of 48 games at Missouri and finished his career having totaled 284 tackles (182 solo), which was the fourth-highest total among Tigers defensive backs. • Totaled 11 interceptions for 162 yards, breaking Erik McMillan’s school career record (three) by returning four of those for touchdowns. CB Christopher Owens 5-9, 179 pounds D3 - ‘09 (San Jose State) • Started 38 of 48 games at San Jose State, including his final 37 contests at right cornerback. • Recorded 228 tackles (132 solo), one sack, seven tackles for loss, 20 passes defensed and 13 interceptions. • His 13 INTs placed fourth on the school career-record list. DE Lawrence Sidbury 6-3, 265 pounds D4 - ‘09 (Richmond) • Started 31 of 52 games at Richmond, recording 145 tackles (71 solo), 20.5 sacks, 38 tackles for loss four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and four passes defensed. • His 20.5 sacks rank fourth in school history. • Set the NCAA record for the most sacks in a playoff game against Montana in a 2008 FCS title game victory with four. • Was voted the Virginia Defensive Player of the Year his senior season. CB William Middleton 5-11, 194 pounds D5a - ‘09 (Furman) • A three-year starter (35 starts) and a team captain his senior season. • Also a notable contributor as a return specialist. • In his last three seasons, totaled 186 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, seven interceptions and 15 passes defensed. OT Garrett Reynolds 6-7, 317 pounds D5b - ‘09 (North Carolina) • A second-team All-ACC selection by the Associated Press and firstteam All-ACC pick by The ACC Sports Journal. • Named to the 2008 Lombardi Award Watch List. LB Spencer Adkins 5-11, 242 pounds D6 - ‘09 (Miami) • Saw action in 31 games in four seasons and totaled 72 tackles (42 solo), 10 tackles for loss, five sacks and one interception. DT Vance Walker 6-2, 307 pounds D7 - ‘09 (Georgia Tech) • Finished his Georgia Tech career with 110 tackles, 26.5 tackles for loss, 13.0 sacks, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.
POSITION BY POSITION BREAKDOWN quarterbacks (4) No Name 2 Matt Ryan - Started 16 games in 2008 and completed 265 of 434 passes for 3,440 yards, 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions for an 87.7 passer rating. Was named NFC Rookie of the Month (October) and NFC Offensive Player of the Week (Week 9). Guided the Falcons to a 7-1 home record. Totaled a career-high with 315 passing yards against the Saints in Week 14. 8 3 4
Chris Redman: 6-3, 229 pounds, third year with the Falcons D.J. Shockley: 6-4, 218 pounds, fourth year with the Falcons John Parker Wilson: 6-2, 218 pounds, first year with the Falcons
RUNNING BACKS (4) No Name 33 Michael Turner - In his first game in an Atlanta uniform last year, set the Falcons single-game rushing record with 220 yards on 22 carries (10.0 avg.) vs. Detroit. Totaled his 11th-career 100-yard game against St. Louis in Week 17. Ranked second in the NFL with 376 carries for 1,699 yards while contributing with 17 touchdowns (set a franchise-high for a single season). Turner also topped the 1,000yard mark in Week 12 of ‘08 while tying a club record with four touchdowns. Was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week on two occasions (Week 1 vs. Detroit and Week 3 vs. Kansas City). 32 44 27
Jerious Norwood: 5-11, 209 pounds, fourth year with the team Jason Snelling - 5-11, 233 pounds, third year with the team Thomas Brown - 5-8, 203 pounds, second year with the team
FULLBACKS (2) No Name 34 Ovie Mughelli - In 2008 blocked for a Falcons running game which totaled 2,443 rushing yards this season (ranked second in the NFL). Also caught a season-high 18-yard reception against the Oakland Raiders in Week 9 and contributed with 57 receiving yards and 16 rushing yards. 36
Verron Haynes: 5-9, 233 pounds, first year with the team
WIDE RECEIVERS (5) No Name 84 Roddy White - Tallied seven 100-yard receiving games last season and set a career-high with 164 yards on 10 receptions against New Orleans in Week 14. Topped the 1,000-yard plateau after catching six passes for 112 yards against San Diego in Week 13. Led the team and ranked fourth in the NFL in receiving with 88 receptions for 1,382 yards and six touchdowns. His 1,382 yards made him the first Falcons receiver to record back-to-back 1,200-yard seasons in franchise history. His yardage total also set a new franchise record for receiving yards in a season. 80 81 14 11
Marty Booker: 6-0, 205 pounds, first year with the team Robert Ferguson: 6-1, 219 pounds, first year with the team Eric Weems: 5-9, 194 pounds, third year with the team Tory Bergeron: 6-2, 195 pounds, first year with the team
WIDE RECEIVERS (4) No Name 12 Michael Jenkins - Caught Matt Ryan’s first-career NFL pass and ran 62 yards for a touchdown against Detroit in Week 1. Added his second-career multiple-touchdown game after grabbing two touchdown passes against the Oakland Raiders in Week 9 while leading the team in receiving yardage. In 2008, Jenkins compiled 50 catches for 777 yards and three TDs. 86 18 15
Brian Finneran: 6-5, 210 pounds, 10th year with the team Chandler Williams: 5-11, 176 pounds, second year with the team Aaron Kelly: 6-5, 203 pounds, first team with the team
POSITION BY POSITION BREAKDOWN TIGHT ENDS (5) No Name 88 Tony Gonzalez - Has established himself as one of the premier tight ends in NFL history following 12 seasons, all with Kansas City. A native of Torrance, California, Gonzalez holds League records for the most receptions (916), receiving yards (10,940) and touchdown catches (76) by a tight end. His 10 Pro Bowl selections are more than any other tight end in the game and he has also earned eight first or second-team Associated Press All-Pro selections, his latest coming last season. 87 89 85 82
Justin Peelle: 6-4, 251 pounds, second year with the team Ben Hartsock: 6-4, 270 pounds, second year with the team Jason Rader: 6-4, 263 pounds, second year with the team Keith Zinger: 6-4, 258 pounds, second year with the team
center (3) No Name 62 Todd McClure - Has started in 112 consecutive games on the offensive line which ties Jeff Van Note for third place in Falcons annals in that category. 66 67
Brett Romberg: 6-2, 293 pounds, first year with the team Ben Wilkerson: 6-4, 313 pounds, third year with the team
LEFT TACKLE (2) No Name 72 Sam Baker - Started in five contests as a rookie and helped open holes for Atlanta’s 2,443 rushing yards. 74
Will Svitek: 6-6, 309 pounds, first year with the team
right tackle (3) No Name 77 Tyson Clabo - Has started in 37 career contests and helped the Falcons rush for a team record of 318 yards in the season opener against Detroit last season. 75 70
Garrett Reynolds: 6-7, 317 pounds, first year with the team Michael Butterworth: 6-7, 304 pounds, second year with the team
Left guard (3) No Name 63 Justin Blalock - Started every game of the season for the second consecutive year in 2008. 76 69
Quinn Ojinnaka: 6-5, 299 pounds, fourth year with the team Adam Speer: 6-3, 301 pounds, first year with the team
Right guard (3) No Name 73 Harvey Dahl - Competed in his 17th game in a Falcons uniform after starting every contest in the 2008 season. 65 68
Jose Valdez: 6-6, 324 pounds, first year with the team Ryan Stanchek: 6-3, 300 pounds, first year with the team
right defensive end (3) No Name 55 John Abraham - Ranked second in the NFC with a franchise-best 16.5 sacks last season, which included three three-sack performances against the Detroit Lions in Week 1, the Oakland Raiders in Week 9 and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 15. Also posted four forced fumbles to give him 31 for his career. Last season, also registered 42 tackles (35 solo).
POSITION BY POSITION BREAKDOWN right defensive end cont... No Name 71 Kroy Biermann: 6-3, 260 pounds, second year with the team 90 Lawrence Sidbury: 6-2, 307 pounds, first year with the team
left defensive end (4) No Name 98 Jamaal Anderson - In 2008, totaled 36 tackles (29 solo), two sacks and three passes defensed. Posted a career day against the Chicago Bears in Week 6 after earning his first-career sack and deflecting two passes. In Week 13 against San Diego, blocked his first-career field goal to help the Falcons maintain a 22-13 lead. 92 96 64
Chauncey Davis: 6-2, 262 pounds, fifth year with the team Willie Evans: 6-1, 269 pounds, second year with the team Maurice Lucas: 6-4, 267 pounds, first year with the team
DEFENSIVE TACKLE (3) No Name 95 Jonathan Babineaux - In 2008, recorded 38 tackles (30 solo), 3.5 sacks, two passes defensed and one fumble recovery. Notched 1.5 sacks against San Diego in Week 13. 97 91
Trey Lewis: 6-3, 316 pounds, third year with the team Tywain Myles: 6-2, 319 pounds, first year with the team
DEFENSIVE TACKLE (4) No Name 94 Peria Jerry - The 24th overall selection in the 2009 NFL Draft will look to make an instant impact on the defensive line. In his senior season, the Ole Miss graduate was named a first-team All-America selection by the Associated Press. 99 93 61
Jason Jefferson: 6-1, 297 pounds, second year with the team Thomas Johnson: 6-2, 304 pounds, first year with the team Vance Walker: 6-2, 307 pounds, first year with the team
strongside linebacker (3) No Name 54 Stephen Nicholas - Competed at both linebacker and on special teams last season. Ranked third on the Falcons with 13 special teams tackles and added one sack against the Rams in Week 17. 52 45
Coy Wire: 6-0, 225 pounds, second year with the team Robert James: 5-11, 220 pounds, second year with the team
middle linebacker (3) No Name 50 Curtis Lofton - Last year, led all Falcons rookies and ranked fourth on the team with 108 tackles (67 solo). According to STATS Inc., Lofton finished second in the League among rookies in stops. In a Week 8 meeting at Philadelphia, posted his first-career sack while forcing a fumble on the play. 51 43
Tony Gilbert: 6-0, 245 pounds, second year with the team Edmond Miles: 6-0, 235 pounds, first year with the team
weakside linebacker (3) No 53
Name Mike Peterson - In 135 career games (127 starts), Peterson has totaled 1,365 tackles (792 solo), 19.5 sacks, 15 interceptions, 40 passes defensed, six forced fumbles and seven fumbles recoveries. Collected 837 tackles in his Jaguars career, which ranks second in team history.
POSITION BY POSITION BREAKDOWN weakside linebackers cont... No Name 49 Jamie Winborn: 5-11, 230 pounds, first year with the team 59 Spencer Adkins: 5-11, 242 pounds, first year with the team
cornerback (4) No Name 23 Chris Houston - In 2008, returned his first-career interception in Week 3 versus Kansas City 10 yards for a touchdown. Also added 59 tackles (52 solo), 16 passes defensed and another INT while starting all 16 games at right cornerback. 21 24 35
Christopher Owens: 5-9, 179 pounds, first year with the team Von Hutchins: 5-10, 180 pounds, second year with the team William Middleton: 5-11, 194 pounds, first year with the team
cornerback (4) No Name 20 Brent Grimes - Intercepted his first-career pass against Kansas City in Week 3 of 2008 and contributed with 36 tackles (29 solo) and six passes defensed. 22 37 38
Chevis Jackson: 5-11, 193 pounds, second year with the team Glenn Sharpe: 6-0, 184 pounds, second year with the team Tony Tiller: 6-0, 187 pounds, first year with the team
free safety (3) No Name 28 Thomas DeCoud - Saw action in 10 games last season and recorded five special teams tackles. 41 42
Antoine Harris: 5-10, 205 pounds, third year with the team Eric Brock: 6-0, 204 pounds, second year with the team
Strong SAFETY (3) No Name 26 Erik Coleman - Ranked second on the team with 127 tackles (82 solo) last year while adding six passes defensed, three interceptions and two forced fumbles. 25 29
William Moore: 6-0, 227 pounds, first year with the team Jamaal Fudge: 5-9, 190 pounds, second year with the team
specialists (4) No Name 1 Jason Elam - Last season, connected on 29 of 31 field goal attempts and 42 points after touchdown for 129 points. Following a missed field goal in Week 6, the 16-year veteran posted a streak of 30 consecutive field goals dating back to 2007. Notched his 38th field goal of 50-plus yards in the season opener versus Detroit. 9
Michael Koenen - In 2008, totaled 63 punts for 2,566 yards, 25 of which were pinned inside the 20yard line and a long kick of 60 yards. Set a career-high with five punts downed inside the 20-yard line in Week 8 at Philadelphia.
46 48
Mike Schneck: 6-1, 231 pounds, third year with the team Robert Shiver: 6-3, 237 pounds, first year with the team
2009 Atlanta Falcons Alphabetical Roster # 55 59 98 95 72 11 71 63 80 42 27 70 77 26 73 92 28 1 96 81 86 29 51 88 20 41 89 36 23 24 22 45 99 12 94 93 15 9 97 50 64 62 35 43 25 34 91 54 32 76 21 87 53 85 8 75 66 2 46 37 48 3 90 44 69 68 74 38 33 65 61 14 84 67 18 4 49 52 82
PLAYER Abraham, John Adkins, Spencer Anderson, Jamaal Babineaux, Jonathan Baker, Sam Bergeron, Troy Biermann, Kroy Blalock, Justin Booker, Marty Brock, Eric Brown, Thomas Butterworth, Michael Clabo, Tyson Coleman, Erik Dahl, Harvey Davis, Chauncey DeCoud, Thomas Elam, Jason Evans, Willie Ferguson, Robert Finneran, Brian Fudge, Jamaal Gilbert, Tony Gonzalez, Tony Grimes, Brent Harris, Antoine Hartsock, Ben Haynes, Verron Houston, Chris Hutchins, Von Jackson, Chevis James, Robert Jefferson, Jason Jenkins, Michael Jerry, Peria Johnson, Thomas Kelly, Aaron Koenen, Michael Lewis, Trey Lofton, Curtis Lucas, Maurice McClure, Todd Middleton, William Miles, Edmond Moore, William Mughelli, Ovie Myles, Tywain Nicholas, Stephen Norwood, Jerious Ojinnaka, Quinn Owens, Christopher Peelle, Justin Peterson, Mike Rader, Jason Redman, Chris Reynolds, Garrett Romberg, Brett Ryan, Matt Schneck, Mike Sharpe, Glenn Shiver, Robert Shockley, D.J. Sidbury, Lawrence Snelling, Jason Speer, Adam Stanchek, Ryan Svitek, Will Tiller, Tony Turner, Michael Valdez, Jose Walker, Vance Weems, Eric White, Roddy Wilkerson, Ben Williams, Chandler Wilson, John Parker Winborn, Jamie Wire, Coy Zinger, Keith
83 Douglas, Harry
POS DE LB DE DT OT WR DE OG WR S RB OL OT S OG DE S K DE WR WR S LB TE CB S TE FB CB CB CB LB DT WR DT DT WR P DT LB DE C CB LB S FB DT LB RB OT CB TE LB TE QB OT C QB LS CB LS QB DE RB OT OG OT CB RB OG DT WR WR C WR QB LB LB TE
H 6-4 5-11 6-6 6-2 6-5 6-2 6-3 6-4 6-0 6-0 5-8 6-7 6-6 5-10 6-5 6-2 6-0 5-11 6-1 6-1 6-5 5-9 6-0 6-5 5-10 5-10 6-4 5-9 5-11 5-10 5-11 5-11 6-1 6-4 6-2 6-2 6-5 5-11 6-3 6-0 6-4 6-1 5-11 6-0 6-0 6-1 6-2 6-3 5-11 6-5 5-9 6-4 6-1 6-4 6-3 6-7 6-2 6-4 6-1 6-0 6-3 6-0 6-3 5-11 6-3 6-3 6-6 6-0 5-10 6-6 6-2 5-9 6-0 6-4 5-11 6-2 5-11 6-0 6-4
W 263 242 289 296 307 195 260 329 205 204 203 304 331 207 305 262 193 195 269 219 210 190 245 243 181 205 270 233 178 180 193 220 297 217 294 304 203 198 316 242 267 296 194 235 218 252 319 230 209 299 179 251 233 263 229 317 293 213 231 184 237 218 265 223 301 300 309 187 244 324 307 194 212 313 176 218 230 225 258
Birthdate 5/6/78 5/16/87 2/6/86 10/12/81 5/30/85 12/3/83 9/12/85 12/20/83 7/31/76 4/24/85 5/15/86 1/7/85 10/17/81 5/6/82 6/24/81 1/27/83 3/19/85 3/8/70 3/5/84 12/17/79 1/31/76 5/17/83 10/16/79 2/27/76 7/19/83 4/8/82 7/5/80 2/17/79 10/18/84 2/14/81 12/11/85 12/26/83 12/20/81 6/18/82 8/23/84 6/24/81 4/2/86 7/13/82 5/23/85 6/2/86 3/26/87 2/16/77 7/28/86 7/6/84 5/18/85 6/10/80 10/1/84 5/1/83 7/29/83 4/23/84 12/1/86 3/15/79 6/17/76 4/12/81 7/7/77 7/1/87 10/10/79 5/17/85 8/4/77 2/27/84 8/4/85 3/23/83 2/6/86 12/29/83 1/9/86 6/26/86 1/8/82 12/20/81 2/13/82 12/13/86 4/26/87 7/4/85 11/2/81 11/22/82 8/9/85 10/17/85 5/14/79 11/7/78 10/9/84
WR
6-0
182
9/16/84
EXP 10 R 3 5 2 1 2 3 11 1 1 1 4 6 3 5 2 17 1 9 9 4 6 13 2 3 6 6 3 5 2 1 5 6 R 2 R 5 2 2 R 11 R 2 R 7 1 3 4 4 R 8 11 4 7 R 6 2 11 1 R 3 R 3 R R 4 1 6 R R 2 5 4 1 R 9 8 1
COLLEGE South Carolina Miami (Fla.) Arkansas Iowa USC No College Montana Texas Lousiana-Monroe Auburn Georgia Slippery Rock Wake Forest Washington State Nevada-Reno Florida State California Hawaii Mississippi State Texas A&M Villanova Clemson Georgia California Shippensburg Louisville Ohio State Georgia Arkansas Mississippi LSU Arizona State Wisconsin Ohio State Mississippi Middle Tennessee State Clemson Western Washington Washburn Oklahoma Colorado LSU Furman Iowa Missouri Wake Forest Tarleton State South Florida Mississippi State Syracuse San Jose State Oregon Florida Marshall Louisville North Carolina Miami (Fla.) Boston College Wisconsin Miami (Fla.) Auburn Georgia Richmond Virginia Oregon State West Virginia Stanford East Tennessee State Northern Illinois Arkansas Georgia Tech Bethune-Cookman Alabama-Birmingham LSU Florida International Alabama Vanderbilt Stanford LSU
INJURED RESERVE 2 Louisville
ACQUIRED Tr '06 (NYJ) D6 '09 D1 '07 D2 '05 D1b '08 FA '09 D5b '08 D2a '07 FA '09 FA '08 D6 '08 FA '08 FA '06 FA '08 FA '07 D4 '05 D3c '08 UFA '08 (Den) FA '08 FA '09 FA '00 W '08 (Jax) FA '08 Tr '09 (KC) FA '07 FA '07 FA '08 FA '09 D2b '07 FA '08 D3a '08 D5a '08 W '08 (Buf) D1b '04 D1 '09 FA '09 FA '09 FA '05 D6a '07 D2 '08 FA '09 D7a '99 D5a '09 FA '09 D2 '09 UFA '07 (Bal) FA '08 D4a '07 D3 '06 D5 '06 D3 '09 FA '08 UFA '09 (Jax) FA '08 FA '07 D5b '09 FA '09 D1a '08 FA '07 FA '08 FA '09 D7 '06 D4 '09 D7 '07 FA '09 FA '09 FA '09 FA '09 UFA '08 (SD) FA '09 D7 '09 FA '07 D1 '05 FA '07 FA '08 FA '09 FA '09 FA' 08 D7b '08
HOMETOWN Timmonsville, SC Naples, FL Little Rock, AR Port Arthur, TX Tustin, CA New Orleans, LA Hardin, MT Dallas, TX Marrero, LA Alexander City, AL Tucker, GA Northern Cambria, PA Knoxville, TN Sacramento, CA Fallon, NV Bartow, FL Vallejo, CA Ft. Walton Beach, FL Waynesboro, MS Houston, TX Mission Viejo, CA Jacksonville, FL Macon, GA Torrance, CA Philadelphia, PA Columbus, OH Chillicothe, OH Bronx, NY Austin, TX Natchez, MS Mobile, AL Glendale, AZ Chicago, IL Tampa, FL Batesville, MS Memphis, TN Marietta, GA Ferndale, WA Topeka, KS Kingfisher, OK Denver, CO Baton Rouge, LA Atlanta, GA Tallahassee, FL Hayti, MO Boston, MA Nacogdoches, TX Jacksonville, FL Jackson, MS Seabrook, MD Los Angeles, CA Fresno, CA Gainesville, FL St. Albans, WV Louisville, KY Knoxville, TN Windsor, Ontario Exton, PA Whitefish Bay, WI Miami, FL Thomasville, GA College Park, GA Cheltenham, MD Chester, VA West Hills, CA Cincinnati, OH Prague, Czech Republic Stone Mountain, GA Waukegan, IL St. Francis, WI Fort Mill, SC Ormond Beach, FL James Island, SC Port Arthur, TX Miami, FL Hoover, AL Wetumpka, AL Camp Hill, PA Leesville, LA
D3b '08
Jonesboro, GA
COACHING STAFF Mike Smith (Head Coach), Emmitt Thomas (Assistant Head Coach/Secondary), Mike Mularkey (Offensive Coordinator), Brian VanGorder (Defensive Coordinator), Keith Armstrong (Special Teams Coordinator), Jonas Beauchemin (Strength and Conditioning Assistant), Paul Boudreau (Offensive Line), Gerald Brown (Running Backs), Joe Danna (Defensive Assistant), Paul Dunn (Assistant Offensive Line), Jeff Fish (Director of Athletic Performance), Ray Hamilton (Defensive Line), Bill Hughan (Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach), Bill Musgrave (Quarterbacks), Glenn Pires (Linebackers), Alvin Reynolds (Defensive Backs), Terry Robiskie (Wide Receivers), Chris Scelfo (Tight Ends), Eric Sutulovich (Assistant Special Teams), Glenn Thomas (Offensive Assistant).
updated 8/17/2009
2009 Atlanta Falcons Numerical Roster # 1 2 3 4 8 9 11 12 14 15 18 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 41 42 43 44 45 46 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 59 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 80 81 82 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99
PLAYER Jason Elam Matt Ryan D.J. Shockley John Parker Wilson Chris Redman Michael Koenen Troy Bergeron Michael Jenkins Eric Weems Aaron Kelly Chandler Williams Brent Grimes Christopher Owens Chevis Jackson Chris Houston Von Hutchins William Moore Erik Coleman Thomas Brown Thomas DeCoud Jamaal Fudge Jerious Norwood Michael Turner Ovie Mughelli William Middleton Verron Haynes Glenn Sharpe Tony Tiller Antoine Harris Eric Brock Edmond Miles Jason Snelling Robert James Mike Schneck Robert Shiver Jamie Winborn Curtis Lofton Tony Gilbert Coy Wire Mike Peterson Stephen Nicholas John Abraham Spencer Adkins Vance Walker Todd McClure Justin Blalock Maurice Lucas Jose Valdez Brett Romberg Ben Wilkerson Ryan Stanchek Adam Speer Michael Butterworth Kroy Biermann Sam Baker Harvey Dahl Will Svitek Garrett Reynolds Quinn Ojinnaka Tyson Clabo Marty Booker Robert Ferguson Keith Zinger Roddy White Jason Rader Brian Finneran Justin Peelle Tony Gonzalez Ben Hartsock Lawrence Sidbury Tywain Myles Chauncey Davis Thomas Johnson Peria Jerry Jonathan Babineaux Willie Evans Trey Lewis Jamaal Anderson Jason Jefferson
83 Harry Douglas
POS K QB QB QB QB P WR WR WR WR WR CB CB CB CB CB S S RB S S RB RB FB CB FB CB CB S S LB RB LB LS LS LB LB LB LB LB LB DE LB DT C OG DE OG C C OG OT OL DE OT OG OT OT OT OT WR WR TE WR TE WR TE TE TE DE DT DE DT DT DT DE DT DE DT
H 5-11 6-4 6-0 6-2 6-3 5-11 6-2 6-4 5-9 6-5 5-11 5-10 5-9 5-11 5-11 5-10 6-0 5-10 5-8 6-0 5-9 5-11 5-10 6-1 5-11 5-9 6-0 6-0 5-10 6-0 6-0 5-11 5-11 6-1 6-3 5-11 6-0 6-0 6-0 6-1 6-3 6-4 5-11 6-2 6-1 6-4 6-4 6-6 6-2 6-4 6-3 6-3 6-7 6-3 6-5 6-5 6-6 6-7 6-5 6-6 6-0 6-1 6-4 6-0 6-4 6-5 6-4 6-5 6-4 6-3 6-2 6-2 6-2 6-2 6-2 6-1 6-3 6-6 6-1
W 195 213 218 218 229 198 195 217 194 203 176 181 179 193 178 180 218 207 203 193 190 209 244 252 194 233 184 187 205 204 235 223 220 231 237 230 242 245 225 233 230 263 242 307 296 329 267 324 293 313 300 301 304 260 307 305 309 317 299 331 205 219 258 212 263 210 251 243 270 265 319 262 304 294 296 269 316 289 297
AGE 39 24 26 23 32 27 25 27 24 23 24 26 22 23 24 28 24 27 23 24 26 26 27 29 23 30 25 27 27 24 25 25 25 32 24 30 23 29 30 33 26 31 22 22 32 25 22 22 29 26 23 23 24 23 24 28 27 22 25 27 33 29 24 27 28 33 30 33 29 23 24 26 28 25 27 25 24 23 27
WR
6-0
182
24
EXP 17 2 3 R 7 5 1 6 2 R 1 2 R 2 3 5 R 6 1 2 4 4 6 7 R 6 1 1 3 1 2 3 1 11 R 9 2 6 8 11 3 10 R R 11 3 R R 6 4 R R 1 2 2 3 4 R 4 4 11 9 1 5 4 9 8 13 6 R 1 5 2 R 5 1 2 3 5
COLLEGE Hawaii Boston College Georgia Alabama Louisville Western Washington No College Ohio State Bethune-Cookman Clemson Florida International Shippensburg San Jose State LSU Arkansas Mississippi Missouri Washington State Georgia California Clemson Mississippi State Northern Illinois Wake Forest Furman Georgia Miami (Fla.) East Tennessee State Louisville Auburn Iowa Virginia Arizona State Wisconsin Auburn Vanderbilt Oklahoma Georgia Stanford Florida South Florida South Carolina Miami (Fla.) Georgia Tech LSU Texas Colorado Arkansas Miami (Fla.) LSU West Virginia Oregon State Slippery Rock Montana USC Nevada-Reno Stanford North Carolina Syracuse Wake Forest Lousiana-Monroe Texas A&M LSU Alabama-Birmingham Marshall Villanova Oregon California Ohio State Richmond Tarleton State Florida State Middle Tennessee State Mississippi Iowa Mississippi State Washburn Arkansas Wisconsin
INJURED RESERVE 2 Louisville
ACQUIRED UFA '08 (Den) D1a '08 D7 '06 FA '09 FA '07 FA '05 FA '09 D1b '04 FA '07 FA '09 FA '08 FA '07 D3 '09 D3a '08 D2b '07 FA '08 D2 '09 FA '08 D6 '08 D3c '08 W '08 (Jax) D3 '06 UFA '08 (SD) UFA '07 (Bal) D5a '09 FA '09 FA '08 FA '09 FA '07 FA '08 FA '09 D7 '07 D5a '08 FA '07 FA '09 FA '09 D2 '08 FA '08 FA' 08 UFA '09 (Jax) D4a '07 Tr '06 (NYJ) D6 '09 D7 '09 D7a '99 D2a '07 FA '09 FA '09 FA '09 FA '07 FA '09 FA '09 FA '08 D5b '08 D1b '08 FA '07 FA '09 D5b '09 D5 '06 FA '06 FA '09 FA '09 D7b '08 D1 '05 FA '08 FA '00 FA '08 Tr '09 (KC) FA '08 D4 '09 FA '08 D4 '05 FA '09 D1 '09 D2 '05 FA '08 D6a '07 D1 '07 W '08 (Buf)
HOMETOWN Ft. Walton Beach, FL Exton, PA College Park, GA Hoover, AL Louisville, KY Ferndale, WA New Orleans, LA Tampa, FL Ormond Beach, FL Marietta, GA Miami, FL Philadelphia, PA Los Angeles, CA Mobile, AL Austin, TX Natchez, MS Hayti, MO Sacramento, CA Tucker, GA Vallejo, CA Jacksonville, FL Jackson, MS Waukegan, IL Boston, MA Atlanta, GA Bronx, NY Miami, FL Stone Mountain, GA Columbus, OH Alexander City, AL Tallahassee, FL Chester, VA Glendale, AZ Whitefish Bay, WI Thomasville, GA Wetumpka, AL Kingfisher, OK Macon, GA Camp Hill, PA Gainesville, FL Jacksonville, FL Timmonsville, SC Naples, FL Fort Mill, SC Baton Rouge, LA Dallas, TX Denver, CO St. Francis, WI Windsor, Ontario Port Arthur, TX Cincinnati, OH West Hills, CA Northern Cambria, PA Hardin, MT Tustin, CA Fallon, NV Prague, Czech Republic Knoxville, TN Seabrook, MD Knoxville, TN Marrero, LA Houston, TX Leesville, LA James Island, SC St. Albans, WV Mission Viejo, CA Fresno, CA Torrance, CA Chillicothe, OH Cheltenham, MD Nacogdoches, TX Bartow, FL Memphis, TN Batesville, MS Port Arthur, TX Waynesboro, MS Topeka, KS Little Rock, AR Chicago, IL
D3b '08
Jonesboro, GA
*Birthdays updated through the month of August COACHING STAFF Mike Smith (Head Coach), Emmitt Thomas (Assistant Head Coach/Secondary), Mike Mularkey (Offensive Coordinator), Brian VanGorder (Defensive Coordinator), Keith Armstrong (Special Teams Coordinator), Jonas Beauchemin (Strength and Conditioning Assistant), Paul Boudreau (Offensive Line), Gerald Brown (Running Backs), Joe Danna (Defensive Assistant), Paul Dunn (Assistant Offensive Line), Jeff Fish (Director of Athletic Performance), Ray Hamilton (Defensive Line), Bill Hughan (Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach), Bill Musgrave (Quarterbacks), Glenn Pires (Linebackers), Alvin Reynolds (Defensive Backs), Terry Robiskie (Wide Receivers), Chris Scelfo (Tight Ends), Eric Sutulovich (Assistant Special Teams), Glenn Thomas (Offensive Assistant).
updated 8/17/2009
2009 Atlanta Falcons Roster By Experience # 1 88 80 62 53 46 55 81 86 49 87 52 34 8 26 51 89 36 12 66 33 95 92 24 99 9 84 77 29 32 76 85 74 67 98 63 73 41 23 54 3 44 72 71 28 20 22 93 97 50 43 2 14 11 42 27 70 96 45 91 37 38 18 82 59 94 15 64 35 25 21 75 48 90 69 68 65 61 4
PLAYER Elam, Jason Gonzalez, Tony Booker, Marty McClure, Todd Peterson, Mike Schneck, Mike Abraham, John Ferguson, Robert Finneran, Brian Winborn, Jamie Peelle, Justin Wire, Coy Mughelli, Ovie Redman, Chris Coleman, Erik Gilbert, Tony Hartsock, Ben Haynes, Verron Jenkins, Michael Romberg, Brett Turner, Michael Babineaux, Jonathan Davis, Chauncey Hutchins, Von Jefferson, Jason Koenen, Michael White, Roddy Clabo, Tyson Fudge, Jamaal Norwood, Jerious Ojinnaka, Quinn Rader, Jason Svitek, Will Wilkerson, Ben Anderson, Jamaal Blalock, Justin Dahl, Harvey Harris, Antoine Houston, Chris Nicholas, Stephen Shockley, D.J. Snelling, Jason Baker, Sam Biermann, Kroy DeCoud, Thomas Grimes, Brent Jackson, Chevis Johnson, Thomas Lewis, Trey Lofton, Curtis Miles, Edmond Ryan, Matt Weems, Eric Bergeron, Troy Brock, Eric Brown, Thomas Butterworth, Michael Evans, Willie James, Robert Myles, Tywain Sharpe, Glenn Tiller, Tony Williams, Chandler Zinger, Keith Adkins, Spencer Jerry, Peria Kelly, Aaron Lucas, Maurice Middleton, William Moore, William Owens, Christopher Reynolds, Garrett Shiver, Robert Sidbury, Lawrence Speer, Adam Stanchek, Ryan Valdez, Jose Walker, Vance Wilson, John Parker
83 Douglas, Harry
POS K TE WR C LB LS DE WR WR LB TE LB FB QB S LB TE FB WR C RB DT DE CB DT P WR OT S RB OT TE OT C DE OG OG S CB LB QB RB OT DE S CB CB DT DT LB LB QB WR WR S RB OL DE LB DT CB CB WR TE LB DT WR DE CB S CB OT LS DE OT OG OG DT QB
H 5-11 6-5 6-0 6-1 6-1 6-1 6-4 6-1 6-5 5-11 6-4 6-0 6-1 6-3 5-10 6-0 6-4 5-9 6-4 6-2 5-10 6-2 6-2 5-10 6-1 5-11 6-0 6-6 5-9 5-11 6-5 6-4 6-6 6-4 6-6 6-4 6-5 5-10 5-11 6-3 6-0 5-11 6-5 6-3 6-0 5-10 5-11 6-2 6-3 6-0 6-0 6-4 5-9 6-2 6-0 5-8 6-7 6-1 5-11 6-2 6-0 6-0 5-11 6-4 5-11 6-2 6-5 6-4 5-11 6-0 5-9 6-7 6-3 6-3 6-3 6-3 6-6 6-2 6-2
W 195 243 205 296 233 231 263 219 210 230 251 225 252 229 207 245 270 233 217 293 244 296 262 180 297 198 212 331 190 209 299 263 309 313 289 329 305 205 178 230 218 223 307 260 193 181 193 304 316 242 235 213 194 195 204 203 304 269 220 319 184 187 176 258 242 294 203 267 194 218 179 317 237 265 301 300 324 307 218
Birthdate 3/8/70 2/27/76 7/31/76 2/16/77 6/17/76 8/4/77 5/6/78 12/17/79 1/31/76 5/14/79 3/15/79 11/7/78 6/10/80 7/7/77 5/6/82 10/16/79 7/5/80 2/17/79 6/18/82 10/10/79 2/13/82 10/12/81 1/27/83 2/14/81 12/20/81 7/13/82 11/2/81 10/17/81 5/17/83 7/29/83 4/23/84 4/12/81 1/8/82 11/22/82 2/6/86 12/20/83 6/24/81 4/8/82 10/18/84 5/1/83 3/23/83 12/29/83 5/30/85 9/12/85 3/19/85 7/19/83 12/11/85 6/24/81 5/23/85 6/2/86 7/6/84 5/17/85 7/4/85 12/3/83 4/24/85 5/15/86 1/7/85 3/5/84 12/26/83 10/1/84 2/27/84 12/20/81 8/9/85 10/9/84 5/16/87 8/23/84 4/2/86 3/26/87 7/28/86 5/18/85 12/1/86 7/1/87 8/4/85 2/6/86 1/9/86 6/26/86 12/13/86 4/26/87 10/17/85
WR
6-0
182
9/16/84
EXP 17 13 11 11 11 11 10 9 9 9 8 8 7 7 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
COLLEGE Hawaii California Lousiana-Monroe LSU Florida Wisconsin South Carolina Texas A&M Villanova Vanderbilt Oregon Stanford Wake Forest Louisville Washington State Georgia Ohio State Georgia Ohio State Miami (Fla.) Northern Illinois Iowa Florida State Mississippi Wisconsin Western Washington Alabama-Birmingham Wake Forest Clemson Mississippi State Syracuse Marshall Stanford LSU Arkansas Texas Nevada-Reno Louisville Arkansas South Florida Georgia Virginia USC Montana California Shippensburg LSU Middle Tennessee State Washburn Oklahoma Iowa Boston College Bethune-Cookman No College Auburn Georgia Slippery Rock Mississippi State Arizona State Tarleton State Miami (Fla.) East Tennessee State Florida International LSU Miami (Fla.) Mississippi Clemson Colorado Furman Missouri San Jose State North Carolina Auburn Richmond Oregon State West Virginia Arkansas Georgia Tech Alabama
INJURED RESERVE 2 Louisville
ACQUIRED UFA '08 (Den) Tr '09 (KC) FA '09 D7a '99 UFA '09 (Jax) FA '07 Tr '06 (NYJ) FA '09 FA '00 FA '09 FA '08 FA' 08 UFA '07 (Bal) FA '07 FA '08 FA '08 FA '08 FA '09 D1b '04 FA '09 UFA '08 (SD) D2 '05 D4 '05 FA '08 W '08 (Buf) FA '05 D1 '05 FA '06 W '08 (Jax) D3 '06 D5 '06 FA '08 FA '09 FA '07 D1 '07 D2a '07 FA '07 FA '07 D2b '07 D4a '07 D7 '06 D7 '07 D1b '08 D5b '08 D3c '08 FA '07 D3a '08 FA '09 D6a '07 D2 '08 FA '09 D1a '08 FA '07 FA '09 FA '08 D6 '08 FA '08 FA '08 D5a '08 FA '08 FA '08 FA '09 FA '08 D7b '08 D6 '09 D1 '09 FA '09 FA '09 D5a '09 D2 '09 D3 '09 D5b '09 FA '09 D4 '09 FA '09 FA '09 FA '09 D7 '09 FA '09
HOMETOWN Ft. Walton Beach, FL Torrance, CA Marrero, LA Baton Rouge, LA Gainesville, FL Whitefish Bay, WI Timmonsville, SC Houston, TX Mission Viejo, CA Wetumpka, AL Fresno, CA Camp Hill, PA Boston, MA Louisville, KY Sacramento, CA Macon, GA Chillicothe, OH Bronx, NY Tampa, FL Windsor, Ontario Waukegan, IL Port Arthur, TX Bartow, FL Natchez, MS Chicago, IL Ferndale, WA James Island, SC Knoxville, TN Jacksonville, FL Jackson, MS Seabrook, MD St. Albans, WV Prague, Czech Republic Port Arthur, TX Little Rock, AR Dallas, TX Fallon, NV Columbus, OH Austin, TX Jacksonville, FL College Park, GA Chester, VA Tustin, CA Hardin, MT Vallejo, CA Philadelphia, PA Mobile, AL Memphis, TN Topeka, KS Kingfisher, OK Tallahassee, FL Exton, PA Ormond Beach, FL New Orleans, LA Alexander City, AL Tucker, GA Northern Cambria, PA Waynesboro, MS Glendale, AZ Nacogdoches, TX Miami, FL Stone Mountain, GA Miami, FL Leesville, LA Naples, FL Batesville, MS Marietta, GA Denver, CO Atlanta, GA Hayti, MO Los Angeles, CA Knoxville, TN Thomasville, GA Cheltenham, MD West Hills, CA Cincinnati, OH St. Francis, WI Fort Mill, SC Hoover, AL
D3b '08
Jonesboro, GA
COACHING STAFF Mike Smith (Head Coach), Emmitt Thomas (Assistant Head Coach/Secondary), Mike Mularkey (Offensive Coordinator), Brian VanGorder (Defensive Coordinator), Keith Armstrong (Special Teams Coordinator), Jonas Beauchemin (Strength and Conditioning Assistant), Paul Boudreau (Offensive Line), Gerald Brown (Running Backs), Joe Danna (Defensive Assistant), Paul Dunn (Assistant Offensive Line), Jeff Fish (Director of Athletic Performance), Ray Hamilton (Defensive Line), Bill Hughan (Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach), Bill Musgrave (Quarterbacks), Glenn Pires (Linebackers), Alvin Reynolds (Defensive Backs), Terry Robiskie (Wide Receivers), Chris Scelfo (Tight Ends), Eric Sutulovich (Assistant Special Teams), Glenn Thomas (Offensive Assistant).
updated 8/17/2009
2009 Atlanta Falcons Roster By Position # 2 3 4 8 27 32 33 34 36 44 11 12 14 15 18 80 81 84 86 82 85 87 88 89 62 63 65 66 67 68 69 70 72 73 74 75 76 77 55 61 64 71 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 43 45 49 50 51 52 53 54 59 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 28 29 35 37 38 41 42 1 9 46 48
PLAYER QUARTERBACKS (4) Matt Ryan D.J. Shockley John Parker Wilson Chris Redman RUNNING BACKS (6) Thomas Brown Jerious Norwood Michael Turner Ovie Mughelli Verron Haynes Jason Snelling WIDE RECEIVERS (9) Troy Bergeron Michael Jenkins Eric Weems Aaron Kelly Chandler Williams Marty Booker Robert Ferguson Roddy White Brian Finneran TIGHT ENDS (5) Keith Zinger Jason Rader Justin Peelle Tony Gonzalez Ben Hartsock OFFENSIVE LINE (14) Todd McClure Justin Blalock Jose Valdez Brett Romberg Ben Wilkerson Ryan Stanchek Adam Speer Michael Butterworth Sam Baker Harvey Dahl Will Svitek Garrett Reynolds Quinn Ojinnaka Tyson Clabo DEFENSIVE LINE (14) John Abraham Vance Walker Maurice Lucas Kroy Biermann Lawrence Sidbury Tywain Myles Chauncey Davis Thomas Johnson Peria Jerry Jonathan Babineaux Willie Evans Trey Lewis Jamaal Anderson Jason Jefferson LINEBACKERS (9) Edmond Miles Robert James Jamie Winborn Curtis Lofton Tony Gilbert Coy Wire Mike Peterson Stephen Nicholas Spencer Adkins DEFENSIVE BACKS (14) Brent Grimes Christopher Owens Chevis Jackson Chris Houston Von Hutchins William Moore Erik Coleman Thomas DeCoud Jamaal Fudge William Middleton Glenn Sharpe Tony Tiller Antoine Harris Eric Brock SPECIALISTS (4) Jason Elam Michael Koenen Mike Schneck Robert Shiver
POS
H
W
AGE
EXP
COLLEGE
ACQUIRED
HOMETOWN
QB QB QB QB
6-4 6-0 6-2 6-3
213 218 218 229
24 26 23 32
2 3 R 7
Boston College Georgia Alabama Louisville
D1a '08 D7 '06 FA '09 FA '07
Exton, PA College Park, GA Hoover, AL Louisville, KY
RB RB RB FB FB RB
5-8 5-11 5-10 6-1 5-9 5-11
203 209 244 252 233 223
23 26 27 29 30 25
1 4 6 7 6 3
Georgia Mississippi State Northern Illinois Wake Forest Georgia Virginia
D6 '08 D3 '06 UFA '08 (SD) UFA '07 (Bal) FA '09 D7 '07
Tucker, GA Jackson, MS Waukegan, IL Boston, MA Bronx, NY Chester, VA
WR WR WR WR WR WR WR WR WR
6-2 6-4 5-9 6-5 5-11 6-0 6-1 6-0 6-5
195 217 194 203 176 205 219 212 210
25 26 24 23 24 33 29 27 33
R 6 2 R 1 11 9 5 9
No College Ohio State Bethune-Cookman Clemson Florida International Lousiana-Monroe Texas A&M Alabama-Birmingham Villanova
FA '09 D1b '04 FA '07 FA '09 FA '08 FA '09 FA '09 D1 '05 FA '00
New Orleans, LA Tampa, FL Ormond Beach, FL Marietta, GA Miami, FL Marrero, LA Houston, TX James Island, SC Mission Viejo, CA
TE TE TE TE TE
6-4 6-4 6-4 6-5 6-4
258 263 251 243 270
24 28 30 33 29
1 4 8 13 6
LSU Marshall Oregon California Ohio State
D7b '08 FA '08 FA '08 Tr '09 (KC) FA '08
Leesville, LA St. Albans, WV Fresno, CA Torrance, CA Chillicothe, OH
C OG OG C C OG OT OL OT OG OT OT OT OT
6-1 6-4 6-6 6-2 6-4 6-3 6-3 6-7 6-5 6-5 6-6 6-7 6-5 6-6
296 329 324 293 313 300 301 304 307 305 309 317 299 331
32 25 22 29 26 23 23 24 24 28 27 21 25 27
11 3 R 6 4 R R 1 2 3 4 R 4 4
LSU Texas Arkansas Miami (Fla.) LSU West Virginia Oregon State Slippery Rock USC Nevada-Reno Stanford North Carolina Syracuse Wake Forest
D7a '99 D2a '07 FA '09 FA '09 FA '07 FA '09 FA '09 FA '08 D1b '08 FA '07 FA '09 D5b '09 D5 '06 FA '06
Baton Rouge, LA Dallas, TX St. Francis, WI Windsor, Ontario Port Arthur, TX Cincinnati, OH West Hills, CA Northern Cambria, PA Tustin, CA Fallon, NV Prague, Czech Republic Knoxville, TN Seabrook, MD Knoxville, TN
DE DT DE DE DE DT DE DT DT DT DE DT DE DT
6-4 6-2 6-4 6-3 6-3 6-2 6-2 6-2 6-2 6-2 6-1 6-3 6-6 6-1
263 307 267 260 265 319 262 304 294 296 269 316 289 297
31 22 22 23 23 24 26 27 25 27 25 24 23 27
10 R R 2 R 1 5 2 R 5 1 2 3 5
South Carolina Georgia Tech Colorado Montana Richmond Tarleton State Florida State Middle Tennessee State Mississippi Iowa Mississippi State Washburn Arkansas Wisconsin
Tr '06 (NYJ) D7 '09 FA '09 D5b '08 D4 '09 FA '08 D4 '05 FA '09 D1 '09 D2 '05 FA '08 D6a '07 D1 '07 W '08 (Buf)
Timmonsville, SC Fort Mill, SC Denver, CO Hardin, MT Cheltenham, MD Nacogdoches, TX Bartow, FL Memphis, TN Batesville, MS Port Arthur, TX Waynesboro, MS Topeka, KS Little Rock, AR Chicago, IL
LB LB LB LB LB LB LB LB LB
6-0 5-11 5-11 6-0 6-0 6-0 6-1 6-3 5-11
235 220 230 242 245 225 233 230 242
25 25 30 23 29 30 33 26 22
2 1 9 2 6 8 11 3 R
Iowa Arizona State Vanderbilt Oklahoma Georgia Stanford Florida South Florida Miami (Fla.)
FA '09 D5a '08 FA '09 D2 '08 FA '08 FA' 08 UFA '09 (Jax) D4a '07 D6 '09
Tallahassee, FL Glendale, AZ Wetumpka, AL Kingfisher, OK Macon, GA Camp Hill, PA Gainesville, FL Jacksonville, FL Naples, FL
CB CB CB CB CB S S S S CB CB CB S S
5-10 5-9 5-11 5-11 5-10 6-0 5-10 6-0 5-9 5-11 6-0 6-0 5-10 6-0
181 179 193 178 180 218 207 193 190 194 184 187 205 204
25 22 23 24 28 24 27 24 26 23 25 27 27 24
2 R 2 3 5 R 6 2 4 R 1 1 3 1
Shippensburg San Jose State LSU Arkansas Mississippi Missouri Washington State California Clemson Furman Miami (Fla.) East Tennessee State Louisville Auburn
FA '07 D3 '09 D3a '08 D2b '07 FA '08 D2 '09 FA '08 D3c '08 W '08 (Jax) D5a '09 FA '08 FA '09 FA '07 FA '08
Philadelphia, PA Los Angeles, CA Mobile, AL Austin, TX Natchez, MS Hayti, MO Sacramento, CA Vallejo, CA Jacksonville, FL Atlanta, GA Miami, FL Stone Mountain, GA Columbus, OH Alexander City, AL
K P LS LS
5-11 5-11 6-1 6-3
195 198 231 237
39 27 32 24
17 5 11 R
Hawaii Western Washington Wisconsin Auburn
UFA '08 (Den) FA '05 FA '07 FA '09
Ft. Walton Beach, FL Ferndale, WA Whitefish Bay, WI Thomasville, GA
COACHING STAFF Mike Smith (Head Coach), Emmitt Thomas (Assistant Head Coach/Secondary), Mike Mularkey (Offensive Coordinator), Brian VanGorder (Defensive Coordinator), Keith Armstrong (Special Teams Coordinator), Jonas Beauchemin (Strength and Conditioning Assistant), Paul Boudreau (Offensive Line), Gerald Brown (Running Backs), Joe Danna (Defensive Assistant), Paul Dunn (Assistant Offensive Line), Jeff Fish (Director of Athletic Performance), Ray Hamilton (Defensive Line), Bill Hughan (Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach), Bill Musgrave (Quarterbacks), Glenn Pires (Linebackers), Alvin Reynolds (Defensive Backs), Terry Robiskie (Wide Receivers), Chris Scelfo (Tight Ends), Eric Sutulovich (Assistant Special Teams), Glenn Thomas (Offensive Assistant).
updated 8/17/2009
2009 ATLANTA FALCONS UNOFFICIAL DEPTH CHART (As of August 17, 2009)
OFFENSE WR LT LG C RG RT TE
12 72 63 62 73 77 88
Michael Jenkins Sam Baker Justin Blalock Todd McClure Harvey Dahl Tyson Clabo Tony Gonzalez
86 74 76 66 65 75 87
Brian Finneran Will Svitek Quinn Ojinnaka Brett Romberg Jose Valdez Garrett Reynolds Justin Peelle
18 Chandler Williams
WR
84 Roddy White
80 Marty Booker
81 Robert Ferguson
QB RB FB
2 Matt Ryan 33 Michael Turner 34 Ovie Mughelli
8 Chris Redman 32 Jerious Norwood 36 Verron Haynes
3 D.J. Shockley 44 Jason Snelling
71 97 99 92 52 51 49 21 22 25 41
Kroy Biermann Trey Lewis Jason Jefferson Chauncey Davis Coy Wire Tony Gilbert Jamie Winborn Christopher Owens Chevis Jackson William Moore Antonie Harris
90 91 93 96 45 43 59 24 37 29 42
1 1
Jason Elam Jason Elam
69 67 68 70 89
Adam Speer Ben Wilkerson Ryan Stanchek Michael Butterworth Ben Hartsock
15 Aaron Kelly
85 82 14 11 4 27
Jason Rader Keith Zinger Eric Weems Troy Bergeron John Parker Wilson Thomas Brown
DEFENSE RE UT NT LE SLB MLB WLB RCB LCB SS FS
55 95 94 98 54 50 53 23 20 26 28
John Abraham Jonathan Babineaux Peria Jerry Jamaal Anderson Stephen Nicholas Curtis Lofton Mike Peterson Chris Houston Brent Grimes Erik Coleman Thomas DeCoud
Lawrence Sidbury Tywian Myles Thomas Johnson Willie Evans Robert James Edmond Miles Spencer Adkins Von Hutchins Glenn Sharpe Jamaal Fudge Eric Brock
61 Vance Walker 64 Maurice Lucas
35 William Middleton 38 Tony Tiller
SPECIALISTS K KO P KR PR LS H
1 9 9 32 20 46 9
Jason Elam Michael Koenen Michael Koenen Jerious Norwood Brent Grimes Mike Schneck Michael Koenen
48 Robert Shiver
PRONUNCIATION GUIDE Jonathan Babineaux BAB-in-NO Kroy Biermann Beer-man Thomas DeCoud DAY-coo Peria Jerry Pur-ray Michael Koenen KANE-in Ovie Mughelli OH-vee mah-HAY-lee Jerious Norwood JAIR-ee-us Quinn Ojinnaka O-ja-NAH-ka Justin Peelle Peel Will Svitek Svee-tech
2009 Atlanta Falcons Transactions Date January 5
January 7
February 3 February 12 March 3
March 4 March 9 March 10 April 6
Position DT OL OL DE CB WR TE DT CB S CB OL OT TE LB DT OL LB S RB CB S DE C LB WR
Player MYLES, Tywain BENNETT, Nathan BUTTERWORTH, Michael EVANS, Willie VINNETT, Darius WILLIAMS, Chandler ZINGER, Keith JOHNSON, Thomas PRUDE, Ronnie PASCHAL, Marcus TILLER, Tony WEINER, Todd SVITEK, Will PEELLE, Justin WIRE, Coy JEFFERSON, Jason WILKERSON, Ben GILBERT, Tony FUDGE, Jamaal SNELLING, Jason GRIMES, Brent HARRIS, Antoine DAVIS, Chauncey ROMBERG, Brett PETERSON, Mike ROBINSON, Laurent
April 23
TE
GONZALEZ, Tony
April 25
DT S CB DE CB
PERIA, Jerry MOORE, William OWENS, Chris SIDBURY, Lawrence MIDDLETON, William
OT LB DT WR WR QB DE LS OL OL LB
REYNOLDS, Garrett ADKINS, Spencer WALKER, Vance MOUGEY, Darren KELLY, Aaron WILSON, John Parker LUCAS, Maurice SHIVER, Robert STANCHEK, Ryan VALDEZ, Jose NICHOLSON, Derek
April 26
April 27
Transaction Signed as Reserve/Future Free Agent Signed as Reserve/Future Free Agent Signed as Reserve/Future Free Agent Signed as Reserve/Future Free Agent Signed as Reserve/Future Free Agent Signed as Reserve/Future Free Agent Signed as Reserve/Future Free Agent Signed as Reserve/Future Free Agent Signed as Reserve/Future Free Agent Signed as Reserve/Future Free Agent Signed as a Free Agent Retires Signed as a Free Agent Re-signed Re-signed Re-signed Re-signed Re-signed Re-signed Signed exclusive rights contract Signed exclusive rights contract Signed exclusive rights contract Re-signed Signed as a Free Agent Signed as a Free Agent Traded to St. Louis along with the 160th and 196th overall selections in the 2009 NFL Draft in exchange for the Rams 138th and 176 overall selections in the 2009 NFL Draft Acquired in a trade from Kansas City in exchange for the Falcons second round selection in the 2010 NFL Draft Drafted (first round, 24th overall) Drafted (second round, 55th overall) Drafted (third round, 90th overall) Drafted (fourth round, 125th overall) Drafted (fifth round, 138th overall) Traded the 143rd overall selection in the 2009 NFL Draft to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for the 156th and 210th overall selections in the '09 Draft Drafted (fifth round, 156th overall) Drafted (sixth round, 176 overall) Drafted (seventh round, 210th overall) Signed as a Rookie Free Agent Signed as a Rookie Free Agent Signed as a Rookie Free Agent Signed as a Rookie Free Agent Signed as a Rookie Free Agent Signed as a Rookie Free Agent Signed as a Rookie Free Agent Signed as a Rookie Free Agent
2009 Atlanta Falcons Transactions April 27 cont…
April 28 April 29 May 10 May 13 May 14
May 20 June 2 June 3 June 12 June 15 June 16 June 17 June 22 July 22 July 28 July 31 August 1 August 4 August 5 August 6
August 9
P/K LB WR DE DT DB OL RB WR LB WR LB LB CB S WR LB OG WR QB OL OL K/P OL WR OL CB OT LB LB WR WR WR WR WR WR WR
DEHAZE, Robbie CHRISTOPHER, Brock BERGERON, Troy FRASER, Simon MOOREHEAD, Kindal VINNETT, Darius BENNETT, Nathan HAYNES, Verron BERGERON, Troy MILES, Edmond BERGERON, Troy BOBINO, Rashad NICHOLSON, Derek PRUDE, Ronnie PASCHAL, Marcus JONES, Khalil CHRISTOPHER, Brock CLABO, Tyson GODFREY, Bradon VICK, Michael NEWBERRY, Jeremy FOSTER, Renardo DEHAZE, Robbie STEPANOVICH, Alex JONES, Khalil NEWBERRY, Jeremy IRONS, David SPEER, Adam WINBORN, Jamie BOBINO, Rashad LYONS, Dicky LYONS, Dicky FERGUSON, Robert BOOKER, Marty GODFREY, Bradon DOUGLAS, Harry MOUGEY, Darren
Signed as a Rookie Free Agent Signed as a Rookie Free Agent Signed as a Free Agent Released Released Waived Waived Signed as a Free Agent Waived Signed as a Free Agent Signed as a Free Agent Signed as a Free Agent Released Released Released Signed as a Free Agent Released Signed Tender Signed as a Free Agent Released Signed as a Free Agent Released Released Released Waived Retires Waived Signed as a Free Agent Signed as a Free Agent Waived Signed as a Free Agent Waived Signed as a Free Agent Signed as a Free Agent Waived Placed on Injured Reserve Waived
ATLANTA FALCONS / PRESEASON / WEEK 2 / THROUGH SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 2009 WON 0, LOST 1 08/15 L 26-27 08/21 08/29 09/03
at Detroit 34,785 at St. Louis San Diego Baltimore Atl. Opp. TOTAL FIRST DOWNS 16 22 Rushing 6 8 Passing 8 13 Penalty 2 1 3rd Down: Made/Att 6/14 7/15 3rd Down Pct. 42.9 46.7 4th Down: Made/Att 0/0 0/0 4th Down Pct. 0.0 0.0 POSSESSION AVG. 27:49 32:11 TOTAL NET YARDS 228 454 Avg. Per Game 228.0 454.0 Total Plays 55 69 Avg. Per Play 4.1 6.6 NET YARDS RUSHING 113 191 Avg. Per Game 113.0 191.0 Total Rushes 28 35 NET YARDS PASSING 115 263 Avg. Per Game 115.0 263.0 Sacked/Yards Lost 0/0 1/6 Gross Yards 115 269 Att./Completions 27/16 33/20 Completion Pct. 59.3 60.6 Had Intercepted 0 1 PUNTS/AVERAGE 6/45.8 6/42.0 NET PUNTING AVG. 6/42.7 6/33.2 PENALTIES/YARDS 5/36 9/113 FUMBLES/BALL LOST 0/0 0/0 TOUCHDOWNS 3 3 Rushing 2 1 Passing 0 2 Returns 1 0 * SCORE BY PERIODS Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 OT PTS TEAM 7 3 13 3 0 26 OPPONENTS 3 0 14 10 0 27 * SCORING TD-Ru-Pa-Rt K-PAT FG S PTS Elam 0 0 0 0 2/ 3 2/ 2 0 8 Gilbert 1 0 0 1 0 6 Snelling 1 1 0 0 0 6 Turner 1 1 0 0 0 6 TEAM 3 2 0 1 2/ 3 2/ 2 0 26 OPPONENTS 3 1 2 0 3/ 3 2/ 2 0 27 2-Pt. Conversions: TEAM 0-0, OPPONENTS 0-0 SACKS: Johnson 1, TEAM 1, OPPONENTS 0 FUM/LOST: * PASSING Redman Shockley Ryan Wilson TEAM OPPONENTS
* RUSHING No. Yds Avg Long TD Turner 6 63 10.5 40t 1 Norwood 6 26 4.3 9 0 Brown 11 19 1.7 9 0 Snelling 3 4 1.3 3 1 Wilson 1 1 1.0 1 0 White 1 0 0.0 0 0 TEAM 28 113 4.0 40t 2 OPPONENTS 35 191 5.5 32t 1 * RECEIVING No. Yds Avg Long TD White 3 29 9.7 12 0 Weems 2 25 12.5 15 0 Booker 2 11 5.5 8 0 Haynes 1 11 11.0 11 0 Finneran 1 7 7.0 7 0 Gonzalez 1 7 7.0 7 0 Kelly 1 7 7.0 7 0 Brown 1 6 6.0 6 0 Zinger 1 4 4.0 4 0 Norwood 1 3 3.0 3 0 Peelle 1 3 3.0 3 0 Jenkins 1 2 2.0 2 0 TEAM 16 115 7.2 15 0 OPPONENTS 20 269 13.5 45t 2 * INTERCEPTIONS No. Yds Avg Long TD Gilbert 1 42 42.0 42t 1 TEAM 1 42 42.0 42t 1 OPPONENTS 0 0 --- --0 * PUNTING No. Yds Avg Net TB In Lg B Koenen 6 275 45.8 42.7 0 1 54 0 TEAM 6 275 45.8 42.7 0 1 54 0 OPPONENTS 6 252 42.0 33.2 0 4 60 0 * PUNT RETURNS Ret FC Yds Avg Long TD Weems 1 3 34 34.0 34 0 Williams 1 1 19 19.0 19 0 TEAM 2 4 53 26.5 34 0 OPPONENTS 4 1 19 4.8 11 0 * KICKOFF RETURNS No. Yds Avg Long TD Williams 3 52 17.3 24 0 Brown 2 24 12.0 14 0 TEAM 5 76 15.2 24 0 OPPONENTS 5 108 21.6 32 0 * FIELD GOALS 1-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50+ Elam 0/ 0 0/ 0 0/ 0 2/ 2 0/0 TEAM 0/ 0 0/ 0 0/ 0 2/ 2 0/0 OPPONENTS 0/ 0 1/ 1 0/ 0 1/ 1 0/0 Elam: (46G,41G) TEAM: (46G,41G) OPPONENTS: (26G,47G)
Att Cmp Yds Cmp% Yds/Att TD 9 5 29 55.6 3.22 0 8 3 31 37.5 3.88 0 7 5 33 71.4 4.71 0 3 3 22 100.0 7.33 0 27 16 115 59.3 4.26 0 33 20 269 60.6 8.15 2
TD% Int Int% Long Sack/Lost Rating 0.0 0 0.0 12 0/ 0 61.8 0.0 0 0.0 15 0/ 0 49.5 0.0 0 0.0 11 0/ 0 81.3 0.0 0 0.0 11 0/ 0 97.2 0.0 0 0.0 15 0/ 0 69.2 6.1 1 3.0 45t 1/ 6 94.1
ATLANTA FALCONS / WEEK 17 / THROUGH SUNDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2008 WON 11, 09/07 W 09/14 L 09/21 W 09/28 L 10/05 W 10/12 W 10/26 L 11/02 W 11/09 W 11/16 L 11/23 W 11/30 W 12/07 L 12/14 W 12/21 W 12/28 W
LOST 5 34-21 9-24 38-14 9-24 27-24 22-20 14-27 24- 0 34-20 20-24 45-28 22-16 25-29 13-10 OT 24-17 31-27
Detroit 62,310 at Tampa Bay 63,611 Kansas City 62,434 at Carolina 72,688 at Green Bay 70,610 Chicago 64,096 at Philadelphia 69,144 at Oakland 61,196 New Orleans 64,826 Denver 64,358 Carolina 64,841 at San Diego 67,200 at New Orleans 70,011 Tampa Bay 65,045 at Minnesota 62,889 St. Louis 64,617 Atl. Opp. TOTAL FIRST DOWNS 313 309 Rushing 131 108 Passing 157 189 Penalty 25 12 3rd Down: Made/Att 95/219 79/208 3rd Down Pct. 43.4 38.0 4th Down: Made/Att 6/13 10/20 4th Down Pct. 46.2 50.0 POSSESSION AVG. 30:49 29:11 TOTAL NET YARDS 5779 5566 Avg. Per Game 361.2 347.9 Total Plays 1011 998 Avg. Per Play 5.7 5.6 NET YARDS RUSHING 2443 2040 Avg. Per Game 152.7 127.5 Total Rushes 560 415 NET YARDS PASSING 3336 3526 Avg. Per Game 208.5 220.4 Sacked/Yards Lost 17/104 34/245 Gross Yards 3440 3771 Att./Completions 434/265 549/325 Completion Pct. 61.1 59.2 Had Intercepted 11 10 PUNTS/AVERAGE 65/39.5 76/45.5 NET PUNTING AVG. 65/37.5 76/39.2 PENALTIES/YARDS 71/591 109/854 FUMBLES/BALL LOST 18/10 18/8 TOUCHDOWNS 43 38 Rushing 23 17 Passing 16 20 Returns 4 1 * SCORE BY PERIODS Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 OT PTS TEAM 114 120 43 111 3 391 OPPONENTS 52 87 60 126 0 325 * SCORING TD-Ru-Pa-Rt K-PAT FG S PTS Elam 0 0 0 0 42/42 29/31 0 129 Turner 17 17 0 0 0 102 White 7 0 7 0 0 42 Norwood 6 4 2 0 0 36 Jenkins 3 0 3 0 0 20 Douglas 3 1 1 1 0 18 Peelle 2 0 2 0 0 12 Blalock 1 0 0 1 0 6 Finneran 1 0 1 0 0 6 Houston 1 0 0 1 0 6 C. Jackson 1 0 0 1 0 6 Ryan 1 1 0 0 0 6 TEAM 43 23 16 4 42/42 29/31 1 391 OPPONENTS 38 17 20 1 35/35 20/25 0 325 2-Pt. Conversions: Jenkins, TEAM 1-1, OPPONENTS 1-3 SACKS: Abraham 16.5, Davis 4, Babineaux 3.5, Anderson 2, Biermann 2, G. Jackson 2, Lofton 1, Moorehead 1, Nicholas 1, (group) 1, TEAM 34, OPPONENTS 17 FUM/LOST: Ryan 6/1, Jennings (TM) 3/2, Turner 3/2, Norwood 2/1, Douglas 1/1, Finneran 1/1, Rader 1/1, White 1/1 * PASSING Ryan TEAM OPPONENTS
Att Cmp 434 265 434 265 549 325
* RUSHING No. Yds Avg Long TD Turner 376 1699 4.5 70 17 Norwood 95 489 5.1 45t 4 Ryan 55 104 1.9 17 1 Douglas 12 69 5.8 33 1 Snelling 15 62 4.1 13 0 Mughelli 5 16 3.2 9 0 White 2 4 2.0 2 0 TEAM 560 2443 4.4 70 23 OPPONENTS 415 2040 4.9 68t 17 * RECEIVING No. Yds Avg Long TD White 88 1382 15.7 70t 7 Jenkins 50 777 15.5 62t 3 Norwood 36 338 9.4 67t 2 Douglas 23 320 13.9 69 1 Finneran 21 169 8.0 14 1 Peelle 15 159 10.6 18t 2 Snelling 8 89 11.1 27 0 Mughelli 8 57 7.1 18 0 Turner 6 41 6.8 18 0 Robinson 5 52 10.4 23 0 Hartsock 3 26 8.7 17 0 Rader 1 26 26.0 26 0 Weems 1 4 4.0 4 0 TEAM 265 3440 13.0 70t 16 OPPONENTS 325 3771 11.6 56t 20 * INTERCEPTIONS No. Yds Avg Long TD Coleman 3 48 16.0 32 0 Houston 2 10 5.0 10t 1 C. Jackson 1 95 95.0 95t 1 Milloy 1 38 38.0 38 0 Grimes 1 25 25.0 25 0 Boley 1 16 16.0 16 0 Foxworth 1 1 1.0 1 0 TEAM 10 233 23.3 95t 2 OPPONENTS 11 74 6.7 23 0 * PUNTING No. Yds Avg Net TB In Lg B Koenen 63 2566 40.7 37.5 4 25 60 2 TEAM 65 2566 39.5 37.5 4 25 60 2 OPPONENTS 76 3458 45.5 39.2 5 21 64 1 * PUNT RETURNS Ret FC Yds Avg Long TD Jennings TM 23 6 151 6.6 37 0 Douglas 19 3 226 11.9 61t 1 Finneran 1 3 2 2.0 2 0 TEAM 43 12 379 8.8 61t 1 OPPONENTS 20 27 49 2.5 12 0 * KICKOFF RETURNS No. Yds Avg Long TD Norwood 51 1311 25.7 92 0 Douglas 4 46 11.5 22 0 Finneran 1 5 5.0 5 0 Mughelli 1 17 17.0 17 0 Weems 1 19 19.0 19 0 Wilkerson 1 10 10.0 10 0 TEAM 59 1408 23.9 92 0 OPPONENTS 71 1536 21.6 88 0 * FIELD GOALS 1-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50+ Elam 0/ 0 11/11 7/ 8 10/10 1/2 TEAM 0/ 0 11/11 7/ 8 10/10 1/2 OPPONENTS 1/ 1 9/ 9 6/ 7 3/ 5 1/3 Elam: (50G,25G)(32G,27G,24G)(27G)(33G,44G,44G) (42G,41G)(29G,48G,32G,41G,33N,48G)()(48G,51N) (22G,27G)(46G,36G)(23G)(35G,40G)(23G)(26G,34G) (22G)(39G) OPPONENTS: ()(33G)(32N)(44G)(53N,50G)(36G,32G) (36G,18G)()(24G,44G)(49N,20G)(23G,21G)(43B, 28G)(26G,46G,25G)(53N,38G)(29G)(31G,27G)
Yds Cmp% Yds/Att 3440 61.1 7.93 3440 61.1 7.93 3771 59.2 6.87
TD 16 16 20
TD% 3.7 3.7 3.6
Int Int% Long Sack/Lost Rating 11 2.5 70t 17/ 104 87.7 11 2.5 70t 17/ 104 87.7 10 1.8 56t 34/ 245 84.6
2008 ATLANTA FALCONS DEFENSIVE/SPECIAL TEAMS STATS Based on Coaches Breakdown
PLAYER
TOTAL SOLO
DEFENSIVE STATS ASSISTS SK/YDS INT PD FF FR
PLAYER
SPECIAL TEAMS STATS TOTAL SOLO ASSISTS FF
FR blk
Keith Brooking
133
80
53
0.0
0
3
0
0
Jason Snelling
19
16
3
0
0
0
Erik Coleman
127
82
45
0.0
3
6
2
0
Coy Wire
15
11
4
0
0
0
Lawyer Milloy
117
76
41
0.0
1
5
1
0
Stephen Nicholas
12
10
2
0
0
0
Curtis Lofton
108
67
41
1.0/7.0
0
2
1
0
Ovie Mughelli
8
8
0
0
0
0
Michael Boley
90
65
25
0.0
1
9
0
0
Kroy Biermann
7
7
0
0
0
0
Chris Houston
59
52
7
0.0
2
16
0
1
Curtis Lofton
6
6
0
0
0
0
John Abraham
42
35
7
16.5/109.5
0
1
4
0
Thomas DeCoud
5
4
1
0
0
0
Domonique Foxworth
39
34
5
0.0
1
11
0
0
Adam Jennings
4
4
0
0
0
0
Jonathan Babineaux
38
30
8
3.5/26.5
0
2
0
1
Jerious Norwood
4
3
1
0
0
0
Brent Grimes
36
29
7
0.0
1
6
0
0
David Irons
4
3
1
0
0
0
Jamaal Anderson
36
29
7
2.0/10.0
0
3
0
0
Michael Koenen
3
3
0
0
0
0
Chauncey Davis
35
27
8
4.0/25.0
0
1
1
3
Brent Grimes
3
2
1
0
0
0
Chevis Jackson
33
27
6
0.0
1
5
0
0
Eric Weems
3
3
0
0
0
0
Coy Wire
24
17
7
0.0
0
1
0
0
Jamaal Fudge
2
1
1
0
0
0
Grady Jackson
23
21
2
2.0/14.0
0
1
0
0
Antoine Harris
2
2
0
0
0
0
Kindal Moorehead
18
15
3
1.0/29.0
0
1
1
0
Brian Finneran
2
2
0
0
0
0
Kroy Biermann
14
11
3
2.0/13.0
0
0
0
0
Mike Schneck
1
1
0
0
0
0
Jamaal Fudge
12
9
3
0.0
0
0
0
0
Chris Houston
1
0
1
0
0
0
Jason Jefferson
9
8
1
0.0
0
0
0
1
Laurent Robinson
1
1
0
0
0
0
Stephen Nicholas
9
7
2
1.0/6.0
0
2
0
0
Michael Boley
1
1
0
0
1
0
Simon Fraser
2
1
1
0.0
0
1
0
0
John Abraham
0
0
0
0
0
1
Team Sack
0
0
0
1.0/5.0
0
0
0
0
Jamaal Anderson
0
0
0
0
0
1
1004
722
282
34.0/245.0
10
76
10
6
TOTALS
103
88
15
0
1
2
TOTALS
Additional Bios
MARTY BOOKER #80 Wide Receiver Height: 6-0 Weight: 205 NFL Experience: 11 Aquired: FA-‘09 1st Year with Falcons Birthdate: 7/31/76 College: Louisiana-Monroe TRANSACTIONS • Selected as a third round (78th overall) draft choice by the Chicago Bears in 1999. • Traded to the Miami Dolphins with a conditional pick on August 21, 2004. • Released by Miami on February 12, 2008 and signed with Chicago on March 11, 2008. • Signed by the Falcons as a free agent on August 6, 2009. CAREER • In 141 career games, has totaled 523 receptions for 6,522 yards (12.5 avg.) and 36 touchdowns. • Currently ranks tied for third in Bears history with 329 receptions and sixth in receiving yardage (3,895). • Posted two 1,000-yard receiving campaigns in 2001 and ’02 while combining for 14 touchdowns in those two seasons. • Received his first Pro Bowl nomination in 2002 after finishing the season with 1,189 yards and six touchdowns on 97 receptions. 2008 (BEARS) • In 13 games, totaled 14 receptions for 211 yards and two touchdowns. • Extended his streak of consecutive games with at least one catch to a franchise-record 60 games at Carolina (9/14). • Hauled in three receptions for a team-high 79 yards (26.3 avg.) against Minnesota (10/19), including a 51-yard touchdown. 2007 (DOLPHINS) • Led the Dolphins in receptions (50) and receiving yardage (556) while adding one touchdown in 15 games. • The campaign marked the sixth time in his nine-year career he recorded 50-plus catches. • Recorded his 500th reception of his career against Baltimore (12/16). 2006 (DOLPHINS) • Saw action in 14 contests and finished with 55 receptions for 747 yards and six touchdowns. Also contributed with three rushes for 19 yards. • His receiving total led the team and his six touchdown grabs on 55 receptions ranked fourth. • Caught a 52-yard pass in the season opener at Pittsburgh (9/7), which marked the longest reception for the Dolphins all season. • Notched a career-long 18-yard rush against Tennessee (9/24). • Matched a career-high with a touchdown catch in three-straight contests. 2005 (DOLPHINS) • Ranked second on the Dolphins with 686 receiving yards and third with 39 receptions and three touchdown catches in 15 games. • Caught a 60-yard touchdown against Denver (9/11), which was the second-longest pass play for the team in 2005. 2004 (DOLPHINS) • In 15 starts, finished third on the Miami roster with 50 receptions for 638 yards and one touchdown. • Completed a 48-yard touchdown pass against St. Louis (10/24). • Posted a reception in every contest he played in for the fourth year in a row. 2003 (BEARS) • Competed in 13 games and led the Bears in receiving for the third-straight season finishing the year with 715 yards and four touchdowns on 52 receptions. • Led or tied the team in receptions on 10 occasions and receiving yards eight times.
2002 (BEARS) • Earned his first Pro Bowl selection after he accumulated 97 receptions (ranked third in the NFC and tied for sixth in the NFL) for 1,189 yards (seventh in the NFC) and six touchdowns. • His 97 receptions ranked second in team history trailing his 100 catches from the 2001 campaign. • His 1,189 receiving yards ranked fourth for a single-season in Bears history. • Tied for fourth in the League with 20 receptions of 20 yards or longer while placing seventh in the NFC with 54 first-down catches. • Threw a 44-yard touchdown pass to Marcus Robinson against New England (11/10). 2001 (BEARS) • Started all 16 games and set a Bears single-season reception record with 100, breaking the old mark of 93 set by Johnny Morris in 1964. • His reception total ranked second in the NFC and sixth in the NFL. • Ranked ninth in the NFC with 1,071 receiving yards. • Became just the seventh receiver (eighth time) in Bears history to post a 1,000-yard receiving season. 2000 (BEARS) • In 15 games, finished third on the Bears with 47 receptions for 490 yards and two touchdowns. • Had five catches for 56 yards against Detroit (9/24), a game which began his streak of 82-straight games with a reception. 1999 (BEARS) • Caught 19 passes for 219 yards and three touchdowns in nine games. • First NFL reception occurred against Minnesota (11/14) while he finished the game with seven receptions for 134 yards and two touchdowns in his first start. • Became the first Bears rookie to register a 100-yard receiving game since 1983. COLLEGE • Finished his four-year collegiate career (1995-98) ranked second in Louisiana-Monroe history with 178 receptions and 2,784 yards. • Was a three-year starter who scored 23 touchdowns and averaged 15.6 yards per catch. • Was an All-Independent first-team selection as a senior with 75 catches for 1,168 yards and 11 touchdowns, averaging 106.2 yards per game. PERSONAL • Attended Jonesboro-Hodge High School in Jonesboro, La. and finished his prep career with 1,418 yards and 16 touchdowns as a senior quarterback. • Was named the 2002 Bear of the Year by Chicago Chapter of the March of Dimes. • Born in Marrero, Louisiana. • Has a daughter, Darian Brianna and a son, Jaden Montez. BOOKER’S CAREER RECEIVING AND RUSHING STATISTICS Receiving Rushing Yds Avg Lg TD Att Yds Avg Lg 219 11.5 57t 3 1 8 8.0 8 490 10.4 41 2 2 -1 -0.5 5 1,071 10.7 66t 8 4 8 2.0 13 1,189 12.3 54 6 0 0 0.0 0 715 13.8 61t 4 3 -7 -2.3 1 638 12.8 45 1 1 -8 -8.0 -8 686 17.6 60t 3 0 0 0.0 0 747 13.6 52 6 3 19 6.3 18 556 11.1 26 1 2 12 6.0 12 211 15.1 51t 2 1 3 3.0 3 6,522 12.5 66t 36 17 34 2.0 18
OFFENSE Team Year 1999 Chi 2000 Chi 2001 Chi 2002 Chi 2003 Chi 2004 Mia 2005 Mia 2006 Mia 2007 Mia 2008 Chi Totals
GP/GS 9/4 15/7 16/16 16/16 13/13 15/15 15/12 14/13 15/15 13/5 141/116
OFFENSE Team Year 2001 Chi Totals
BOOKER’S POSTSEASON CAREER RECEIVING AND RUSHING STATISTICS Receiving Rushing GP/GS Rec Yds Avg Lg TD Att Yds Avg Lg TD 1/1 2 18 9.0 14 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 1/1 2 18 9.0 14 0 0 0 0.0 0 0
Rec 19 47 100 97 52 50 39 55 50 14 523
TD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
ROBERT FERGUSON #81 Wide Receiver Height: 6-1 Weight: 219 NFL Experience: 9 Aquired: FA-‘09 1st Year with Falcons Birthdate: 12/17/79 College: Texas A&M TRANSACTIONS • Selected as a second round (41st overall) draft choice by the Green Bay Packers in 2001. • Signed by the Vikings for training camp in 2007 after being released by the Packers. • Signed by the Falcons as a free agent on August 6, 2009. CAREER • In 82 career games (34 starts), has totaled 151 receptions for 1,993 yards and 13 touchdowns. • In 2003, logged his best season with 520 yards and four touchdowns on 38 receptions. 2008 (VIKINGS) • In eight games, totaled three receptions for 25 yards. 2007 (VIKINGS) • Competed in 15 games and posted his second highest reception total with 32 while contributing with 391 yards and one touchdown. • Hauled in his career-long catch on a 71-yard reception against Chicago (12/17). • Caught his lone touchdown of the season on a 19-yard pass at San Francisco (12/9). 2006 (PACKERS) • Played in four games with one start before being sidelined by a foot injury. • Finished the season with five receptions for 31 yards and one touchdown. 2005 (PACKERS) • Saw action in 11 games (seven starts) and tallied 27 receptions for 366 yards, three touchdowns and a long reception of 51 yards. • Grabbed a 37-yard touchdown pass on a fourth-down play against Tampa Bay (9/25). • Notched the second-longest reception of his career on a 51-yard grab against New Orleans (10/9). 2004 (PACKERS) • Competed in 13 games (five starts) and finished the season with 24 receptions for 367 yards and one touchdown. • Averaged 25.0 yards per kickoff return, the fifth-best mark in the NFC. • Caught his lone touchdown pass of the season on an 18-yard score against Chicago (9/19). 2003 (PACKERS) • Enjoyed his best statistical season of his career with 38 receptions for 520 yards and four touchdowns. • Led the Packers in special teams tackles with 17. • Caught a career-high seven passes against Chicago (12/7). • Finished with a two-touchdown game at San Diego (12/14) in a Packers win. • Caught two touchdowns in the first quarter of the NFC Divisional Playoff game at Philadelphia (1/11/04). 2002 (PACKERS) • Saw action in all 16 games and finished with 22 receptions for 293 yards and three touchdowns. • Posted his first career two-touchdown game against Minnesota (12/8) and finished the game with his first-career 100-yard game (105 yards on six receptions). • Caught his first career touchdown pass on an eight-yard strike from Brett Favre at Detroit (9/22). 2001 (PACKERS) • Battled through injuries in his rookie season and saw action in one game.
COLLEGE • Led the Big 12 Conference with 58 catches in 2000 and was a first-team all-conference choice. • Tabbed as the Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year. • Earned All-America honors as a junior college standout at Tyler JC. PERSONAL • Attended Spring Woods High School in Houston Texas and was named the Defensive Player of the Year by Houston Touchdown Club. • Also a standout in basketball. FERGUSON’S CAREER RECEIVING AND RUSHING STATISTICS Receiving Rushing Yds Avg Lg TD Att Yds Avg Lg 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 293 13.3 40t 3 0 0 0.0 0 520 13.7 47 4 1 -8 -8.0 -8 367 15.3 48 1 0 0 0.0 0 366 13.6 51 3 0 0 0.0 0 31 6.2 10 1 0 0 0.0 0 391 12.2 71 1 0 0 0.0 0 25 8.3 9 0 0 0 0.0 0 1,993 13.2 71 13 1 -8 -8.0 -8
OFFENSE Team Year 2001 GB 2002 GB 2003 GB 2004 GB 2005 GB 2006 GB 2007 MIN 2008 MIN Totals
GP/GS 1/0 16/1 15/12 13/5 11/7 4/1 15/8 8/0 82/34
OFFENSE Team Year 2002 GB 2003 GB Totals
FERGUSON’S POSTSEASON CAREER RECEIVING AND RUSHING STATISTICS Receiving Rushing GP/GS Rec Yds Avg Lg TD Att Yds Avg Lg TD 1/1 3 17 5.7 10 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 2/1 5 73 14.6 40t 2 0 0 0.0 0 0 3/2 8 90 11.3 40t 2 0 0 0.0 0 0
Rec 0 22 38 24 27 5 32 3 151
TD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
ADAM SPEER #69 Offensive Tackle Height: 6-3 Weight: 301 NFL Experience: R Aquired: FA-‘09 1st Year with Falcons Birthdate: 1/9/86 College: Oregon State Signed by Atlanta on July 31, 2009…Graduated from Oregon State as a four-time Pac-10 Conference Academic Honorable Mention selection…Participated in all 13 games on the offensive line in 2008, including the Beavers’ 3-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Panthers in the Sun Bowl…Also blocked for an OSU passing attack that ranked second in the conference with an average of 249.0 yards per game. PERSONAL Attended Chaminade College Prep and was a SuperPrep Magazine All-America selection…As a senior, was voted a first-team All-CIF and all-area selection…Named to the Los Angeles Times’ All-Area Team…Did not allow a sack over his position in 650-plus plays as a senior…Also excelled on defense where he posted 138 tackles as a defensive end…Earned four letters in football and track and two in basketball.
jamie winborn #49 Linebacker Height: 5-11 Weight: 230 NFL Experience: 9 Aquired: FA-‘09 1st Year with Falcons Birthdate: 5/14/79 College: Vanderbilt TRANSACTIONS • Originally selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the second round (47th overall) of the 2001 NFL Draft. • Traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars on October 7, 2005. • Signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an unrestricted free agent on April 3, 2006. • Signed by the Denver Broncos as a free agent on September 11, 2007. • Signed by the Falcons as a free agent on August 1, 2009 CAREER • In 92 career games (32 starts), has logged 407 tackles (105 solo), 10.0 sacks, three interceptions, 23 passes defensed, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. • An accomplished special-teamer who has recorded 46 career tackles covering kicks. • In 2004, ranked third on the 49ers defense with 104 tackles while being nominated by the team for the Ed Block Courage Award after returning from an injury the previous season. 2008 (BRONCOS) • Competed in all 16 games (starting in 11) and contributed with 117 tackles (84 solo) and nine passes defensed. • Became the starting linebacker in Week 7 and his 117 tackles led the team. • Recorded double-digit tackles in five of the last eight games and averaged 9.3 stops in his 11 starts. • Notched six tackles, a half sack and a pass defensed against New England (10/20). 2007 (BRONCOS) • Saw action in 14 games and led the team with 11 special teams tackles while adding 24 defensive stops, half a sack and three passes defensed. • Started the final two games of the season. • Posted eight tackles and two passes defensed against San Diego (12/24). • Finished with six stops and half a sack in the season finale vs. Minnesota (12/30). 2006 (BUCCANEERS) • Appeared in 14 contests and placed sixth on Tampa Bay’s special teams unit with a career-high 14 special-teams stops while adding one forced fumble on coverage units. • Also added six tackles on defense. 2005 (49ERS/JAGUARS) • Played in eight games with Jacksonville and San Francisco and totaled 15 tackles. • Competed in the first three games of the season with the 49ers before being traded to Jacksonville. 2004 (49ERS) • Competed in 14 games (10 starts) and ranked third on the club with 104 tackles (64 solo) with a career-high 4.5 sacks, one interception, two passes defensed, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. • Was nominated by his 49ers teammates for the Ed Block Courage Award after returning from an injury suffered the previous season. • Totaled two sacks and a forced fumble against Atlanta (9/12). • Posted one interception, a forced fumble and six tackles against Arizona (10/10). • Made a season-high 15 tackles at the New York Jets (10/17). 2003 (49ERS) • Played in nine games and totaled 61 tackles (40 solo), three sacks, five passes defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery before being placed on injured reserve. • Opened the season with sacks in consecutive games vs. Chicago (9/17) and at St. Louis (9/14).
2002 (49ERS) • Was limited to three games due to injury and finished the season with 28 tackles (21 solo), one sack and two passes defensed. 2001 (49ERS) • In his rookie season, saw action in 14 contests and contributed with 52 tackles (32 solo), half a sack, two interceptions, two passes defensed and one fumble recovery. • Added 11 special teams tackles. • Set a club rookie record with 13 tackles in his first career start against Carolina (10/7). COLLEGE • A three-year starter at Vanderbilt where he totaled 377 career tackles and 16.5 sacks. • Placed second on the team with 105 tackles in his junior season. • Received first-team All-SEC honors and second-team All-America accolades from Football News as a sophomore after leading the conference in tackles for the second consecutive season. • Chosen as an All-America candidate by Sporting News and Football News as a redshirt freshman leading the SEC in tackles (131) while totaling a team-high eight sacks. PERSONAL • Attended Wetumpka High School and competed as a linebacker and fullback on the gridiron. • Named all-metro, all-district and second-team all-state as a senior posting 137 tackles (89 solo) that season. • Competed in the 100-meter dash and 4x100 relays at the Texas Regionals as a sophomore.
DEFENSE Year 2001 SF 2002 SF 2003 SF 2004 SF 2005 SF/Jax 2006 TB 2007 Den 2008 Den Totals
GP/GS 14/4 3/3 9/0 14/10 8/2 14/0 14/2 16/11 92/32
Tckls 52 28 61 104 15 6 24 117 407
Solo 32 21 40 64 10 4 21 84 276
Asst 20 7 21 40 5 2 3 33 131
Sks 0.5 1.0 3.0 4.5 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.5 10.0
Yds 4.5 8.0 18 39.5 0.0 0.0 4.5 2.5 77.0
Int 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 3
Yds 40 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 41
Lg 29 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 29
TD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
PD 3 2 5 2 0 0 3 9 23
FF 0 0 1 3 0 0 0 0 4
FR 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 3
Yds 17 0 13 9 0 0 0 0 39
TD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
PLAYOFFS - DEFENSE GP/GS Tckls Year 2004 SF 1/0 2 Totals 1/0 2
Solo 0 0
Asst 2 2
Sks 0.0 0.0
Yds 0.0 0.0
Int 0 0
Yds 0 0
Lg 0 0
TD 0 0
PD 0 0
FF 0 0
FR 0 0
Yds 0 0
TD 0 0
Additional Statistics: Totaled 11 special teams tackles in 2001, two special teams stops in 2002, two special teams tackles in 2003, two special teams stops in 2005, 14 special teams tackles in 2006, 11 special teams stops in 2007.
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ATLANTA FALCONS NEWS CLIPS Publication: AJC
Section/# of Pages: Sports/1 of 2
Date: 2/22/09
GM Dimitroff looks to build on last year’s success Falcons will grade prospects at combine on as many as 20 criteria in ‘scouting matrix’ By STEVE HUMMER The NFL combine is under way, the college draft is on deck, and free agents are just now ripening on the vine. There is no better time to be Thomas Dimitroff, Falcons stimulus planner. “Obviously, I love the season, but this is the time of year when I really feel like rolling up my sleeves,” the Falcons GM said last week. How reassuring to find one person thriving in his job. Dimitroff is coming off one of the great years in NFL staffing, where his every decision came up a royal flush. The NFL’s Executive of the Year hired the Coach of the Year (Mike Smith) and drafted the Offensive Rookie of the Year (Matt Ryan). His prize free agent, Michael Turner, gained better than 1,600 yards and set a team touchdown record. His top four draft picks all started at some stage of the season, and two others contributed significantly. It was just a year ago Sunday that Dimitroff walked into the league office in New York for a coin flip that eventually landed the Falcons the third overall pick in the 2008 draft. Joel Bussert, the NFL’s vice president of player personnel, took one look at the spiky-haired dude in the hip, rectangular glasses and asked, “Who are you?” The football establishment has a little better idea who Dimitroff is now, as it awaits the next act of a 42-year-old whiz kid. He won’t have the benefit of that third-overall pick — the Falcons are scheduled to choose 24th in April. His team, theoretically, is better stocked than it was a year ago, with less room for dramatic change. So, what’s the encore? Evaluation system Some of the answers to that are on the big board that dominates one wall of his Flowery Branch office. With an outsider visiting last week, Dimitroff had closed the partition in front of the board. He is compelled to protect the hundreds of names of college players he has ranked there, just as Coke does its formula. He is the son of a lifelong football guy, a Cleveland Browns scout. The late Tom Dimitroff is remembered as a “professional, quiet, hard worker, good evaluator, you know, just a real pro at what he did.” Those were the words of Charley Casserly, one of the most respected GMs in the business during 16 seasons in Washington and Houston. He now lends his expertise to CBS. Casserly applies many of those same adjectives to the younger Dimitroff, even offering him the ultimate old school compliment of being “a grinder.” It’s when Dimitroff starts throwing around such terms as “scouting matrix” and “system-specific scouting” that he betrays his thoroughly modern side. Not about to give away too many specifics of the Falcons’ evaluation system, Dimitroff did offer some insight into what he most values in a player and how his decisions get made. The Falcons’ personnel staff has graded out close to 3,000 college players, assigning each a value of between 1 and 9 based on as many as 20 criteria in its “scouting matrix.” By draft day, that list will be whittled down to a few hundred likely players. Right now, the Falcons would love to land a defensive player in the 7 to 8 range. In that process, then, what kind of player is a Dimitroff kind of player? He is not one who will rise or fall greatly by his performance in the combine. Perhaps that will change the day the NFL makes the vertical leap one of its playoff tiebreakers. “For me, [the combine] is a gauge, a highlight to revisit,” Dimitroff said. “In the end, it’s how the player performs on the field. It’s production. Is he a football player? I would much rather take a guy who is a half-inch short or a quarter of a step slow who is a passionate, tough, smart football player.”
ATLANTA FALCONS NEWS CLIPS Publication: AJC
Section/# of Pages: Sports/2 of 2
Date: 2/22/09
Personal level Based on one year of evidence, a Dimitroff player doesn’t require a lot of seasoning. Rookies such as Ryan, Sam Baker and Curtis Lofton displayed leadership and maturity beyond their years. No coincidence. There are a couple of components in the Falcons’ system designed to weigh a player’s mental strength and personality. On intelligence: “You research it at many different levels through your contacts at the school, your actual interview with the player and discussions with other people,” Dimitroff said. “You analyze tape and determine how instinctive the player is, how he moves around the field, how he picks up his keys, how he reacts.” On character and leadership: “You’re watching this player interact with his teammates on the practice field and on the game field. Then again, you follow up with the film work, how much is this player showing up on every play?” Right instincts Still, the bulk of the process comes down to judging the player’s athletic gifts and how he fits into a team’s needs. “There is an ongoing debate in football [about] how to define athleticism,” Dimitroff said. He chooses not to rely heavily on the purely objective measurements of a 40-yard dash time or a bench press standard. Instead, it’s back to the game tape once more, looking for subtle differences in movement that might separate one player from another. In the Falcons’ matrix, those are some of the most elemental components. “If you don’t have the fluidity, the ability to stop and start and redirect, to ad lib in certain situations, to recover from the ground, then you’re not going to be making plays on the field,” Dimitroff said. In the end, talent evaluation still comes down to “a guy looking at a player and deciding if he can play,” Casserly said. “There’s no system that dictates whether a guy can play or not. There’s no statistical measurements, no computer measurements. It’s you looking at Matt Ryan and saying he’s good enough, and that’s all there is to it.” That is Dimitroff’s fundamental strength — not the system, not the jargon, but a connoisseur’s eye for talent. Don’t get science and art confused. Some people just know what works on the canvas, in the wine glass or on the field. And being Dimitroff could get even better. How quickly he got the Falcons’ scouts and coaches working off the same evaluating template was one of the real behind-the-scenes successes of last season. Now they’ve had a year to refine to process. “The second year together, they will be much more in sync as a group than they were in the first year. I know from experience that every year together you do a better job,” Casserly said, piling even more expectation upon Dimitroff’s stylish head.
ATLANTA FALCONS NEWS CLIPS Publication: AJC.com
Section/# of Pages: Sports/1 of 1
Date: 3/3/09
The football world according to Thomas Dimitroff, ace GM by Mark Bradley We Atlantans didn’t know Thomas Dimitroff from Terdell Middleton when he arrived 14 months ago, and his new employer knew him only slightly. (Remember the job interview via webcam?) But by now we should have grasped what Dimitroff is doing with the Falcons and why he’s doing it. And if for some reason you haven’t caught on to the TD Method, here’s a crash course. He prefers the draft to free agency. It’s cheaper – “More cost-effective,” Dimitroff said Monday – and more easily controlled. A club is at the mercy of the marketplace when it comes to hiring veterans, but the draft is “a way of putting your team together in the style of play and with the kind of players you want.” Meaning: If you have cause to believe a guy won’t fit, draft somebody else. He views free agency only as an opportunity for surgical strikes. Michael Turner was exactly what the Falcons needed — a big back who could control the clock and take the pressure off a quarterback — and Dimitroff signed him. Nobody among this free agency class fits a similar glaring need. That doesn’t mean Dimitroff will never pursue another; it means only that he’ll be exactingly picky. It will be a major shock if the Falcons sign a big-name free agent before 2010, if then. He prefers young to old. Younger means faster. Younger means more malleable. Younger often means hungrier. Of the four veterans the Falcons have just shed — Michael Boley, Keith Brooking, Domonique Foxworth and Lawyer Milloy — not one was lost by accident or oversight. Each case was a considered Dimitroff decision. Not one of the four was seen as irreplaceable. He says what he means. Two days after the Falcons’ playoff loss in Phoenix, Dimitroff said, “Our [personnel] decisions will not be driven by emotion.” This meant he wasn’t going to lop Brooking simply because the linebacker whiffed on third-and-16, but neither were the Dimitroff-run Falcons going to keep a player just because he’s a nice guy. This is a business he’s in Flowery Branch, not a boys’ club. He has two watchwords — “urgency” and “consistency.” Asked to define the former, Dimitroff said: “Someone who’s incredibly focused on the task at hand and who’s flying around the football field with controlled reckless abandon; someone who perceives every play as the most important. I know it’s an idealistic approach, but urgency is what will allow us to make that interception or pick up that ball that’s rolling on the ground.” He and his head coach are of like minds. Indeed, that’s why Dimitroff — who didn’t know Mike Smith before he interviewed him for the Falcons’ job — recommended he be hired. “We’re quite congruent in our approach,” Dimitroff said. “We see through similar lenses. It’s settling for Mike and me to know that we perceive the building process the same way.” To wit: Smith sees tackles as the core of any defense, and so does Dimitroff. He has a scout’s eye and a GM’s global view. Dimitroff chose to address the offense in his draft not just because he liked the cut of Matt Ryan’s jib but because he knew, from being on the road all those years, the 2009 draft would be heavier in defenders. He’s the smartest general manager the Falcons have ever had. It sounds like a backhanded compliment, along the lines of being proclaimed the finest yachtsman in all of Kansas. It’s meant, however, with the deepest sincerity. Dimitroff would be the smartest GM a lot of teams have ever had. After 14 months and an 11-5 season, he has earned the ultimate affirmation: If this team makes a move, we see it as a shrewd one. Because it’s a Dimitroff move.
ATLANTA FALCONS NEWS CLIPS Publication: NFL.com
Section/# of Pages: Sports/1 of 2
Date: 4/8/09
After a brief rest, Ryan ready to build on rookie success By Steve Wyche | NFL.com Senior Writer FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Matt Ryan spent a few months of his offseason peddling hair care products. Now that he's back at his day job as the Atlanta Falcons quarterback, he's sporting little more than cranial peach fuzz. Totally wash and wear. Fun time - except for the occasional golf game - is over for the reigning NFL rookie of the year. He's cut back on public appearances and travel and dusted off the right arm he kept idle since Atlanta's first-round playoff loss to Arizona in January. "I've been really throwing for about two weeks and it was tough," Ryan said. "When it's what you do it's tough to keep that ball down as long as you would like, but I needed to rest my arm." There was plenty of speculation that Ryan needed the rest because he became arm weary down the final stretch of the season. His passing numbers and efficiency decreased over the last few regular-season games. Ryan never cited arm fatigue but at that point of the season, he'd been throwing for nearly a year straight. Help wanted While Joe Flacco and Matt Ryan solidified their teams' quarterback spots as rookies last season, other teams remain unsettled at the game's most important position. More ... This time last year he was in full-flinging mode, throwing passes daily for scouts who wanted to gauge his arm strength and accuracy before the NFL draft. He's where Georgia's Matthew Stafford and USC's Mark Sanchez are now. Ryan went No. 3 overall to the Falcons and shortly after being selected, he was throwing again at minicamps, offseason workouts, then training camp. By the time the season was over, he had 434 official game throws and 265 completions for 3,440 yards and 16 touchdowns. Those were a fraction of the total tosses he threw that didn't count. Ryan led Atlanta to 11 wins and its first playoff berth since 2004. After completing 26 of 40 passes in the season-ending loss to the Cardinals, the only thing of note Ryan pitched with his arm was mousse and gel. "It was a good opportunity to rest my arm," Ryan said. "It was a long offseason (last spring and summer). There were a lot of throws in the offseason. Before that you had to be on point leading up to the draft. You had to be on your game. It was good to get some rest. I'm a little bit rusty but I'm getting back into it and I'm feeling very good." Ryan's affirmation that the Falcons are his team came after the season, when he was voted captain by his teammates. It's not a title he takes lightly, which is why he has been involved in every aspect of team activities since voluntary workouts started March 23. His willingness to be among the guys is why so many of the guys have a willingness to trust in him. Though Ryan admits after being drafted by the Falcons he was overwhelmed by everything that came with being a top pick -- and Michael Vick's replacement -- his work ethic and approach to preparation haven't changed much. His circumstances have. At this point last year, he was loved and loathed by media and the coaches as he prepped for the draft. Loved for his guile and guts and doubted for his supposed questionable decision-making and so-so arm strength. In other words, the scrutiny endured by Stafford, Sanchez and Kansas State's Josh Freeman is nothing new. Now, Ryan's the sure thing. Along with Baltimore rookie quarterback Joe Flacco, Ryan set the bar so high for rookie starting quarterbacks that expectations for Stafford, Sanchez and Freeman might be unfairly misguided. Teams could shy away from selecting a quarterback -- possibly with the top pick -- because he might fail to measure up to Ryan or Flacco. Teams also could select a quarterback because Stafford, Sanchez or Freeman could have many of the same qualities that project to similar success. "It's pretty unbelievable outside of your own shoes to have two rookie quarterbacks come in and go to the playoffs," Ryan said. "I'm not sure if it changed the way people think but it was a good year for (Flacco) and a solid year for myself."
ATLANTA FALCONS NEWS CLIPS Publication: NFL.com
Section/# of Pages: Sports/2 of 2
Date: 4/8/09
Solid. Catch that? Ryan's refusal to beat his chest has scored more points with his teammates than you'd think. Players hate when teammates reap praise when things are good then place blame elsewhere when things aren't. What players hate more though is when the self-deprecation is phony. Ryan has been how he's been since he arrived, so all his teammates know is a humble guy who snatched the starting job by the team's second minicamp and led the Falcons to unexpected success. There is a faith in just about everything he does, even from a jaded fan base that was predominantly upset when Atlanta drafted him over LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey. About the only thing Ryan's ever boasted about -- with prodding -- was the round of 88 he recently shot Augusta National, home of the Masters. "I'm proud of (the score)," Ryan said. "It's a tough course. I must have three-putted 15 holes over there of the 18 the day I played. I was happy with my 88." That's one of the few things Ryan will settle for. But don't think, if he excuses himself from his football duties long enough to finagle another rare chance to play at Augusta, he'd be happy with that score again. Not working to be better isn't how he operates.
ATLANTA FALCONS NEWS CLIPS Publication: ESPN.com
Section/# of Pages: Sports/1 of 2
Date: 4/11/09
Peterson ready to tackle new role for Falcons Posted by ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas Let's run one up the gap just to see if Atlanta Falcons linebacker Mike Peterson still has his reflexes at 32. The man's made more than 800 tackles in his NFL career. So let's watch as he adds another in textbook fashion. Here's the snap and here comes Peterson. Prepare for impact. Once and for all, Peterson wants to take what happened between him and Jacksonville coach Jack Del Rio last season and bring it forever to the ground. "You know, I had to talk with teams all about that through free agency,'' Peterson said. "That really bothered me personally. I mean, really bothered me, really hurt me. I don't plan on having any more problems with coaches.'' Peterson's not done just yet. He wants to put the finishing touches on an episode he doesn't want to be known for. What happened exactly is up for interpretation and Peterson doesn't argue with the basics of what was reported at the time. To make a long story short, Del Rio criticized the team captain for celebrating after a sack against Cincinnati. Peterson tried to defend his actions, but Del Rio didn't want to hear it. He sent Peterson home twice, fined him $10,000 for "insubordination," benched him for a game and stripped him of his captaincy and starting job. If you ever talk to Peterson, you instantly will see he's a guy with a lot of pride and those final three punishments bothered him way more than the $10,000 fine. "It was the first time in whole career, at any level, that there was even a little rift between me and the coach,'' Peterson said. "It was something real small that blew up and I regret that very much. We weren't winning at the time and the media twisted and turned it and it got ugly. But Jack and I are fine now. To me it's history.'' There, the tackle's been made. Peterson wants to get back to being the Peterson of old -- the captain, the hard-nosed and emotional linebacker who'd be the last guy anyone would ever accuse of insubordination. That's why Peterson came to Atlanta as a free agent. He wants to get back to being the player he was for his first five seasons with Jacksonville. There were opportunities elsewhere and Peterson even made a visit to Buffalo. But, pretty much from the moment last season ended, Peterson knew he was headed for Atlanta. He wanted to reunite with Atlanta coach Mike Smith, who was Jacksonville's defensive coordinator for five years before moving on prior to last season. "Smitty and I came into Jacksonville together,'' Peterson said. "I'm familiar with him, the defense they use and I know exactly what's expected of me. He's a down-to-earth kind of guy. That's how I try to conduct myself. He's a straight shooter. I consider myself the same way. It's been a love-love relationship and he's been a guy I've clicked with since the day I met him.'' Peterson's looking to click with Smith in Atlanta again, but there will be some changes from their old days together. The biggest is that Peterson won't be asked to be Smith's middle linebacker, like he was in Jacksonville. The Falcons have Curtis Lofton, who started in the middle as a rookie and isn't going anywhere else. That's more than fine with Peterson. "Listen, to me, I'm a born outside linebacker,'' Peterson said. "That's what I played in college and in Indianapolis. Del Rio asked me to move to the middle in Jacksonville and I tackled that head on. But outside linebacker is like a first girlfriend or a first love to me. I'm happy to be back at Will. They're set at Mike with Curtis. My job is to play alongside him and help him along to the next level.'' That brings up the other challenge Peterson wants to tackle head-on in Atlanta. Through much of last season's surprising run to the playoffs, Smith pointed to the "over-30-club'' and praised guys like linebacker Keith Brooking and safety Lawyer Milloy for their leadership.
ATLANTA FALCONS NEWS CLIPS Publication: ESPN.com
Section/# of Pages: Sports/2 of 2
Date: 4/11/09
But Milloy and Brooking are both gone now and, aside from end John Abraham, the Falcons don't have a lot of veteran leadership on defense. That's why Peterson was the first -- and really only -- significant free-agent signing by the Falcons. "When I got here and sat down with Smitty, the first thing he expressed to me was that he needed a leader,'' Peterson said. "That's what I wanted to hear. I've always tried to lead by example and let my play set the tone. That's part of my nature.'' The Falcons are hoping young guys like Lofton, defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux and cornerback Chris Houston will start emerging as leaders this season. But if they truly are going to build on last season and continue their upward path, they're going to need leadership from a guy who was down last season. That's why Peterson is brushing himself off after the tackle and getting back up. "We've got a lot of young guys here,'' Peterson said. "I've been around a long time and I know how it works. Just because you won last year doesn't mean you're going to win this year. The young guys here need to know it's a process and it doesn't happen overnight. It starts now in the offseason workouts. It's not a light switch you flip off and on. You have to work for it every day and that's the attitude we're taking. We're setting ourselves up to have a big season.''
ATLANTA FALCONS NEWS CLIPS Publication: Yahoo! Sports
Section/# of Pages: Sports/1 of 1
Date: 4/24/09
NFL draft’s big winner—Atlanta Falcons again By JIM LITKE, AP Sports Writer That would be Atlanta Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff for the second year in a row. While the hype this weekend will be trained on who gets the glamour-boy quarterbacks—Matthew Stafford of Georgia, Mark Sanchez of Southern California and Josh Freeman of Kansas State—Dimitroff has already been there and done that. A year after he took a big gamble on quarterback Matt Ryan with the third pick overall, Dimitroff proved how savvy he really is. This time around, he not only saved some money, but probably locked up another winning season, another playoff appearance and maybe even another NFL executive of the year award. All because of what he did on Thursday. “Every team in this league dreams of having Tony Gonzalez run out of the tunnel for them,” Dimitroff said after trading a 2010 secondround pick to Kansas City for the perennial All-Pro tight end. Every GM in the league also dreams of having a free pass heading into the weekend. But Dimitroff has already filled the Falcons’ most pressing offensive need, freeing him to find a quality lineman or linebacker at a good price. That’s a much easier order to fill with the No. 24 pick. And as a few of his rivals are about to be reminded, there’s no bigger gamble than trying to find a franchise quarterback at the top of the draft. They’re all prohibitively expensive, and most who go to a team with too many other needs wind up failing. They’re an even-bigger risk when they’re underclassmen, like the top three QB prospects on the board. And even if you minimize all the other risk factors, recent research by analyst George Sarkisian found that only one of every three first-round QBs, on average, ever lead a team to a conference championship game or Super Bowl. Dimitroff knew that before he drafted Ryan, then handed him the richest rookie contract ever. While Ryan adapted to the pro game faster than a rookie should, in hindsight, Dimitroff’s bet wasn’t as risky as it seemed. Ryan was a four-year starter at Boston College, and the Falcons had a serviceable offensive line to protect him, a strong ground game built around emerging running back Michael Turner, and an aging, but still solid, defense to take off some of the pressure. Though Dimitroff couldn’t have known the pieces would fall in place so fast, you can bet he had a good idea. He’s the son of NFL player, scout and coach Tom Dimitroff, and spent plenty of time scouting in Canada and other football backwaters before falling in with the Bill Belichick mob in New England. There, he was tutored by then-Patriots player personnel director Scott Pioli. Everyone else in the NFL treats the draft like a chess game. But Belichick’s disciples know building a team is more like threedimensional chess. Based on past success, they rarely draft early and almost never look for the one player who can single-handedly turn a team around. Taking Ryan was a gamble, to be sure. But Dimitroff had been on the job for four months at the time and something bold needed to happen if the Falcons were going to escape Michael Vick’s disgraced shadow anytime soon. Besides, he liked that bet enough to double down by trading for Gonzalez. The teams that prepare harder for Ryan, now that he’s a known commodity, will still have to account for his newest asset. Gonzalez, a 10-time Pro Bowl selection who holds career marks for yards, catches and touchdowns at the position, also happens to be one of the best locker room guys in the league. That, too, places Dimitroff squarely in the Belichick mold, since teams turn over a third of their rosters, on average each season, and “character” guys are hard to come by. The Falcons will need that, too, after losing a handful of defensive starters to free agency during the offseason. So look for the Falcons to grab defensive tackle Peria Jerry of Mississippi or linebacker Brian Cushing of USC, with their first pick. Whomever Dimitroff selects, chances are he’ll get a useful part. While choosing Ryan earned him kudos, he also found two starters and two specialists in the first three rounds. Not only does Dimitroff think like Belichick, he’s beginning to sound like him, too. “As long as it’s not a drastic dropoff,” he said about his draft-day plans, “you seriously have to consider the need position.”
ATLANTA FALCONS NEWS CLIPS Publication: Yahoo! Sports
Section/# of Pages: Sports/1 of 1
Date: 4/24/09
Falcons hand QB Ryan new toy: NFL's greatest tight end By Dennis Dillon - SportingNews Matt Ryan won't turn 24 for another three weeks, but the Atlanta Falcons' second-year quarterback received an early birthday present Thursday: a prodigious offensive weapon. Tony Gonzalez, perhaps the greatest tight end in NFL history, was traded to Atlanta by the Kansas City Chiefs. In return, the Falcons gave up their second-round pick in the 2010 draft. "He'll be a great addition for Matt Ryan and that offense," said Mark Koncz, director of pro scouting for the NFC South rival Carolina Panthers. "They'll be hard to stop." Powered largely by the three-cylinder engine of Ryan (3,440 passing yards, 16 touchdowns), running back Michael Turner (1,699 rushing yards, 17 touchdowns) and wide receiver Roddy White (1,382 receiving yards, seven touchdowns), the Falcons pulled an about-face in 2008. After going 4-12 in '07, they were 11-5 last season and went to the playoffs. To that arsenal they now add a player whose career totals of 916 catches, 10,940 yards and 76 touchdowns all are NFL records for a tight end. Gonzalez, 33, has been selected to 10 Pro Bowls—also a record for a tight end. And talk about durability. In 12 seasons, he has missed only two games and has started 172 of his last 174. And did we mention that Gonzalez isn't just a one-dimensional tight end? "One of the things people underestimate is that he's a good blocker," Koncz said. "He's not just one of these wide receiver types who lines up and all he does is run routes and catch balls." A first-round pick out of Cal in 1997, Gonzalez was a cornerstone of the Chiefs' franchise—if not the face of it—during his 12 years in Kansas City. But the team won six games the past two seasons, and Gonzalez requested to be traded last October. Although Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli noted the team was not seeking to trade Gonzalez, he said, "There was an opportunity that came to us and after a lot of internal discussions over a short time, we decided to make the trade." Pioli said the move was "in the best interest" of the Chiefs "in the short term and the long term." Suddenly, the NFC South has the look of a tight end's division. The New Orleans Saints acquired Jeremy Shockey last year, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers traded for Kellen Winslow in March and now the Falcons have Gonzalez. The addition of Gonzalez gives the Falcons an element they never have had in their 43-year history: a tight end who eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards in a season. Gonzalez has done that four times. Gonzalez's '08 statistics—96 catches, 1,058 yards, 10 touchdowns— exceed the combined totals of five different Falcons tight ends over the past two seasons. "Tony's arrival will make an instant impact not only on the offensive side of the ball, but on the overall team in general," Ryan said. "I feel privileged to be throwing the ball to a future Hall of Famer, and I'm anxious to get on the field to start working with him." In other words, Ryan can't wait to play with his early birthday present.
ATLANTA FALCONS NEWS CLIPS Publication: AJC.com
Section/# of Pages: Sports/1 of 1
Date: 4/26/09
The new Falcons: They’re real simple and really smart Mark Bradley Say hello to the newest Falcon, folks. But be careful if Peria Jerry tries to hug you. Say this for the newfangled Falcons: They don’t lie. They tell you what they plan to do, and then they do it. On the day Mike Smith became their coach, he said he wanted to run the ball and to stop the run. Last season his team managed half that. Round 1 of the 2009 draft was the first step toward getting the other half right. “You want someone who can create double-teams and unblocked situations,” Smith said Saturday, and in Peria – pronounced Per-RAY – Jerry, they believe they’ve found a newer and better and (slightly) sleeker Grady Jackson. And we on the periphery have no reason to doubt them. They’ve gotten pretty good at this talent-identification thing. Already the Falcons are better than they were when they walked off in the field in Glendale, Ariz. They have a Pro Bowl tight end who will make a good offense better still, and now they have a defensive anchor. There can be no real quibbles with this pick. (Not even from this observer, who favored Evander Hood for the selfish reason that a lineman nicknamed Ziggy would be worth his tonnage in puns.) They said they were going to upgrade their defense, and they determined the upgrading should begin at the heart. Sometimes we confuse smart with clever, but the two aren’t the same. Being clever can sometimes lead to overthink, which can lead to trouble. The newfangled Falcons are meat-and-potatoes smart. They see football as a simple game, and they’ve taken a simple approach to getting better. Said Thomas Dimitroff, the architect: “We wanted to be stronger and faster and more aggressive and more urgent.” Said Smith, the foreman: “We wanted someone who would be very disruptive.” Granted, it’s a new sensation. Mindful of Aundray Bruce and Steve Broussard and Bruce Pickens and Reggie Kelly, we’re accustomed to approaching every Falcons draft with a dollop of dread. We should stop sweating. This franchise is in good hands. Matt Ryan was the perfect pick at the ideal moment, and the rest of the 2008 draft was nearly as inspired. And now the big man from Ole Miss arrives to plug the middle. Dimitroff again: “He’s country-strong. He’s a 1-gap guy with a high motor.” First Michael Turner, then Matt Ryan, then Tony Gonzalez, now Peria Jerry. That’s four major acquisitions in 15 months for the new regime, and every one of them makes unassailable sense. Given that the first three play offense, this draft had to be given over to D, and Jerry was the soundest possible start. In Round 2 the Falcons found a safety in William Moore of Missouri, and they’ll surely seek a linebacker and a cornerback come Sunday. But you must grab an accomplished run-stuffer where you find him. A good team a year ago, the Falcons have positioned themselves to be better in 2009. (Though their record, owing to the stiffer schedule, might not be quite so glittering.) They’re building from the inside out, which is always the way to go if you want your construction to endure. And this one will. These are not your dad’s Falcons, who trafficked in gimmicks, or even your older brother’s. These are the new Falcons. These are the smart Falcons.
ATLANTA FALCONS NEWS CLIPS Publication: AJC.com
Section/# of Pages: Sports/1 of 2
Date: 4/27/09
Falcons suddenly have a present, a future — and a window by Jeff Schultz Flowery Branch – In the past 16 months, the Falcons have gone from one of the most beat-up, put-down, staggered, dazed, lost and certainly humiliated franchises in pro sports history to one viewed as possibly just this side of Eden. When that happens, plans change. Windows open. Tomorrow becomes today. Hall-of-Fame-in-waiting tight ends are acquired for second-round draft picks. On Sunday, the Falcons completed their second draft under Thomas Dimitroff. Screaming Twitters and ESPN’s mock-till-you-drop coverage notwithstanding, the names really don’t mean much yet. Nobody has played an NFL game. The fact that the Falcons took two defensive linemen and three defensive backs in their first five picks said something about their objectives. But the transaction that tells you the most about where the Falcons are as an organization — and maybe where they’re going — was the trade for tight end Tony Gonzalez. A team that acquires a 33-year-old, 12-year tight end is not a young, rebuilding team just looking for respectability. It’s a team looking to make the leap to the next level. “I’d like to think we would have still gone after somebody like Tony if we were 6-10 last year,” Dimitroff said Sunday. “But there’s a side of me that thinks most of the highly heralded veteran players in this league would not have wanted to come to a 6-10 team. “We’ve become a much more marketable team and we have a quarterback who is adept, yet evolving. We have some pieces on the offense and a coaching staff that’s very attractive to other players. If we were 6-10, the probability of landing Tony Gonzalez would not have been the same.” The Falcons went 11-5 last season, when 5-11 seemed more likely. They have an opportunity that most clear-thinking people presumed they wouldn’t have so soon, not even the GM or the coach or the owner. Remember, it was only a year ago when the Falcons desperately were trying to peddle season tickets based on “hope.” Or was that prayer? Dimitroff’s pursuit of Gonzalez shouldn’t suggest that the Falcons have a small window for a Super Bowl. As he said, “We never thought, ‘It’s now or never.’” The team’s core is young, particularly on offense (Matt Ryan, Michael Turner, Roddy White, Sam Baker). But, “Any time you’re a playoff team, you approach the draft and free agency a lot of more creatively and a lot more calculated,” he said. “This is about the here and now. It’s always been that way in this league. We have to capitalize on opportunities we have right now. None of us want to sit back and think, ‘Let’s see where we are in five
ATLANTA FALCONS NEWS CLIPS Publication: AJC.com
Section/# of Pages: Sports/2 of 2
Date: 4/27/09
years.’ This is about the competitive side of it. You strike while you can, and you be consistent with your strikes.” If last season wasn’t an aberration, if Ryan really is that good and everybody around him gets better, the Falcons are closer to contending for a title than most teams in the NFL and certainly any pro team in Atlanta. The Falcons have flaws. The defense will be painfully young. The players are faster — but they may just run in the wrong direction. On some Sundays, they’ll need one last-gasp score to pull out a 35-31 win. But when Gonzalez continually referenced the Super Bowl in his news conference, it wasn’t merely to pump up the masses. It’s what he believes. Perceptions have changed, and so have plans. And suddenly, there’s a window.
ATLANTA FALCONS NEWS CLIPS Publication: SportingNews.com
Section/# of Pages: Sports/1 of 2
Date: 5/7/09
Falcons' Dimitroff only makes exceptions for the exceptional By: Albert Breer How about you ask Falcons G.M. Thomas Dimitroff if his roster is Super Bowl-ready? Might want to duck. "(Coach) Mike Smith and I always talk about it — setting goals internally and sequentially — and not saying, 'OK, this is how many wins and losses we should have,' " said Dimitroff, 42. "I know you get sick of hearing it, but we feel like to be successful, we have to have internal goals we accomplish sequentially." Dimitroff's bottom line: His roster moves would've been the same had the club gone 5-11 last season, rather than 11-5. There's proof, too. Gone are five players — defensive tackle Grady Jackson, linebackers Michael Boley and Keith Brooking and defensive backs Domonique Foxworth and Lawyer Milloy — who started a combined 67 games last year. Conversely, linebacker Mike Peterson, who played for Smith in Jacksonville, was the only veteran on defense acquired. Hardly sounds like a team vaulting itself over the top. Staying the course could get the Falcons to Miami for Super Bowl 44. But it also could get them to Dallas for Super Bowl 45 or Indianapolis for Super Bowl 46 or ... you get the idea. Here's the logic to Atlanta's offseason as minicamp kicks off Friday: Revamping the defense. Atlanta ranked 24th in total defense last year. And look at the departed. Boley was benched in favor of Coy Wire by year's end. Foxworth was good but pricey, getting $16.5 million guaranteed in Baltimore. Jackson, Brooking and Milloy are all 33 or older. This, in essence, was Phase 2 of the overhaul that began last year. As Dimitroff says, "It's really about knowing last year that we couldn't do everything in one fell swoop." Developing their own. Of course, suitable replacements are needed to make such moves. Dimitroff and Smith say young players such as Chauncey Davis, Jonathan Babineaux, Curtis Lofton and Thomas DeCoud will fill the void in leadership, and veterans such as Erik Coleman and Peterson buy wholeheartedly into Smith's passionate ethos. Drafting defensive tackle Peria Jerry — the team's target at No. 24 — and safety William Moore adds to it. The idea is the defense will grow around young leaders, like the offense did around QB Matt Ryan last year. "I don't perceive what we've done as gambling," Dimitroff said. "There will be growing pains, like last year, but I have the utmost confidence in our defensive staff. I know Mike Smith and (coordinator) Brian VanGorder will work guys into the scheme and help players mature quickly." The big catch. The offense already was loaded with cornerstones Ryan, Michael Turner, Roddy White and Sam Baker. The trade for AllPro tight end Tony Gonzalez — the one break from Atlanta's youthful offseason — makes the unit elite. The Falcons moved quickly on Gonzalez. Negotiations started with Chiefs G.M. Scott Pioli on the Thursday before the draft and finished Friday afternoon. Dimitroff's and Pioli's familiarity — Dimitroff knew Pioli would be interested in a 2010 pick — from having worked together in New England expedited the process. And with the free-agent losses, Atlanta figures to get enough compensatory picks to make up for the lost second-round pick next year. "(Gonzalez) will help Matt in the red zone, create opportunities for Roddy White and Mike Jenkins, keep teams guessing in play-action and take pressure over Michael Turner," Dimitroff said. "He's 33, but he looks 25 and plans to keep playing. ... We stress getting younger and growing as a young team, but it's very important to sprinkle in choice veterans who are proven leaders."
ATLANTA FALCONS NEWS CLIPS Publication: SportingNews.com
Section/# of Pages: Sports/2 of 2
Date: 5/7/09
A head start. On the surface, it looks like Atlanta simply allowed its free agents to walk. Easy to forget that Jenkins and Babineaux, potential '09 free agents, quietly signed long-term deals last summer. And Davis re-upped in March. In doing so, the process continued as it does today, which means building a roster for now and later.
ATLANTA FALCONS NEWS CLIPS Publication: ESPN.com
Section/# of Pages: Sports/1 of 2
Date: 5/9/09
Why there won't be a 'sophomore slump' for Ryan Posted by ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Prepare yourself for the least-glowing review you'll ever hear about perhaps the best rookie season ever by an NFL quarterback. "It was a good start, that's all," Matt Ryan said Friday afternoon as he sat on a porch overlooking the Atlanta Falcons' practice fields. While the rest of the world uses the word "great" or something more elaborate to describe last year, Ryan almost shreds it. He came to a team that was supposed to be the worst in the league, threw for a touchdown on his first pass and kept growing all the way to the playoffs. An encore of that 11-5 season probably would be good enough for Atlanta fans every year. But that's not nearly good enough for Ryan. He truly believes last year was just a start. "I learned a lot about a lot of different things and I think that will serve me well heading into this season," Ryan said. That attitude and a whole bunch of other things are the reasons why there will be no "sophomore slump" for Ryan. He's only going to keep getting better. Here are five reasons why: 1. He's stronger. If you haven't seen Ryan for a while -- and the last time I saw him in person before today was after the playoff loss to Arizona in January -- he appears leaner. "I've noticed that, too," Ryan said with a laugh. He went on to explain that he's still carrying 220 pounds, but he's carrying it a little differently. Ryan's spent the bulk of the past two months working very hard with the team's strength and conditioning staff. He's added muscle and said he's in much better physical condition than he was a year ago. "My goal was to get a little stronger physically, a little tighter and just in better shape overall," Ryan said. There were suggestions late last season that Ryan was hitting the traditional "rookie wall." He still disputes that, but admits he feels better now than he did at any point last year. But that might not be all about physical strength. 2. He's been through it before. While Ryan's been working his body, he's been resting his mind. That's a good thing because no matter what happens the rest of his career, Ryan's never going to face a more difficult situation than last year. Drafted third overall, he instantly was asked to make Atlanta forget about the mess surrounding Michael Vick and the fiasco that was the Bobby Petrino coaching tenure in 2007. From the day he walked into Atlanta to the day the Falcons lost in the playoffs, Ryan had to be the face of a franchise under intense scrutiny. He seemed to handle it flawlessly, but Ryan admitted Friday he was ready for a break after last season ended. "I took a little vacation and was down in the Virgin Islands for 10 days and kind of got lost on the beach for a little while, which was nice," Ryan said. "It's been so much more laid back than last year." Ryan's a bit of a workaholic and is known for spending a lot of time studying film. After his vacation, he's gotten back into that routine, but also has managed to take a few trips back home to the Philadelphia area to visit family and friends. There's a bit more balance in Ryan's life now. It's not like last season when he was learning a new offense and getting used to a new city. The coaching staff -- notably offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey and quarterbacks coach Bill Musgrave -- has remained largely intact and the playbook hasn't changed. Neither has the roster. 3. The offense is better. Well, there is one significant change to the offensive roster. That's tight end Tony Gonzalez, acquired in trade with the Kansas City Chiefs a few weeks ago. "Any time you add a first-ballot future Hall of Famer to your team, you've gotten better," Ryan said.
ATLANTA FALCONS NEWS CLIPS Publication: ESPN.com
Section/# of Pages: Sports/2 of 2
Date: 5/9/09
Gonzalez has caught more passes than any tight end in history. The Falcons completed fewer passes to their tight ends than any team in the league last season. It's safe to look at what Atlanta's offense did in 2008 and say Gonzalez was the only missing link. Just about everything else is back on offense and better than it was a year ago at this time. Receivers Roddy White and Michael Jenkins and running back Michael Turner all had breakout seasons. The offensive line, which seemed like it was overachieving early last year, is pretty much intact and should keep improving. 4. The defense will make Ryan better. Let's be real honest here. Despite a playoff run, Atlanta's defense wasn't all that good in 2008. Linebacker Keith Brooking, safety Lawyer Milloy and defensive tackle Grady Jackson were old and coach Mike Smith and coordinator Brian VanGorter squeezed every ounce of talent out of their defense. The defense didn't always get off the field when it should have and Ryan and the offense had to pull out some games. But there have been huge changes on the defense and Smith and VanGorter now have their kind of players. They didn't have that luxury last year when they spent their early focus on offense, bringing in Ryan, Turner and left tackle Sam Baker. This year's offseason has been all about getting younger -- and better -- on defense with rookies Peria Jerry and William Moore as the top two draft picks. 5. Ryan is still Ryan. A few minutes after finishing my interview with the quarterback, I picked up a Falcons publication and read an interview with team owner Arthur Blank. He was asked about Ryan's future and made a comment about how he thinks it's important for the quarterback to keep his humility. Blank, who went through hell with Vick, shouldn't have to worry about Ryan's humility. This guy is as grounded as they come and last year's success hasn't changed him a bit. Ryan was remarkably smooth on the field and off it last season. He still is the same guy. After all, he might be the only guy in Atlanta humble enough not to get carried away with last season. "You have to understand your role on the team," Ryan said. "As a quarterback, you have to be able to distribute the ball to the guys around you and try to put them in position to make plays. Fortunately, I think I've got some great guys out there who can make some plays. My focus has been on doing my job and not doing anything more or anything less -- just distribute the ball and put those guys in good positions." Remember, that's only the start.
ATLANTA FALCONS NEWS CLIPS Publication: AJC.com
Section/# of Pages: Sports/1 of 2
Date: 5/11/09
Falcons’ Lofton tackles new role: team leader By D. Orlando Ledbetter Flowery Branch — For Curtis Lofton, the fog has cleared. “Last year, I was just kind of learning on the go and just playing,” he said. Still Lofton, who was taken in the second round of the 2008 NFL draft, managed to earn the starting middle linebacker position. He finished with 108 tackles, second most in the league for a rookie behind New England’s Jerod Mayo. At this year’s mini-camp, Lofton is feeling more at home. “Now,” he said, “I know what I’m doing. That allows me to play faster so I expect big things of myself.” After the season, Lofton decided to get smaller and, hopefully, faster. He’s lost eight pounds and is down to 242, and he reduced his body fat from 15 to 9 percent. With all of the offseason moves, Lofton is the lone returning starter along the linebacker unit. Longtime Falcon Keith Brooking left to sign with Dallas, and Michael Boley signed with the New York Giants in free agency. Lining up next Lofton is Mike Peterson at weakside linebacker and Stephen Nicholas at strongside. Peterson played in head coach Mike Smith’s defense when he was an assistant in Jacksonville. “Pete has been in the system for years, and Steve has a few years now,” Lofton said. “They are looking to me as a leader, but there are other leaders. … So it’s just a matter of us working together.” Defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder, who coached Peterson when he was the linebackers coach in Jacksonville, is watching the unit closely. “The chemistry part is always a challenge,” VanGorder said. “But certainly when you have a lot of new personnel, to collectively bring them together, the same standards and expectations, I think it’s something that you’re conscience of every day.” Lofton concurs with VanGorder on the chemistry issue. “Right now, it’s about getting to know each other and bonding,” Lofton said. Last season, Lofton came off the field on third downs when the Falcons went to their nickel package. He’s slated to stay on the field and help in pass coverage. “He’s just going to continue to improve,” VanGorder said. In front of Lofton, the Falcons will have a new nose tackle. Last season’s starter, Grady Jackson, signed with the Detroit Lions as a free agent. First round draft pick Peria Jerry, veteran Jason Jefferson and Trey Lewis, who is coming back from two surgeries on his right knee, will compete for that starting spot. The spot is key for Lofton because the nose tackle can keep guards from attempting to block him. “Trey is really a big guy,” Lofton said. “He moves really well.” Lofton has noticed a change, no matter which tackle has been in front of him, during this mini-camp. “The big thing that I see in our defensive line is that they are more explosive,” Lofton said. The Falcons are also planning to play some alternating four-man and three-man fronts, depending on the situation. Lofton doesn’t expect that to change his role much. “Whatever they call, we still have to play,” Lofton said.
ATLANTA FALCONS NEWS CLIPS Publication: AJC.com
Section/# of Pages: Sports/2 of 2
Date: 5/11/09
In total, VanGorder is looking for five new starters - safety Lawyer Milloy is not back and cornerback Domonique Foxworth signed with Baltimore in free agency — on the defensive unit. With Lofton in place, at least he doesn’t have to worry about the middle linebacker spot. “We always feel that things will sort themselves out,” VanGorder said. “We just have to remind the guys on a daily basis that it’s a competitive situation. They are competing for playing time.”
ATLANTA FALCONS NEWS CLIPS Publication: CBSSportsline.com
Section/# of Pages: Sports/1 of 2
Date: 5/11/09
Playoff-hungry Gonzalez makes Falcons offense scary By Pete Prisco FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- As Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan talked Saturday about what the addition of tight end Tony Gonzalez would mean to the team, he brought up how important the veteran's work ethic would be in helping Atlanta's young players. As if on cue, Gonzalez put that on display. But it wasn't scripted for those around. It was genuine. It was who he is. With most of his new teammates already in the locker room following a minicamp practice, Gonzalez lowered himself in front of a blocking sled and starting banging away. Thud. Set. Thud. Set. Thud. "Look at him doing that stuff now," Ryan said pointing to his new tight end. "You don't get to the Hall of Fame for nothing." Gonzalez will get there because he's the all-time leader in receptions by a tight end, but it's that drive and determination that helped get him all those catches. In 12 seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, Gonzalez was a defensive coordinator's nightmare, a player they had to double. Even so, he had 916 catches with 76 of those for touchdowns, which should be enough to force the guys who mold the busts in Canton to get to work on his. That's why the Falcons traded a second-round pick in the 2010 draft to land Gonzalez. For a young team still building to something, that's a steep price. But when you consider that Gonzalez caught 96 passes for a bad offense last season and the Falcons tight ends caught just 19 -- a league low for the position -- it makes sense. I don't usually condone trading second-round picks for 33-year-old players, but this one I can understand. Gonzalez is a weapon in the middle of the field, which will help Ryan grow, but he's also going to help show the right way for a young team. "When you come out here and practice and do what the coaches say, that's a "C" grade," Gonzalez said. "That's average. You have to do more. I tell the young guys all the time, not to be fooled by thinking you can do it without working. That might get you a year or two, but then it catches up to you and you fall off. "I copy the great ones, guys I played with like Will Shields and Priest Holmes. I read a lot of biographies. I want to know Michel Jordan's practice habits. Tiger Woods. You hear stories about Lance Armstrong going over and riding that course and training before the big race. That's how I feel on the football field." It was weird seeing Gonzalez catching passes from Ryan, but he did plenty of it in the practices I watched. He was diving for passes, getting behind linebackers in front of safeties and beating double coverage. He looked like a player five years younger. "He's a huge pickup for us," Ryan said. When the Falcons made the trade last month, Ryan was in his Atlanta-area home. He knew something was up when his phone was bombarded with text messages. The first one came from his father. It read: "You guys picked up Tony G." "I was pumped," Ryan said. "I had seen him play, but the best part is he's better in person." The two have already formed a bond on the field. They look like a pass-catching combo that has been around for years, and the admiration comes right back at Ryan from Gonzalez. "I've never been with a guy like that," Gonzalez said. "Never. The way he throws the ball, his leadership qualities. They're special. I've been around a long time played with some good quarterbacks, but he's got it. By the time it's all said and done, he's going to establish himself as one of the top quarterbacks in this league very soon, if not already."
ATLANTA FALCONS NEWS CLIPS Publication: CBSSportsline.com
Section/# of Pages: Sports/2 of 2
Date: 5/11/09
The transition hasn't been all rosy for Gonzalez. How could it be when you leave behind the only NFL team you've ever known? Wanting out was a tough decision for him. The Chiefs were special to him, but they were also coming off a losing season and they're in rebuilding mode with a new coach and a new general manager. Sure Gonzalez could have been back in a Chiefs uniform catching 95 passes again to add to his impressive resume, but he wanted more. Losing does that to a player. "When you have two or three years left, I want to go out on top," Gonzalez said. "I want to win a Super Bowl. I've never won a playoff game. Everybody knows that. I don't want to be one of those guys who goes down in history as a great player who didn't win a playoff game." Despite his excitement, Gonzalez was cautious when I asked if he felt set free because he still has a soft spot for the Chiefs. "It wasn't an easy thing to get out of Kansas City," Gonzalez said. "Not at all." Yet he asked for a trade last season. When it didn't happen, he played out the season and was prepared to go back to Kansas City for the 2009 season. But the Falcons jumped in and made a pre-draft deal that really makes their offense scary. With receivers Roddy White and Michael Jenkins outside, Harry Douglas in the slot and running backs Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood playing behind Ryan, the Falcons offense is downright scary with the addition of Gonzalez. "He's going to take a lot of doubles off Roddy because he commands them," Ryan said. "He's going to make Roddy better. He's going to make Mike better. He's going to make me better. But better yet, he's going to make us better in the Red Zone. He's caught a ton of touchdown passes in the Red Zone." During Saturday's afternoon practice, Gonzalez noticed a fan wearing his old Kansas City jersey No. 88. He still wears No. 88, and the Falcons wear red, but he said it's weird pulling on a different uniform in practice and will be even tougher when the first game rolls around. He does have one thing left over from his Chiefs days: A yellow mouthpiece that went with the uniform colors. "The guys told me I need to get rid of that," Gonzalez said. "But it's going to be weird to put that real uniform on. But at the same time I welcome it. I want to make sure the second-round pick they gave up was worth it. I don't want anyone saying it wasn't." With his work ethic and those skills it's hard to imagine that will be the case. Gonzalez will win his first playoff game with the Falcons, and he just might help them do more than that.
ATLANTA FALCONS NEWS CLIPS Publication: AJC.com
Section/# of Pages: Sports/1 of 1
Date: 5/11/09
Coleman becomes Falcons secondary’s elder statesman By CHRIS VIVLAMORE At 27 years of age and with just five years in the NFL, Erik Coleman is an elder statesman now. With apologies to Ernest Hemingway, a book about the Falcons safety could be titled “The Old Man and the Secondary.” Lawyer Milloy, with his 13 years of experience, was not re-signed. He was one of five starters from last season’s team that will be replaced in 2009. That makes Coleman the oldest and most experienced player among the Falcons defensive backs. Of the 15 defensive backs currently on the Falcons’ roster, 12 have three or less seasons in the NFL. Nine of those 12 have two or fewer years in the league. “It feels different,” Coleman said last week after an Organized Training Activities [OTA] workout. “Having guys look up to me and ask me for advice. It’s a great thing to know they respect my work that much.” While his teammates can tease him about being the old man, they can call him two other things — leader and social director. “He’s a veteran back there that’s played a lot of football in the NFL, so our expectations are that he’ll provide that leadership, and he’s done a good job of it so far,” Falcons defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder said. “I think that some guys grab on to the leadership characteristic when they are young. Other guys develop into it. It comes from where your confidence is in your athletic ability. The more confidence you get, the more leadership you can take on.” Age and experience are not what made Coleman a leader for the Falcons. It’s not that simple, he says. “I think [leadership] is something that you have to earn,” Coleman said. “Everyone can’t be a leader. Your teammates see your work ethic, how you carry yourself on and off the field. It’s a tremendous honor to be considered a leader of this team and of this secondary. I’ve been doing it the right way. I’ve been doing what the coaches ask me to do. That’s what I’m going to continue to do.” Many within the organization describe Coleman as a “positive” leader. That’s in comparison to Milloy’s often in-your-face style. “I think it’s my personality and the way that I am,” Coleman said. “I’m a guy that leads by example, by going out and working hard on the field. I’m a guy that can push guys, but usually in a positive way. Pat them on the butt and say ‘Let’s get it done’ instead of dogging out someone. I’m not saying that anyone necessarily did that; it’s just how I approach the game. “I’m not saying I won’t get in someone’s face, but I would rather just pat somebody on the butt and help them out in ways for us to be constructive and for us to get better as a defense.” The defense is an area the Falcons need to improve. They must replace five defensive starters from a team that was 24th out of 32 teams in the NFL last season in total defense, allowing 348.2 yards a game. The secondary was one major issue. They were 21st against the pass, allowing 220.4 yards a game. Coleman considers his leadership a way to change the defense. That’s where the role of social director comes into play. Coleman has organized dinners and ventures to the mall. Next will be bowling. “It’s important for us to jell as a group,” Coleman said. “We have a lot of young guys on the team. … We have to go out and bond with each other because we are going to spend most of our time together. You might have a wife or girlfriend at home, but you spend more hours with us. So we have to have a great chemistry, and that will translate into how we play on the field. If you have trust within each other, then you’ll play much better as a unit.” Coleman had 95 tackles (80 solo, 15 assists) last season. It’s never good when a safety is your leading tackler. He led the Falcons in solo tackles and was second in total tackles behind Keith Brooking, another veteran that won’t be back this season. The Falcons offense got all the attention last offseason — and most of the publicity during an 11-5 season and a playoff berth. The defense was the center of attention this offseason with seven of eight draft picks — including the first five — being defensive players. “The offense deserves all the credit they got last year,” Coleman said. “They worked really hard. We use that as motivation. We’d like to raise our level to where people are talking about the Falcons defense.”
ATLANTA FALCONS NEWS CLIPS Publication: ESPN.com
Section/# of Pages: Sports/1 of 3
Date: 6/20/09
Very special Father's Day for Falcons' Nicholas Posted by ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas FLOWERY BRANCH, GA. -- Stephen Nicholas' arms were wrapped around his infant son, somewhat loosely because he didn't want to bump the tubes that had kept the child alive the past four months. Wife Irene sat nearby and the doctor began talking. The doctor said the tubes were going to come out that afternoon. Stephen and Irene looked at each other and started crying as both minds registered the same two thoughts. Stephen Nicholas Jr. had been in Children's Hospital Boston since last summer, waiting for a heart suitable to transplant into his little body. "That was the doctor's way of saying there was a heart coming in,'' Stephen said. Stephen Jr. was going to get a shot at life with a new heart. Tears of joy for a few seconds. Then, tears of sadness. "The most bittersweet moment you can imagine,'' Irene said. "Our baby was going to get a new heart. But then you realize the heart had to come from someone his age and his size.'' Somewhere, someone else had lost a baby. The date was Oct. 17, 2008. The surgery took hours upon hours and finally ended sometime around 4 the next morning. When the father saw the son at around noon, the baby had better color and was looking more alert than ever. In another few weeks, Stephen Jr. would be given a clean bill of health and sent home to Atlanta. The doctors all have said Stephen Jr. should have a normal and healthy life. If you looked over at the bleachers where the families sat during the Atlanta Falcons' minicamp practices last month, you never would have guessed life had been far from normal for the Nicholas family. When practice was over, the father went over to where the son sat with his mother. Within a few seconds, the two were running around and rolling in the grass. Teammates walked by and smiled at the scene. Their wives and girlfriends watched the two Stephens and there might have been a few tears. This was the happiest ending to the best-kept secret of the 2008 season for the Falcons. While rookie quarterback Matt Ryan was lighting up the NFL and the Falcons were making a run to the playoffs as the NFL's most surprising team, there was a little family secret that wasn't public because it was a very private matter. Now Stephen, Irene and the Falcons are ready to tell the story that everyone else helped keep quiet last year. Stephen and Irene were going through hell, but they had 52 other Falcons, a coaching staff, an owner and an entire building of employees quietly helping them along. After all the craziness (the Michael Vick saga, Jim Mora melting down and Bobby Petrino walking out on his team) that had surrounded the Falcons in recent years, this story -- even more than the playoff run -- demonstrates a franchise with sanity, compassion and priorities that are very much in order. It all started soon after Jan. 6, 2008, when Stephen Jr. was born. He was the first child for Stephen and Irene, but the new parents quickly could tell something wasn't right. "He was sleeping all the time and he barely would eat,'' Irene said. There was a flurry of visits to pediatricians in Jacksonville, Fla., where the Nicholas family makes its offseason home. Nothing was really clear and doctors eventually sent the baby to a hospital in nearby Gainesville for more evaluation. That's when it first became apparent that something was wrong with Stephen Jr.'s heart.
ATLANTA FALCONS NEWS CLIPS Publication: ESPN.com
Section/# of Pages: Sports/2 of 3
Date: 6/20/09
More tests only enhanced that idea and, with help from Stephanie Blank, wife of Falcons owner Arthur Blank, Stephen Jr. was airlifted to Atlanta. Stephanie Blank is a board member at Children's Hospital of Atlanta. There, doctors determined the baby had cardiomyopathy, a condition where the heart isn't able to properly pump blood throughout the body. At first, Stephen Jr. was given medication and sent home. There was some mild improvement, but it didn't last long. "I can't even begin to tell you how many trips we made back to the emergency room,'' Irene said. A few weeks before Stephen, 26, and the Falcons were scheduled to begin training camp last July, doctors sat him and Irene down. "They basically said it wasn't getting any better and that just treating it with medication wasn't going to work,'' Stephen said. "He had to have a heart transplant and it would have to come soon. There was no other choice at that point.'' Irene and the baby went to Boston. Stephen went to training camp, where he went through the motions, but his heart was in Boston. For the next four months, Stephen Jr., wired with tubes of medication to help keep his heart functioning, waited for a donor they weren't sure would come in time. As all this was going on, there was a development that makes you realize the NFL isn't always the cold, hard business we always hear about. First-year coach Mike Smith, a gentle man with a family of his own, sat down Nicholas and told him not to worry about his job security. "We were very cognizant of what was going on and wanted to make sure he was able to get to Boston as often as possible,'' Smith said. "We wanted him to be with his wife and baby because that was a very trying situation.'' Smith offered a deal. Each Sunday night during the season, Nicholas could fly to Boston from wherever the Falcons were playing. He could take Monday and Tuesday off and fly back to Atlanta in time for Wednesday's practice. The show of support went even deeper than that. As a second-year backup, Nicholas wasn't making a lot of money. Two veteran teammates, who don't want to be named, helped take care of his travel expenses and the costs of Irene staying in Boston. Then there was Kevin Winston. Officially, he's the Falcons' director of player programs. Unofficially, he's the team's social worker and a big brother to the players. Winston looks like he could play linebacker, but has a soft spot for anyone who's going through a tough time. "Kevin was on the phone with me all the time,'' Irene said. "He was always checking to see if there was anything I needed or anything the Falcons could do.'' Back in Atlanta, Stephen was able to focus on football for a few hours each day. He was a fixture on special teams and a backup at outside linebacker. "It says a lot about Stephen's character that he was able to still play football while he was going through all that,'' Smith said. "It also says a lot about our football team and how the guys rallied around him.'' The situation also revealed an awful lot about Irene. She might have been the strongest of all. She was on the front line, sitting with Stephen Jr. every day, not knowing how long his heart would last or if a new one was coming. "She's a rock,'' Stephen said. "She held down the fort and told me to keep plugging with football because we had to keep going on. I thank God for giving her to me. Every day when I go home now, I kiss my wife and I kiss my baby. I've been blessed with both of them.'' As Father's Day approaches this weekend, things are back to normal around the Nicholas' house -- as normal as can be expected when you're the proud parents of a rambunctious 18-month-old. "He's more than normal now and really has been since just a few days after the surgery,'' Irene said. "He's into everything and he never really stops, but that's fine with us.'' Without knowing what was going on behind the scenes last season, some Falcons fans were wondering why Stephen was having a quiet year, after a promising rookie season, and not getting on the field much even though starting linebackers Michael Boley and Keith Brooking weren't having great seasons.
ATLANTA FALCONS NEWS CLIPS Publication: ESPN.com
Section/# of Pages: Sports/3 of 3
Date: 6/20/09
Now, fans know. The Falcons learned plenty about Nicholas last season and that's part of the reason they let Boley and Brooking go. Nicholas has been working as the starter on the strong side throughout the offseason. Part of that is because the Falcons believe his physical skills are ready to blossom. And part of it may be because Nicholas already has shown he's the strongest player on the roster as a person. "Stephen and his wife are incredibly strong,'' Smith said. "And they've gotten even stronger because of what they've been through.'' This year, Nicholas is looking forward to training camp and a shot at a starting job. Irene and Stephen Jr. won't be so far away this time. In fact, Nicholas already is looking forward to taking some glances at the bleachers between plays to see his son, safe, sound and healthy. "It's going to be nice to be out there with a clear mind,'' Nicholas said.
ATLANTA FALCONS NEWS CLIPS Publication: AJC.com
Section/# of Pages: Sports/1 of 1
Date: 8/2/09
Gonzalez eager for new start with Falcons By CHRIS VIVLAMORE Flowery Branch — Think Tony Gonzalez knows it all? Think there is nothing for the 10-time Pro Bowl player and almost-certain future Hall of Famer to learn. Think again. “Anything in life you have to keep working on,” Gonzalez said Saturday after his first training-camp practice with the Falcons. “I don’t care how good you are, there is always more to learn and always things to know. I want to make sure I know that playbook back and forward and side to side.” Gonzalez, who played 13 seasons with Kansas City before joining the Falcons in the offseason, doesn’t sound like the player who holds the NFL records for tight ends in career touchdowns (76), career receptions (916), career receiving yards (10,940) and single-season receptions (102). With those credentials, he feels no pressure coming to a new team. “I just have to go out there and do what I’ve been doing for 10 years, and things will take care of themselves,” Gonzalez said. “I can’t control a lot of things. I know I can control myself and what I do. I’m going to keep preparing the way I always do. That’s always trying to get better, always constantly studying, trying to improve myself and my game. If I do that, this team will improve. We just have to get on the same page, and it starts today and every day forward.” Don’t look for Gonzalez to be a savior. He joins a team that went 11-5 last season and reached the playoffs, but there is work to be done. Gonzalez said he has seen — and been on — teams that looked good on paper. “Like I’ve said since I got here, I’m not trying to catch 100 balls or save the day,” Gonzalez said. “I’m just coming in here and do what I always do. When they call my play, I’m going to try to produce, and things will take care of themselves.”
