HBO plans to have an NFL team in place for this year's edition of "Hard Knocks" by June 1, according to Michael Shain of the New York Post but thus far, finding a willing participant to appear in the popular program has been difficult. The Atlanta Falcons, Denver Broncos, Houston Texans, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks and Washington Redskins reportedly have either declined offers or informed HBO and NFL Films that they're not interested in opening their doors to camera crews. The New York Jets, who had... [Read More]
Eagles cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha believes he could have worked with Asante Samuel on excelling as a part of the Philadelphia defense. Samuel was traded to the Falcons last month for a late-round draft pick. Asomugha signed with the Eagles before the 2011 season. The pair only played one season together. "I thought it could have worked, and I still think it could've worked," Asomugha said. "Everybody keeps saying that, you know, 'No, it can't work, you three, blah blah blah. ' I still thought it could've... [Read More]
The Atlanta Falcons have signed their third-round draft pick offensive tackle Lamar Holmes. Holmes played two seasons at Southern Mississippi where he was team captain both years. He was selected to the All-Conference USA team his senior year. It was reported earlier in the week that he will not participate in the team’s rookie minicamp because of a left foot injury.
Mike Smith has coached the Falcons four years and the team has made the playoffs in three of the four years but has no playoff wins. It is a trend that troubles Smith and one he wants to correct. “Well obviously we have to do it different than what we’ve done in the past, Smith told 790 the Zone according to Sportsradiointerviews. We’ve been there, we just haven’t been very successful. So it starts with me in evaluating how I prepare our football team, or we as a coaching staff prepare our football team. And believe... [Read More]
The Tennessee Titans are scheduled to host veteran safeties Yeremiah Bell and Chris Crocker on Tuesday. Bell has played all eight NFL seasons with the Dolphins, racking up 433 tackles and eight interceptions. Crocker is a 10-year veteran who has played with the Bengals, Dolphins, Falcons and Browns. He has 476 tackles and 10 interceptions. The Titans don’t have any experienced depth behind starting safeties Jordan Babineaux and Michael Griffin.
The Atlanta Falcons have signed three more draft picks Wisconsin fullback Bradie Ewing, Mississippi State safety Charles Mitchell and South Carolina defensive tackle Travian Robertson. A fifth-round pick, Ewing is the Falcons' new starting fullback after the release of veteran Ovie Mughelli. Ewing was named an All-American and led the way for 30 touchdowns. Mitchell is a sixth-round pick who recorded 283 career tackles and four interceptions. Robertson is a seventh-round pick who had 45 tackles last season with two... [Read More]
The Atlanta Falcons have signed second-round draft pick center Peter Konz. He was projected to be selected in the first round of the draft but was picked by the Falcons with the 55th overall pick. Konz spent most of the three-day rookie minicamp at right guard and received some snaps at center. “I thought Peter did a nice job,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said after the first practice. “Of course, Peter is being cross-trained at two positions. It’s obvious that he’s a big strong guy.” Konz is expected to compete for the... [Read More]
Falcons tackle Lamar Holmes, the team’s third-round draft pick, will not participate in the team’s rookie minicamp because of a left foot injury. “Lamar has got a minor issue with his foot,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said after practice on Friday. ”It’s more precautionary right now. We’ll try to get him back out there. It won’t be here in this minicamp. It will be closer to when we start our OTAs at the end of the month. It’s something that became evident in his post-draft physical.”
The Atlanta Falcons have released veteran fullback Ovie Mughelli, reports Zach Klein, the sports director at WSB-TV, the ABC affiliate in Atlanta. Mughelli, 31, has started 38 of 69 games over his five seasons in Atlanta. Valued for his blocking, Mughelli has paved the way for three 1,000-yard seasons by Michael Turner, adding 70 rushing yards and a touchdown on his own, Mughelli also has 38 receptions for 295 yards and four touchdowns as a member of the Falcons. A two-time Pro Bowler, most recently in 2010, Mughelli's... [Read More]
According to an NFL source, the Bears will bring in defensive tackle Trey Lewis for a workout in the next few days. Lewis, 6-foot-3, 312 pounds, has not played in an NFL game since the 2010 season opener. The Falcons made him one of their final cuts last September and he was out of the league during the 2011 season. Lewis twice has been sidelined with a torn ACL, an injury he suffered in Week 11 of 2007 after he had worked his way into the starting lineup as a rookie in the first month of the season. Lewis then tore... [Read More]
Former Atlanta Falcons running back Jamal Anderson is facing a seven-figure tax lien from the IRS, according to TMZ. The website said it obtained documents that confirmed Anderson didn't pay his federal income taxes in 2007 and 2008, he reportedly owes $1,105,263.51 -- $478,247.57 from 2007 and $627,015.94 from 2008. The IRS has placed a lien on his property, according to the report. Anderson ran for 5,336 yards and 34 touchdowns in his eight-year career with the Falcons. According to his official website, Anderson... [Read More]
One day after the tragic death of former LB Junior Seau, more than 100 former NFL players joined another concussion lawsuit against the league. According to CNN, former Falcons players Jamal Anderson, Chris Doleman and O.J. Santiago joined more than 1,500 players suing the NFL for concealing the dangers of concussions. The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Atlanta by attorney Mike McGlamry. It states that the NFL, “repeatedly refuted the connection between concussions and brain injury” and failed to “take... [Read More]
No one can say how much money Michael Vick repaid the Atlanta Falcons as part of the signing bonus he forfeited when he was convicted on federal dogfighting charges after he had signed a $130 million, 10-year contract. But the Falcons have received a $3 million salary-cap credit from the NFL, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Per the report, the Falcons began pursuing credits after Vick signed a $100 million, six-year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles. The Falcons stayed after it and they were reportedly awarded... [Read More]
The Atlanta Falcons announced the signing of 22 undrafted free agents, including Oregon State wide receiver James Rodgers, the older brother of 2011 fifth round pick Jacquizz Rodgers. In 51 games in Beaverton, Rodgers caught 222 passes for 2,578 yards and 19 touchdowns, adding 1,410 yards and nine touchdowns rushing. Rodgers averaged 24.7 yards and scored a touchdown on 86 kick returns and averaged 13.7 yards with a touchdown on 19 punt returns. Here is the full list of undrafted free agents signed by the Falcons:... [Read More]
Former Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Polian, who was fired after last season, is set to join the Falcons on Monday, according to the team. Polian will join the Falcons in a scouting capacity and have some assignments around the league. David Caldwell, the Falcons director of player personnel, came to the Falcons from Indianapolis and has worked with Polian.
