Tag: falcons news

Former Georgia WR Malcolm Mitchell pokes fun at Falcons fans on 3/28

Former Georgia football and New England Patriots WR Malcolm Mitchell poked fun at Atlanta Falcons on 3/28.

After blowing a 28-3 lead in Super Bowl LI, March 28th is a day that is dreaded by fans of the Atlanta Falcons.

I won’t go into great detail, but the Falcons had a 28-3 lead midway through the third. Then, Tom Brady became Tom Brady.

The Patriots won the game 34-28. Nothing screams “Georgia sports” more than this heartbreaking defeat.

But for one former Georgia Bulldog, wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell, this day has a different affect on him than most out of the Peach State.

Mitchell, a Valdosta native, played for the Bulldogs from 2011-15. Taken in the 4th round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Patriots, Mitchell was a key player in that Super Bowl as a rookie.

He caught six passes for 70 yards in the overtime win, including all five targets from Brady in the pivotal fourth quarter. He converted four of those five receptions into first downs.

As much as you may hate the Patriots or the date 3/28, it’s hard to dislike Mitchell, who has overcame so much to make a name for himself in the NFL.

We’ll let him this one.

View this post on Instagram

HAPPY 3.28

A post shared by Malcolm Mitchell (@money_mitch26) on

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Falcons agree to terms with LB Edmond Robinson

The Atlanta Falcons are signing another former XFL player, reportedly agreeing to terms with linebacker Edmond Robinson.

The Atlanta Falcons are signing another former XFL player, reportedly agreeing to terms on a one-year deal with linebacker Edmond Robinson:

Robinson was a seventh-round pick by the Minnesota Vikings back in 2015. He played two seasons with the Vikings, starting two games and appearing in 21. Robinson then signed with the Jets in 2017, but was barely used.

The former Newberry standout landed with Vince McMahon’s XFL before the season was cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak. Still, in just five games of XFL action, he showed his versatility and impressed the Falcons.

Now 28 years old, Robinson will to compete for De’Vondre Campbell‘s outside linebacker role. The team could still add a player in the draft to increase the competition heading into the 2020 season.

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Video: Younghoe Koo, Ricardo Allen discuss life in quarantine

As the country attempts to keep its collective sanity during the outbreak of COVID-19, the Atlanta Falcons have been interviewing players to see how they are handling the quarantine

As the country attempts to keep its collective sanity during the outbreak of COVID-19, the Atlanta Falcons have been interviewing players to see how they are handling the quarantine.

Earlier this week, Falcons reporter Kelsey Conway caught up with kicker Younghoe Koo, who is currently on lockdown in New Jersey. Watch the interview below:

Conway also spoke to Falcons safety Ricardo Allen, who gave his two cents on life in quarantine and what he’s been up to during the crisis:

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4 keys for the Falcons to win the NFC South in 2020

Here are four keys for the Falcons to win what should be a competitive NFC South division in 2020.

The Atlanta Falcons are shaking things up this offseason. After two years of underachievement, the team has moved on from five of last season’s starters.

General manager Thomas Dimitroff and head coach Dan Quinn were given one more chance to right the ship, and the team’s moves through the first wave of free agency reflect that.

In order for Atlanta to finish atop the NFC South in 2020, though, it will take more than a few roster transactions. Here are four keys for the Falcons to win what should be a competitive division next season.

Offensive line takes a big step forward

Atlanta Falcons offensive tackle Kaleb McGary (76) and offensive guard Chris Lindstrom (63). Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Atlanta made aggressive changes to its offensive line last offseason by bringing in three new starters — two of them rookies — and the early results were bad. The Falcons rushed for 85.1 yards per game in 2019, the third-lowest average in the league. On top of that, the team allowed 50 sacks as the offense was often stagnant and one-dimensional.

Injuries played a factor, though, and when rookie guard Chris Lindstrom returned late in the year, it seemed to spark the entire unit. Kaleb McGary had ups and downs, but played well down the stretch at right tackle. Entering year two, the rookie linemen must solidify the right side of the line for the team to take that next step. Running back Todd Gurley can only be as effective as this group allows him to be.

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Falcons agree to terms with TE Khari Lee on one-year deal

The Falcons are adding a new tight end to the roster, announcing on Wednesday that they had agreed to terms with free-agent TE Khari Lee.

The Falcons are adding a new tight end to the roster, announcing on Wednesday that they had agreed to terms with free-agent TE Khari Lee:

Lee, 28, was an undrafted free agent out of Bowie State and played in 15 games with the Bears as a rookie back in 2015. He bounced around between Detroit and Buffalo over the next three seasons before playing well this year with the DC Defenders, an XFL franchise.

Outside of Hayden Hurst, the Falcons had little depth at the tight end position. Lee gives the team another big body and has improved as a pass-catcher. Look for Atlanta to add another tight end in the middle rounds of the 2020 draft.

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Falcons create space by restructuring with Matt Ryan, Jake Matthews

The Atlanta Falcons were active players when the NFL’s free agency period began last week, bringing in Dante Fowler Jr. (three years, $48 million) and Todd Gurley (one year, $6 million).

The Atlanta Falcons were active players when the NFL’s free agency period began last week, bringing in Dante Fowler Jr. (three years, $48 million) and Todd Gurley (one year, $6 million) despite having little cap space.

Releasing Desmond Trufant and Devonta Freeman gave the Falcons some wiggle room, but not enough to make it all work. According to ESPN’s Vaughn McClure, the team restructured the contracts of quarterback Matt Ryan and left tackle Jake Matthews, clearing nearly $14 million in cap space for 2020.

The team also gave a one-year extension to defensive lineman Allen Bailey, which Vaughn reports is worth $4.5 million:

Currently, Over The Cap lists Atlanta with just over $14 million, but that’s before the contracts of Fowler and Gurley are accounted for. The cap space is good news for this season, but again kicks the can down the road by restructuring with Ryan and Matthews.

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Falcons agree to terms with LB LaRoy Reynolds

Reynolds played 15 games last year for the Cincinnati Bengals after spending the 2018 season with the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Atlanta Falcons are bringing back a familiar face to help on defense, agreeing to terms with linebacker LaRoy Reynolds, the team announced on Tuesday:

Reynolds played 15 games last year for the Cincinnati Bengals after spending the 2018 season with the Philadelphia Eagles. He played for Atlanta from 2016-2017, recording 45 total tackles as a backup middle linebacker and special teams contributor.

With De’Vondre Campbell leaving for the Arizona Cardinals, the Falcons could use extra depth at the linebacker position and Reynolds is familiar with Dan Quinn’s defense.

Expect Atlanta to add another player or two in the draft or free agency to replace Campbell, the team’s leading tackler last year.

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Falcons agree to terms with OL Justin McCray

Atlanta made a few more moves on Sunday, agreeing to terms with wide receiver Laquon Treadwell and offensive lineman Justin McCray.

The Falcons made some of the biggest moves over the first week of free agency, adding Dante Fowler Jr. and Todd Gurley to a team desperately trying to get back to the playoffs in 2020.

Atlanta made a few more moves on Sunday, agreeing to terms with wide receiver Laquon Treadwell and offensive lineman Justin McCray:

McCray, 27, was presumably brought in to add depth and competition at the left guard spot. He’s appeared in 40 games over the last three years for the Packers and Browns, with 17 starts.

The Falcons released backup offensive lineman Ty Sambrailo last week, so it makes sense to sign McCray. It remains to be seen if the team will select another lineman in the early rounds of the 2020 NFL Draft.

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Falcons bringing back CB Blidi-Wreh Wilson on one-year deal

A former third-round pick by Tennessee, cornerback Blidi Wreh-Wilson has been with the Falcons since 2017.

The Falcons have reportedly agreed to terms with cornerback Blidi Wreh-Wilson on a one-year contract, per The Athletic’s Jason Butt:

A former third-round pick by Tennessee, Wreh-Wilson has been with the Falcons since 2017, providing special teams ability and valuable depth to a thin secondary.

Atlanta is still without a true No. 1 corner after releasing veteran Desmond Trufant last week. The team is likely to add a defensive back in the upcoming draft, and returns two promising corners in Isaiah Oliver and Kendall Sheffield.

In other roster news, after releasing him yet again, the Falcons brought back punter Ryan Allen. The team has also agreed to sign wide receiver Laquon Treadwell to a one-year deal. If you need to catch up on Atlanta’s busy week, make sure to check out our free-agent transaction recap.

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Falcons to sign former 1st-round pick WR Laquon Treadwell

The Falcons have added yet another former first-round pick in free agency, reportedly signing Laquon Treadwell, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The Falcons have added yet another former first-round pick in free agency, reportedly signing wide receiver Laquon Treadwell, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter:

Treadwell was pick No. 23 overall in the 2016 draft and has yet to live up to the potential had had coming out of Mississippi. In four seasons, he has 65 catches for 701 yards and two touchdowns.

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