The Falcons have reportedly released safety Ricardo Allen and defensive end Allen Bailey, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
With the the team over the projected cap by nearly $30 million, Atlanta was expected to make some cuts. By releasing the two defenders, the Falcons create roughly $10.7 million in salary cap space.
Allen was a former fifth-round pick and had started at safety for the past few seasons. During his 77 career games in Atlanta, Allen recorded 340 tackles (245 solo), 11 interceptions and 26 passes defended.
Bailey, a third-round pick in 2011, was a rotational player for the Falcons since signing in 2019.
The Atlanta Falcons put up a tough fight against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 17 but lost, 44-2, cementing their top-four draft selection.
The Atlanta Falcons put up a tough fight against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 17, but lost, 44-2, cementing their top-four draft selection. After looking at some Falcons who shined during Sunday’s game, here are three players who flamed out in the team’s season finale.
Todd Gurley
Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
Naming Ito Smith as the starting running back seemed to only last a week. Todd Gurley was given the nod for the season finale and put on a very underwhelming performance, which could be the last of his Atlanta Falcons career.
For the day, Gurley totaled 18 yards on nine rushing attempts. Given the success of Brian Hill, you have to question the decision to start Gurley in place of Hill after his 62-yard run that nearly went the distance. Gurley’s time in Atlanta had some highs, like his nine touchdown runs, however, it’s seems unlikely that the team saw enough to re-sign to bring him back. That’s another Rams running back run aground in Atlanta.
Ricardo Allen
(AP Photo/Mark LoMoglio)
Allen’s play in the defensive secondary was pretty underwhelming the entire game. Yes, Allen did manage to come up with an interception, but this was due to a deflected ball as the Bucs receiver fell to the ground.
Other than that, Allen allowed multiple big plays that helped add to Tampa Bay’s big day. His bad day was highlighted by two plays. One where he fell to the ground on Antonio Brown’s touchdown reception in the back of the end zone. The other came on Allen’s failed attempt to break up a deep pass hauled in by Chris Godwin.
This is likely the final time Allen suits up for the Falcons as he is rumored to be one of the several potential cap-causalities.
Raheem Morris and Falcons coaching staff
(AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
Atlanta’s Week 17 loss likely killed any chance Morris has to be retained as the Falcons head coach. Morris finished his time in the interim role with a record of 4-7, dropping five-straight games to end the year.
Morris did get off to a hot start and gained traction to be a legit contender to lead the Falcons beyond 2020, but the team let too many close games slip away. With “Black Monday” looming, there should be a decision on Morris before the evening ends and an announcement soon to follow.
The Atlanta Falcons put up a tough fight against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 17 but lost, 44-2, cementing their top-four draft selection.
The Atlanta Falcons put up a tough fight against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 17, but lost, 44-2, cementing their top-four draft selection. After looking at some Falcons who shined during Sunday’s game, here are three players who flamed out in the team’s season finale.
Todd Gurley
Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
Naming Ito Smith as the starting running back seemed to only last a week. Todd Gurley was given the nod for the season finale and put on a very underwhelming performance, which could be the last of his Atlanta Falcons career.
For the day, Gurley totaled 18 yards on nine rushing attempts. Given the success of Brian Hill, you have to question the decision to start Gurley in place of Hill after his 62-yard run that nearly went the distance. Gurley’s time in Atlanta had some highs, like his nine touchdown runs, however, it’s seems unlikely that the team saw enough to re-sign to bring him back. That’s another Rams running back run aground in Atlanta.
Ricardo Allen
(AP Photo/Mark LoMoglio)
Allen’s play in the defensive secondary was pretty underwhelming the entire game. Yes, Allen did manage to come up with an interception, but this was due to a deflected ball as the Bucs receiver fell to the ground.
Other than that, Allen allowed multiple big plays that helped add to Tampa Bay’s big day. His bad day was highlighted by two plays. One where he fell to the ground on Antonio Brown’s touchdown reception in the back of the end zone. The other came on Allen’s failed attempt to break up a deep pass hauled in by Chris Godwin.
This is likely the final time Allen suits up for the Falcons as he is rumored to be one of the several potential cap-causalities.
Raheem Morris and Falcons coaching staff
(AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
Atlanta’s Week 17 loss likely killed any chance Morris has to be retained as the Falcons head coach. Morris finished his time in the interim role with a record of 4-7, dropping five-straight games to end the year.
Morris did get off to a hot start and gained traction to be a legit contender to lead the Falcons beyond 2020, but the team let too many close games slip away. With “Black Monday” looming, there should be a decision on Morris before the evening ends and an announcement soon to follow.
As a guest on The Jim Rome Show, Allen said he aspires to be coach someday.
Some NFL coaches have said the job of a defensive back might be the hardest of any position in the league. Mistakes are highlighted, the rules are tailored to help the offense and fans rarely notice good coverage because of how games are broadcast.
It goes without saying that a player needs to understand the tougher mental aspects of football to be effective as a defensive back. Atlanta Falcons safety Ricardo Allen is definitely one of the team’s most intelligent players and a leader in the locker room.
Head coach Dan Quinn credited Allen’s leadership within the Falcons’ young secondary as one of the keys to the team’s second-half turnaround in 2019 — Atlanta went 6-2 over the final eight games.
As a guest on The Jim Rome Show, Allen said he aspires to be coach someday. More specifically, he said he wants to be an offensive coordinator. Check out Rome’s interview with Allen below.
The former first-round pick enters his third season in Atlanta and has already put up some impressive numbers while playing as the team’s second and third option. In less than two full seasons, Ridley has caught 127 balls for 1,687 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns.
Can 2020 be the year Ridley establishes himself as one of the league’s elite receivers?
According to two Falcons teammates, the answer is an easy yes. Safety Ricardo Allen and quarterback Matt Ryan each gave their take on the team’s No. 2 WR, saying they believed he was already elite.
Allen called Ridley a No. 1, saying the only thing he does wrong is play behind the best receiver in the game.
Ricardo Allen: "Calvin (Ridley) is a No. 1 (receiver). He's just on the other side of one of the greatest receivers who ever played the game."
One thing that will help the Falcons’ young defensive backs is the presence of safety Ricardo Allen, whom head coach Dan Quinn credited with helping the team’s defensive turnaround over the second half of 2019.
Due to a lack of salary cap space, the Atlanta Falcons had no choice but to try and get younger this offseason. The biggest potential change will be at defensive back, where rookie corner A.J. Terrell essentially replaces Desmond Trufant.
One thing that will help the Falcons’ young defensive backs is the presence of safety Ricardo Allen, whom head coach Dan Quinn credited with helping the team’s defensive turnaround over the second half of 2019.
It appears that Allen is picking up right where he left off. A video shared by ESPN’s Vaughn McClure shows Allen coaching up Atlanta’s young DBs, including Terrell at training camp. Check it out below:
The Atlanta Falcons have been putting together their all-decade team over the past week, and so far just the the defensive and special-teams starters have been unveiled.
The Atlanta Falcons have been putting together their all-decade team over the past week, and so far just the the defensive and special-teams starters have been unveiled.
At safety, the top-voted players were William Moore — a second-round pick in 2009 — and Ricardo Allen — a fifth-round pick in 2014.
Moore was a key part of Atlanta’s defense from 2009-2014, recording 314 tackles (239 solo), 14 interceptions and 10 forced fumbles over six seasons. Meanwhile, Allen remains one of the team’s key defensive players.
Check out the highlight video of Moore and Allen below, as tweeted by the Falcons’ Twitter account.
The Seahawks are facing a number of the league’s best teams in 2020, and with the best teams come some of the best players.
The Seattle Seahawks are scheduled to face several of the league’s top teams in 2020, and with those teams come a number of players that could prove a serious hassle for the Seahawks to overcome in their matchups. To that end, I put together a list of one player from each of the Seahawks’ opponents that should make a difference in Seattle’s approach to each game.
I chose not to select any quarterbacks, running backs, or wide receivers for this list, as the success of those positions is obviously paramount to a team’s chances of winning.
With that said, here is one player from each of the Seahawks’ 2020 opponents that could make a huge impact on Seattle’s game plan:
Week 1 (Sept. 13): Atlanta Falcons
Impact player: DB Ricardo Allen
The veteran safety trio of Keanu Neal, Damontae Kazee, and Ricardo Allen should scare Seahawks fans, considering how often Russell Wilson likes to throw deep; in particular, Allen should see plenty of action due to his versatility. After missing 13 games in 2018 due to injury, Allen posted a fantastic 2019 campaign with 85 tackles, eight batted passes, and two interceptions. The Falcons are considering switching Allen to the nickel position, which would allow him, Neal, and Kazee to patrol the backfield and force the Seahawks to keep to the ground.
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:
What's it like trying to train while on lockdown in New Jersey?
The Panthers are getting the full Ian Thomas experience today. Watch the second-year tight end catch his first touchdown of the season and finally break the team’s streak of embarrassing failures at the goal line. Thomas also showed off some of his run after catch ability earlier in the game by bullying Ricardo Allen for some extra yards.
However, he also dropped a beautiful pass from Kyle Allen that was intercepted. Thomas has caught three of six targets, totaling 30 yards and a score.
The Falcons responded with another field goal by Younghoe Koo to close out the second quarter. They lead 13-10 at halftime.
