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Falcons Sign Jake Long

By | at September 15, 2015 1:34 pm

TUESDAY, 1:34pm: Head coach Dan Quinn confirmed today that the Falcons have signed Long, and Charles Godfrey is being cut to clear room on the roster, per Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com (Twitter links).

MONDAY, 7:58pm: Matt Ryan and the Falcons have had an impressive showing so far against the Eagles tonight, and the team may soon add another former first overall pick to its roster. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter), Atlanta is expected to sign offensive tackle Jake Long later this week.

Long, 30, saw time in just seven games for the Rams last season due to a torn ACL. The former No. 1 overall pick had been in St. Louis for the past two years after spending the first five years of his career with the Dolphins, but tore his ACL in each of those two seasons, playing in just 22 games during that stretch.

However, Long received the go-ahead for Dr. James Andrews, who medically cleared him last week, and the veteran offensive lineman paid a second visit to Atlanta upon being cleared. The Giants also had kicked the tires on Long, but it appeared there was more mutual interest between him and the Falcons.

Last season, Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranked Long as just the No. 36 tackle out of 84 qualified players. In 2013, however, Long graded out as the seventh-best tackle in the league with a strong 22.5 overall score, based on PFF’s advanced metrics. Those numbers suggest that Long could still be a productive player if he’s back to full health.

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Falcons Owner on Quinn, Front Office, Ryan

By | at September 13, 2015 5:55 pm

The Falcons had a busy offseason, replacing head coach Mike Smith (the winningest coach in franchise history) with Dan Quinn, the former Seahawks defensive coordinator.

On the field, the team will be hoping that the additions of Brooks Reed and Justin Durant can elevate the defense. On offense, they’ll be eyeing a new group of running backs, as the organization moved on from veterans Steven Jackson and Jacquizz Rodgers.

Regardless, it was a very busy offseason in Atlanta. Owner Arthur Blank discussed his team’s moves with D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and we’ve compiled some of the notable quotes below…

On the Falcons 2015 offseason:

Well, I think it’s been a great offseason. I think we started with hiring (of Quinn) who I think is going to be an outstanding coach for us. I love what Dan has brought to the team in terms of leadership and energy and positive thinking. I couldn’t be happier with the coach and the coaching staff.

I couldn’t be happier as I look at the changes. It’s not easy in this league to make changes, both defensively and offensively in the same year. I think you’ve seen a little more success of one side of the ball than the other, not quite the (same) consistency. But I’m very happy with where we are.

On how the Falcons plan on capitalizing on Matt Ryan‘s prime:
I think you have to take advantage of the situation. We have a lot of great players, but this is a quarterback-driven league. We have one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL. There is no question about that. We want to make sure that we get all the pieces around him, the best coaches and the best coaching staff on both sides of the ball and on special teams, to put us in the best position to win.
 
On how the team’s new front office has been operating:
That’s working beautifully. That’s working great. Thomas and “Q” have built a great relationship this offseason together. They listen to each other, speak to each other, hear each other, respect each other and it’s everything you want in the relationship. I think that (assistant general manager) Scott (Pioli) has been wonderful working with Thomas as well as working with Dan. I think that was a wise decision — a difficult decision — but, in retrospect, a wise decision (to restructure the front office). I think it has worked well and will work out well in the future.
On whether the team is focused on the now or the future:
I’ve said this to Dan. I’ve said this to (general manager) Thomas (Dimitroff) as late as tonight. We’re not about tomorrow. We’re not about rebuilding and building. We’re about winning and we’re about winning now.
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Minor NFL Transactions: 9/9/15

By | at September 9, 2015 7:38 pm

Today’s minor signings, cuts, and other moves..

  • The Eagles have signed reserve offensive lineman Dennis Kelly to a one-year extension through 2016, according to a league source who spoke with Field Yates of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Kelly will earn a $760K base salary with a $30K workout bonus.
  • The Seahawks waived running back Robert Turbin off of their IR with an injury settlement, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets. The 25-year-old Turbin was a fourth-round pick of Seattle in 2012. Since then, he’s amassed 928 yards on 231 carries (4.0 YPC), also adding 43 catches and two receiving touchdowns. Seattle waived Turbin shortly after adding Fred Jackson last week.
  • Washington gave wide receiver Evan Spencer (concussion) an injury settlement and released him from injured reserve, Zac Boyer of The Washington Times tweets.
  • The following players reached injury settlements with their respective teams, per Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (on Twitter): Jerome Smith (Falcons), D.J. Tialavea (Falcons), Josh Martin (Chiefs), Christion Jones (Dolphins), Melvin Meggs (Chargers), Josh Allen (Buccaneers).
  • The Seahawks worked out an injury settlement with Triston Wade, Wilson tweets.
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NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/9/15

By | at September 9, 2015 2:37 pm

Here are Wednesday’s practice squad signings and cuts from around the NFL:

Atlanta Falcons

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Detroit Lions

Miami Dolphins

New York Giants

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

  • Signed: LB Jason Ankrah; LB Justin Staples (Twitter link via Terry McCormick)
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Contracts Restructured For Levitre, Unger

By | at September 9, 2015 8:36 am

A pair of NFC South offensive linemen have restructured their contracts with their new teams, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com, who reports that Falcons guard Andy Levitre and Saints center Max Unger have both reworked their deals.

Levitre, acquired last week by the Falcons, had originally been due $27.3MM over the next four seasons, but Atlanta reduced that figure to $23.25MM and sliced his 2015 salary from $6.5MM to $1.5MM (Twitter links via Yates). In return, the former Titans guard received a $5.5MM signing bonus, which will drop his cap hit for this season from $6.5MM to $2.875MM. As Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com details (via Twitter), Levitre’s base salaries for 2016 and 2017 have been reduced as well.

Meanwhile, the division-rival Saints completed a simple restructure on their new center’s contract, converting $3MM of Unger’s base salary into a signing bonus (Twitter link via Yates). Since the ex-Seahawk has just two years left on his deal, that bonus will prorate equally in 2015 and 2016, giving New Orleans an extra $1.5MM in cap room this year.

Neither restructure is expected to open the door for the Saints or Falcons to add a notable player — they’re simply designed to create some additional flexibility if and when the teams need to put players on injured reserve and bring in injury replacements throughout the season.

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NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/8/15

By | at September 8, 2015 7:27 pm

Here are Tuesday’s practice squad signings and cuts from around the NFL:

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Chicago Bears

Dallas Cowboys

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Indianapolis Colts

  • Signed:
  • Released:
    • G David Arkin

Jacksonville Jaguars

  • Signed:

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington

  • To be signed:
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Jake Long Medically Cleared, Visiting Falcons

By | at September 8, 2015 1:10 pm

Former first overall pick Jake Long has been medically cleared for football by Dr. James Andrews, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (Twitter links). With the go-ahead from Dr. Andrews, Long is paying a visit to Atlanta and will work out for the Falcons on Thursday, reports Schefter.

For Long, it’s his second visit of the summer to Atlanta, but the fact that he has been cleared this time means that there’s a better chance this trip could end with a contract agreement. The Falcons have been linked to Long throughout the offseason, with head coach Dan Quinn suggesting last week that the veteran lineman is a player “we have lots of regard for.”

Long, 30, saw time in just seven games for the Rams last season, thanks to a torn ACL. The former No. 1 overall pick had been in St. Louis for the past two years after spending the first five years of his career with the Dolphins, but tore his ACL in each of those two seasons, playing in just 22 games during that stretch.

Last season, Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranked Long as just the No. 36 tackle out of 84 qualified players. In 2013, however, Long graded out as the seventh-best tackle in the league with a strong 22.5 overall score, based on PFF’s advanced metrics. Still, with the Rams going younger and cheaper on their offensive line, the team elected to part ways with Long earlier in the year.

If Long and the Falcons don’t agree to a deal, the Giants remain interested, tweets Dan Graziano of ESPN.com.

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NFC Practice Squad Updates: 9/7/15

By | at September 7, 2015 7:10 pm

While many teams filled up their 10-man practice squads on Sunday, plenty of teams didn’t confirm their moves right away, or kept a few spots open on those units. On top of that, at least one club that signed 10 players to its taxi squad on Sunday has already made several changes, bringing in new players and jettisoning players who didn’t even spend 24 hours on the squad.

We’ll have updates on Monday’s NFC practice squad signings and cuts in this space, with teams listed in alphabetical order. When new moves occur, we’ll bump this post back to the top of the page. Here’s a round-up of today’s moves:

Arizona Cardinals

  • Signed (link via Josh Weinfuss):
    • CB Cariel Brooks
    • T Rob Crisp
    • LB Gabe Martin
    • G Antoine McClain
    • WR Jaxon Shipley
    • RB Kerwynn Williams
    • CB Leon McFadden

Atlanta Falcons

  • Signed (press release):
    • LB Derek Akunne
    • T Pierce Burton
    • CB Akeem King
    • QB Matt Simms
    • LB Tyler Starr

Chicago Bears

  • Signed (Twitter links):
    • LB Lamin Barrow
    • T Nick Becton
    • DL Brandon Dunn
    • CB Jacoby Glenn
    • WR Jalen Saunders

Dallas Cowboys

  • Signed (Twitter link via Todd Archer):
    • OT John Wetzel
    • S Tim Scott
    • LB Dakorey Johnson
  • To be signed:

Green Bay Packers

  • Signed (press release):
    • RB John Crockett
    • CB Robertson Daniel
    • DT Christian Ringo

New Orleans Saints

  • Signed (via Evan Woodbery on Twitter):
    • TE Blake Annen
    • CB Don Jones

New York Giants

San Francisco 49ers

  • Signed:

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  • Signed (press release):
    • T Edawn Coughman
    • T Terren Jones
    • WR Rannell Hall
    • TE Cameron Brate

Washington:

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Falcons Release Joe Hawley

By | at September 7, 2015 6:05 pm

The Falcons have released center Joe Hawley, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Hawley’s release will make room for the addition of center Gino Gradkowski, who was claimed off waivers from the Broncos.

Hawley was on his way to returning from the ACL surgery that ended his 2014 season prematurely. The 26-year-old (27 in October) wasn’t playing exceptionally well in the early going last season, but he appeared in 16 games with seven starts in 2013 and the team was counting on him to start in ’14. This year, Hawley started the first two preseason games for Atlanta but he was moved to the bench for the final two contests. With Gradkowski in the fold, Hawley’s services were no longer needed in Atlanta.

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Falcons Claim Gino Gradkowski Off Waivers

By | at September 7, 2015 3:40 pm

In addition to expressing interest in one of the two players cut by the Broncos yesterday, the Falcons have claimed the other player off waivers. According to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link), center Gino Gradkowski has been awarded to Atlanta, via waiver claim.

Gradkowski, along with Montee Ball, was waived by the Broncos when Denver claimed a pair of players off waivers on Sunday. A Delaware product, Gradkowski has appeared in 40 games during the course of his three-year career, and was a full-time starter for the Ravens during the 2013 season. He wasn’t very productive that year, grading as the worst center in the league, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required).

Gradkowski is the second veteran interior lineman added by the Falcons this week, as Atlanta also sent a sixth-round pick and a future conditional pick to the Titans to land guard Andy Levitre. The additions suggest that Dan Quinn and the Falcons aren’t satisfied with the offensive line play to date.

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