Cam Newton came into the NFL combine with hopes of being the number one quarterback taken in the draft, and possibly the number one overall pick. Following Newton’s performance in the combine, it looks unlikely he will be the number one pick. However, he still could be the first quarterback taken. Newton’s main competitors to be the top quarterback selected are Missouri...

The 2011 NFL Combine will take place at the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis starting Thursday, Feb. 24 and ending Tuesday, March 1. The combine is a chance for more than 300 draft prospects to show what they have in front of coaches and scouts from every NFL team. Athletes have trained months for these drills and the results could impact where they are taken in the draft. Some...

Mike Reiter Lead Writer: The 2011 NFL Draft will take place April 28-30th in New York City. There are many lists and rankings out there dealing with the prospects of the 2011 NFL Draft, but it is time to look at it in the category of SEC football. The SEC is the most dominant football conference, and the first-round this year will be full of SEC talent. I predict that four...

Michael Koenan, P 2010 Stats: 74 punts, 40.7 average, 61 yard long Summary: Michael Koenan is a punter, and he’s done a great job. There is no reason the Falcons shouldn’t resign him. And yes, this summary is about as interesting as the punter position. Verdict: Keep Matt Bryant, K 2010 Stats: 11/11 in 20-29 yards, 8/9 in 30-39 yards, 8/10 in 40-40 yards, and 1/1 in...

2010 Stats: 1 game started, 2 assisted tackles Summary: Of all the players the Falcons have to make decisions on, I think this should be the easiest one in which they will let a player sign elsewhere. Lewis hasn’t made much impact in his three seasons with the Falcons only having 25 tackles and playing in 18 games. With Peria Jerry and Jonathan Babineaux, Corey Peters, and...

2010 Stats: 1 game started, 16 games played, 1 sack, 21 tackles Summary: Brian Williams is the Falcons nickel defensive back and I think it showed in the game against Green Bay when he wasn’t in. The Falcons need to make improvements on the defensive side of the ball, but I don’t think Williams needs to go. He doesn’t start and you can afford to pay him accordingly...

2010 Stats: 11 games started, 16 games played, 1 interception, 58 tackles Summary: Because I think Mike Peterson won’t be re-signed I think the Falcons will be forced to sign Stephen Nicholas. I think that Nicholas can have potential in this Falcons defense, but he can’t be the star, just a supporting role. One of the most important things on the defensive side of the...

2010 Stats: 13 games started, 16 games played, 1 sack, 2 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles, 39 tackles Summary: Mike Peterson is another player that will be in his mid-30s that the Falcons will have to make a decision on. Peterson’s numbers fell off after his great 2009 season where he had more than double the tackles he made in 2010. The defensive side of the ball is where the...

2010 Stats: 19 receptions, 166 yards, 3 touchdowns Summary: This is probably the hardest decision the Falcons will have on the offensive side of the ball. The number one and two receivers are set in stone with Roddy White and Michael Jenkins. The three spot is where it is up for grabs. The Falcons have Harry Douglas and Eric Weems listed as backups at the WR spot. Finneran will hit...

2010 Stats: 16 games started Summary: Just like Tyson Clabo, Justin Blalock has started every game in the past three years for the Atlanta Falcons. I don’t think I can stress enough how important it is to have an offensive line that has played together. The game of football is not won with quarterbacks, linebackers, or running backs. It is won in the trenches, and if the Falcons...

2010 Stats: Started 16 Games Summary: Tyson Clabo has started every game for the Falcons in the last three years. Other than that, there really aren’t stats to back up what he has done, other than to see the amount of yards the running backs have rushed for. One of the biggest keys to football, is unity on the offensive line. If you have guys that know how the other guys will...

The Atlanta Falcons have began their offseason and have signed MLB Coy Wire to a 2-year deal, while releasing safety Erik Coleman, according to the Atlanta Falcons official website. Wire becomes the first free agent the Falcons have signed this offseason, and they still have plenty more left. Expect a busy couple weeks for the Falcons front office when they have to make decisions...

2010 Stats: 2 attempts, 8 yards; 1 reception, 9 yards Summary: After suffering a knee injury in the second week of the season against the Arizona Cardinals, Jerious Norwood spent the rest of the season on the sideline. I don’t think injury should be a valid reason for letting someone go, but the Falcons should part ways with Norwood due to the emergence of Jason Snelling. Sure...

2010 Stats: 87 attempts, 324 yards; 44 receptions, 303 yards; 5 total touchdowns Summary: Jason Snelling has done a great job being a back-up running back behind Michael Turner. Although he hasn’t had that many opportunites, he has stepped in when Turner goes to the sideline. I see this player as another one the Falcons need to keep. With Michael Turner continuing to be the...

2010 Stats: 5 interceptions for 84 yards, 70 tackles Summary: With 11 interceptions in the last two years this should be another no-brainer for the Atlanta Falcons. Grimes is young, only 27 years old, and even though he stands at 5-10, he is someone the Falcons need to bring back. With key interceptions this year against Baltimore and New Orleans he is someone the Falcons can’...

Through the Atlanta Falcons official website, Mike Smith has agreed to a three year contract extension. The Atlanta Falcons today announced that head coach Mike Smith has signed a three-year extension of his contract. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. This news is not shocking, considering the success of Mike Smith in his first three years with the Falcons. Smith...

This is the last of four parts featuring my 2011 NFL Mock Draft. Picks 26-32 represent teams that made the 2011 NFL playoffs. They either lost in the divisional round, championship round, or they are the Packers and Steelers and they are playing in the Super Bowl. Teams picking in this grouping include the Pittsburgh Steelers, Green Bay Packers, New York Jets, Chicago Bears, New...

This is the third of four parts featuring my 2011 NFL Mock Draft. Picks 17-25 represent teams that either fell just short of the playoffs, or those that lost in the Wild Card Round Teams picking in this grouping include the New Orleans Saints, Philadelphia Eagles, Indianapolis Colts, Kansas City Chiefs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New York Giants, San Diego Chargers, and New England Patriots...

This is the second of four parts featuring my 2011 NFL Mock Draft. Picks 9-16 represent teams that didn’t have terrible seasons, but they weren’t good enough to make the playoffs. Teams picking in this grouping include the Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins, St. Louis Rams, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, Houston Texans, Washington Redskins, and Dallas Cowboys. After...

Announced Monday, the Associated Press has named Atlanta Falcons WR Roddy White and DE John Abraham to All-Pro first team. White ended the 2010 season with 115 receptions, 1,389 yards, and 10 touchdowns. Abraham racked up 40 tackles, 2 forced fumbles, 1 interception, and 13 sacks in the 2010 season. RB Michael Turner and FB Ovie Mugheli were announced as second teamers on the All...

The Atlanta Falcons now have nine players headed to the Pro Bowl after Brent Grimes was awarded a spot. He will replace Packers defensive back Charles Woodson. It goes without saying that the Falcons would rather be playing in the Super Bowl than the Pro Bowl. But having nine of your players and your coaching staff headed to Hawaii is something to be proud of. The season ended in...

It’s been pretty quiet in regards to Falcons news, so I decided to post something that I wrote about in regards to the NFL playing football in 2011 and the reasons for why it will happen. For anyone that is worried that there won’t be NFL football in 2011, stop worrying. The owners and players are too smart for there not to be a football season in 2011. The television...

Tony Gonzalez will not retire and he will return in 2011 and play for the Atlanta Falcons. This is great news for Falcons fans as they will get to see the greatest TE in the history of the NFL for one more season. Alongside Matt Ryan, Michael Turner, and Roddy White, Gonzalez will make this one of the best offenses in the NFC. With a strong offensive line returning, the offense should...

Tyson Clabo will now be going to the Pro Bowl after being added to the NFC roster after Philadelphia Eagles lineman Jason Peters withdrew. This will be Clabo’s first trip to Hawaii and he has started every game for the Falcons in the last three years. He will be the eighth member of the Atlanta Falcons representing the NFC in the Pro Bowl. The Falcons coaching staff will also...

Why? Why would the Falcons waste a pick on someone that will be the fourth wide receiver instead of drafting someone that will make an immediate impact? The Atlanta Falcons have Roddy White, Michael Jenkins, Harry Douglas, and Brian Finneran if they choose to sign him at the wide receiver position. Unless you are getting an elite receiver, which you won’t get at the 27th spot...