Falcons WR Hart 'Fighting' for Roster Spot

If the NFL offseason was broken into four quarters, with the Scouting Combine and free agency making up the first, then the NFL Draft being the second, and the start of the OTAs the third. That makes the start of training camp the fourth and final quarter. 

The Atlanta Falcons are through their first two weeks of camp and have just five weeks remaining until they open the regular season at home inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium against the Carolina Panthers. This means for players like receiver Penny Hart it is crunch time. 

After spending the first three years of his pro career with the Seattle Seahawks, totaling just 11 catches for 82 yards, Hart signed with the Falcons this offseason, his former hometown team. 

Yet, just because the former Roswell, Ga., native signed with the Falcons doesn't mean he is guaranteed a roster spot. Rather it is quite the opposite for the fourth-year veteran. With the Falcons set to kick off their first preseason game on Friday, pressure will be on Hart to deliver. 

“Penny’s been in this league for a little bit," coach Arthur Smith said. "All of these guys are competing and there is a lot of great competition out there, so he’ll be one of the guys that’ll be fighting and he’ll get plenty of opportunities in the preseason.”

No one knows exactly what the Falcons are getting in Hart due to his limited targets in Seattle. This makes preseason one of the first opportunities for coaches and fans to see his capabilities. 

At 5-8, it is unlikely that the Falcons will ask too much of Hart to function as an outside receiver. Instead, he will likely feature in the slot when he sees the field in preseason. Yet, Hart's most valuable asset for Atlanta may be his experience on special teams. 

For a skill player who may not see the field very often, being able to contribute on special teams can make-or-break their spot on the roster. 

Despite the limited opportunities due to the Falcons reducing the preseason from four to three games with the addition of a 17th regular season game, Hart knows he must make every snap count if he wishes to make a 53-man roster for his fourth-straight season.

"We only have a limited amount of time that we have to play this game,
Hart said via the Falcons' team website. "You got to cherish it. You got to make the most of it."

Hart and the Falcons face the Miami Dolphins on Friday at 7 p.m.

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