Yes, we’re in the NFL’s dead period, between the draft and training camp, but the Falcons still made some moves over the past month that do not include Matt Ryan’s new contract. Here’s what you might have missed, buried in the back of your sports section:
5/21: Signed TE Brad Lastorti – Lastorti gives the Falcons 6 tight ends, which means the odds of him making it out of camp aren’t great, but he will be given a chance to fight for a backup spot anyway.
5/22: Waived P Jimmie Kaylor – The undrafted free agent was an unlikely contributor anyway, what with Michael Koenen already on the roster.
5/23: Waived SS D.J. Wolfe – Another undrafted free agent that apparently didn’t have a place with this team.
6/7: Signed TE Keith Zinger to a 4 year contract – Zinger, a blocking TE taken in the 7th round, could fit well with the running game, and might already be the best blocker the team has at the position. Still, he’s probably the 3rd stringer behind Ben Hartsock and Martrez Milner at this point.
6/10: Waived TE George Cooper – With the Zinger signing, the Falcons had 6 tight ends under contract, and that was an unnecessarily high number. Cooper got the ax as a result.
6/10: Signed CB Chevis Jackson and S Thomas DeCoud – The two defensive backs taken in the 3rd round figure to factor quickly into Brian VanGorder’s defense. Jackson could see time in Nickel packages and might challenge Chris Houston for his starting spot. DeCoud can play either safety position and might be the primary backup at both.
6/17: Signed CB Wilroy Fontenot – The 7th round pick is looking at 3rd string duty, or might wind up on the practice squad.
6/17: Released FS Jimmy Williams – The team’s top pick from the 2006 draft had a short but disappointing tenure in Atlanta. Williams never took to any position, and had let his weight balloon in recent weeks to more than 230 pounds. More of an issue than the weight was his poor play at free safety, which had dropped him all the way to 4th string. He was unlikely to play much this season, so this move is really nothing more than a reminder of how poorly the team drafted during the Jim Mora era.
6/18: Signed RB Thomas Brown – The local hero from UGA could knock Jason Snelling off the roster, as Brown is an ideal 3rd down back, a hard worker in the weight room, and a natural leader on and off the field. He’ll also challenge for kick return duties.
6/20: Signed S Deke Cooper and WR Harry Douglas – Cooper, a local guy, could make the team as a 3rd string safety. Douglas, a 3rd round pick this year, made a big splash at mini-camp and could play in the slot earlier than expected.
6/20: Released OT Michael Butterworth, DE Derrick Jones, S Jamal Lewis, and OL Kurt Quarterman – Butterworth and Quarterman were unlikely to factor along the line this year. The same goes for Derrick Jones at defensive end, one of the deeper positions on the roster. Jamal Lewis might have played a role on special teams, but he is considered too raw for safety play, and that’s probably what cost him a spot.
6/23: Released C Doug Datish - Datish was 4th string and wasn’t going to factor into the guard rotation, so the cut was a logical one given roster limitations.
Brent Blackwell
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