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Latest Falcons Player Notes

Sep 1 2010 - Sean Weatherspoon
LB Sean Weatherspoon is being groomed to start at the strong-side linebacker position, while also being taught the weak side. He likely won't come off the field and should be a four-down player.

Sep 1 2010 - Todd McClure
C Todd McClure, with 128 consecutive starts, will break the franchise record held by Keith Brooking (2000-2008) in the season opener.

Sep 1 2010 - Corey Peters
DT Corey Peters, a third-round pick, suffered a knee sprain in the preseason but is expected to get 10 to 20 snaps in the defensive tackle rotation.

Sep 1 2010 - Matt Giordano
S Matt Giordano was terminated with an injury settlement in order to reduce the roster to 75 per the NFL rules.

Sep 1 2010 - Thomas Johnson
Defensive tackle Thomas Johnson, who started 10 games last season for the Falcons, was waived injured on Tuesday.

Aug 29 2010 - Christopher Owens
CB Christopher Owens is coming on at cornerback. He broke up a third-down pass from Dolphins' QB Chad Henne to WR Brandon Marshall that kept Miami from converting a first down and forced them to settle for field goal.

Aug 29 2010 - Kroy Biermann
DE Kroy Biermann continues to make his push for a starting job. He recorded his third sack of the preseason against Miami for a nine yard loss on third down. Biermann has registered a sack in all three of the Falcons preseason games, including strip sacks against the Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots.

Aug 29 2010 - Sean Weatherspoon
LB Sean Weatherspoon made his third start in the preseason. Weatherspoon finished the Miami game with four tackles and showed his tenacity by dragging Ricky Williams down on a pass play.

Aug 29 2010 - Erik Coleman
S Erik Coleman made an interception on a ball that was tipped by Mike Peterson to stop a Miami scoring threat.

Aug 29 2010 - Lawrence Sidbury
DE Laurence Sidbury recorded his second sack of the preseason when he brought down QB Pat White for an eight-yard loss on a first down play in the fourth quarter.

Aug 29 2010 - Michael Turner
RB Michael Turner, in the regular season tune-up, carried the ball 16 times for 47 yards as the Falcons faced a 3-4 defense for the third straight week.

Aug 23 2010 - Dunta Robinson
CB Dunta Robinson hopes he'll be on the field in a Falcons' uniform for the first time this preseason for Friday's game against the Dolphins. Robinson has been slowed by a hamstring issue.

Aug 22 2010 - Justin Peelle
TE Justin Peelle had three receptions for 30 yards against New England.

Aug 22 2010 - John Parker Wilson
QB John Parker Wilson threw his first NFL touchdown pass, a 19-yarder to Troy Bergeron. In his most extensive NFL action, he completed 14 of 25 passes for 98 yards against New England.

Aug 22 2010 - Lawrence Sidbury
DE Lawrence Sidbury had four tackles and sack against New England.

Aug 22 2010 - Michael Turner
RB Michael Turner, after never having a season with more than six catches, has three catches for 15 yards in the first two exhibition games.

Aug 22 2010 - Harry Douglas
WR Harry Douglas, playing in his first action since the wildcard play against Arizona on Jan. 2, 2009, caught two passes for 13 yards in the second exhibition game against New England.

Aug 22 2010 - Matt Bryant
PK Matt Bryant, who was signed late last season, won the kicking competition. The Falcons released kicker Steven Hauschka. Hauschka and Bryant missed field goals in the exhibition season opener against Kansas City. Hauschka missed a 53-yarder and Bryant missed a 50-yarder, but it had plenty of distance, but sailed wide right. Bryant also missed a 46-yarder against New England. It sailed wide to the right. Hauschka opened last season with the Baltimore Ravens, beating out the legendary Matt Stover. Bryant was cut by Tampa Bay and re-surfaced in the United Football League.

Aug 22 2010 - Trey Lewis
DT Trey Lewis is making a strong bid to retain his roster spot. He's been very disruptive and is moving the line of scrimmage.

Aug 22 2010 - Sean Weatherspoon
LB Sean Weatherspoon has started the first two exhibition games, but coach Mike Smith is not ready to declare him a regular-season starter. Weatherspoon started for Mike Peterson at weakside linebacker against Kansas City and started for Stephen Nicholas at strongside against New England. He has made some rookie mistakes. The team is waiting to announce the starters after the third exhibition game.

Aug 22 2010 - Kroy Biermann
DE Kroy Biermann, a fifth-round pick in 2008 and Lawrence Sidbury, a fourth-round pick in 2009, are showing enough promise that the Falcons believe they'll have a solid talent opposite John Abraham in 2010. Biermann and Sidbury had tremendous offseason workouts and continued to produce in training camp. Falcons' head coach Mike Smith stopped just short of declaring Biermann the starter after he has posted two sacks and two forced fumbles during the preseason. "There's no doubt about it," Smith said. "Production is what it's all about, and Kroy is definitely making a statement with his play."

Aug 20 2010 - Kerry Meier
WR Kerry Meier was placed on injured reserve. He suffered a knee injury Thursday against the Patriots. Meier was the Falcons' fifth-round pick in 2010.

Aug 20 2010 - Jamaal Anderson
DE Jamaal Anderson showed flashes of promise earlier in training camp, but that was before he suffered a left knee sprain this week. Still, the former Arkansas standout has essentially moved from end to tackle and, while he may have some matchup advantages inside over some slower guards, Anderson might struggle to even maker the team. --Len Pasquarelli

Aug 20 2010 - Michael Turner
RB Michael Turner made headlines (literally, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution put it in bold print) with a six-yard reception against the Patriots on Thursday night. But the Falcons plan to involve Turner and all of their backs in the passing game frequently this season. Turner insisted this week he can catch the ball and QB coach Bill Musgrave confirmed that the Atlanta standout -- still the fulcrum of the club's offense despite the presence of Ryan -- is a good receiver. But Musgrave was also adamant that, despite the empha sis on throwing the ball to the backs in '10, the Falcons won't force things. "It's a mentality," he said, "and it has to come naturally. Your quarterback has to know that it's OK to do it." --Len Pasquarelli

Aug 17 2010 - Maurice Lucas
DE Maurice Lucas signed with the Falcons. He finished last season on the team's practice squad but had his contract terminated in February.

Aug 17 2010 - Matt Bryant
PK Matt Bryant appears to have won the Falcons' kicking job after Steven Hauschka was waived Monday.

Aug 17 2010 - Dominique Daniels
CB Dominique Daniels re-signed with Atlanta. He had been released by the team in June.

Aug 16 2010 - Daylan Walker
CB Daylan Walker (undisclosed) was placed on injured waivers by Atlanta. Walker totaled 152 total tackles and three interceptions in his four-year career at Arkansas State. He was originally signed as a rookie free agent.

Aug 16 2010 - Eric Brock
S Eric Brock signed with Atlanta. Brock, 6-0, 204 pounds, spent the majority of the 2008 and 2009 campaigns on the team's practice squad. In 2009, he was released by Atlanta following training camp, but was re-signed to the practice squad on October 27. He was elevated to the active roster on December 22, 2009, appearing in the final two games of the 2009 season on special teams. A graduate of Auburn University, Brock finished fifth on the defense with 59 tackles for the Tigers in 2007.

Aug 15 2010 - Shann Schillinger
FS Shann Schillinger, a rookie sixth-round draft pick from Montana, had a nice interception. He also showed some speed on his 29-yard return.

Aug 12 2010 - Dunta Robinson
CB Dunta Robinson, the Falcons' prime free agent signing this offseason, won't play in the preseason opener. Coach Mike Smith wants to see him on the practice field regularly first. He's been shut down with hamstring tightness. "Dunta has not practiced and he will not participate," Smith said of his availability for the opener Friday night. "Not to go in depth with each guy, but there is going to be somewhere between nine and 11 guys that will probably not participate in the game on Friday night."

Aug 12 2010 - Harry Douglas
WR Harry Douglas is on pace to play as soon as next week, coach Mike Smith said Thursday. Douglas turned in solid rookie season and appeared ready to have a strong sophomore season before being lost to a knee injury early last training camp. "He will get some limited snaps in the ballgame next week. He has definitely been ruled out for this week's game," Smith said.

Aug 10 2010 - Michael Jenkins
WR Michael Jenkins will miss four to six weeks with a shoulder injury, but will not need surgery. "It is just a matter of rest," said coach Mike Smith. "The doctor is saying he will need 4-6 weeks."

Aug 8 2010 - Michael Jenkins
WR Michael Jenkins will miss four to six weeks with a shoulder injury. "You are always concerned anytime any of your players goes down with an injury," said Falcons head coach Mike Smith. "One thing I am certain of is that Michael will work very hard with our athletic performance staff and our training staff to get back out on the field as soon as possible."

Aug 8 2010 - William Moore
SS William Moore, who playing sparingly as a rookie, showed his hitting prowess when he separated wide receiver Andy Strickland from the ball and caused a fumble in the intrasquad scrimmage.

Aug 8 2010 - Antone Smith
RB Antone Smith, who was with four teams last season and ended the season on the Falcons' practice squad, and Dimitri Nance, an undrafted rookie free agent from Arizona State, look good early in camp. Smith scored on a screen pass that covered 40-yards in the intrasquad scrimmage. Nance run hard in traffic when he got some carries.

Aug 8 2010 - Michael Koenen
K Michael Koenen won't likely relinquish kickoff duties regardless of whether Steven Hauschka or Matt Bryant wins the place-kicking battle. "Michael Koenen does an outstanding job of that," coach Mike Smith said. "He was one of the top players in the league in touchbacks last season. It does give us some flexibility in terms of how we want to put our roster together. To have a kicker who can do multiple tasks."

Aug 8 2010 - Stephen Nicholas
LB Stephen Nicholas could win one of the starting outside linebacker jobs. He's competing with Mike Peterson and rookie Sean Weatherspoon. "Stephen continues to get better. Stephen really has value for us is that he's a very physical football player when you put him in the box, he can spill the bubble and I think that's very, very important," coach Mike Smith said. If Nicholas doesn't win the spot, he'll still be a key cog of the special teams.

Aug 8 2010 - Sean Weatherspoon
LB Sean Weatherspoon in fighting to win one of the starting outside linebacker spots. The team will pick between Weatherspoon and veterans Stephen Nicholas and Mike Peterson. "There are three guys competing for the two spots at our outside linebacker positions," coach Mike Smith said. "Stephen continues to get better. Stephen really has value for us is that he's a very physical football player when you put him in the box, he can spill the bubble and I think that's very, very important." If Nicholas doesn't win the spot, he'll still be a key cog of the special teams.

Aug 8 2010 - Christopher Owens
CB Christopher Owens, who finished the season as the starting left cornerback, could end up in a battle with Chevis Jackson for the nickel back spot. "I'm learning the nickel spot as well as the corner spot," Owens said. "Like I said, last year I was learning and I got a couple of starts under my belt. After a year and offseason, I feel real comfortable." Owens played well down the stretch last season and was tough coming up in run support.

Aug 7 2010 - Michael Jenkins
WR Michael Jenkins suffered what appeared to be a shoulder injury Friday night, and the Falcons are awaiting word on the extent of the injury.

Aug 6 2010 - Matt Bryant
PKs Matt Bryant and Steve Hauschka remain in an open competition. "Normally, most teams bring in one kicker on their 80-man roster. When you have an 85-man roster, maybe there were times where there were two kickers on your roster," said coach Mike Smith. "When you have competition, and we want to have that competition at the kicker position, you've got to have two guys in here to compete and have the opportunity to kick in games. It'll be very interesting through the first three preseason games. Both of those guys are going to get an opportunity to kick field goals, so hopefully it will become very clear on who's going to be our kicker."

Aug 3 2010 - Jerious Norwood
RB Jerious Norwood (hip flexor) is expected to sit out the rest of this week's practice, including Friday's scrimmage, according to coach Mike Smith.

Aug 3 2010 - Jonathan Babineaux
DT Jonathan Babineaux has been suspended for one game, according to FOXSports.com's Alex Marvez. He was stopped with three bags of marijuana in his car last December, and recently plead no contest to three misdemeanor counts of intent to deliver.

Aug 2 2010 - Jerious Norwood
RB Jerious Norwood has a hip flexor near the same place he had an injury last year. "It's not the same injury but it's in the same general area, but it is not the same injury," said coach Mike Smith. "He'll come out and try to do something this afternoon based on how he felt with his treatment in the training room this morning."

Aug 1 2010 - Shann Schillinger
FS Shann Schillinger, the Montana product, is holding his own. He looks good in coverage.

Aug 1 2010 - Kerry Meier
WR Kerry Meier has shown good hands and route-running ability.

Aug 1 2010 - Sean Weatherspoon
LB Sean Weatherspoon doesn't appear to be overwhelmed even though the coaches are using him at both outside linebacker positions.

Aug 1 2010 - Sean Weatherspoon
LB Sean Weatherspoon has been impressive working out and both outside linebacker spots. He will compete for a starting position.

Aug 1 2010 - Dominique Franks
CB Domonique Franks will get a shot to win the kickoff return job. Last season, Eric Weems handled punts and kickoffs. Jerious Norwood is also a candidate.