AJC > Sports > Falcons > Training Camp Blog > Archives > 2006 > July > 27
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Jimmy Williams reaches The Branch
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Right at 4:50 p.m., sidling up in street clothes, about 10 minutes before the final horn sounded. His status was literally up in the air, or airplanes, that is, all day.
Later on, the 2nd-round pick out of Virginia Tech described his crazy travel ordeal from Blacksburg to Flowery Branch, via Hampton, Va. Missed a plane, etc.
“I’m here but it’s been a long day,” said Williams, wearing a Yankees cap and some casual attire including Nike socks and sandals. “I wanted to go out there today, but I’m just glad to be in the NFL.”
He’s not letting himself get pinned to any timetable for fitting in with the defense, or possibly starting. But his fellow ex-Hokie and fellow corner DeAngelo?
Jimmy refers to him as “Mr. Hall.”
So now the full complement of Falcons have flown in.
Also here is New York Times columnist William Rhoden, author of a recent book, “Forty Million Dollar Slaves,” a diatribe against how he believes African-American athletes have been treated throughout history.
Rhoden didn’t make it outside with the rest of us Media Sweathogs, except to appear on 790 The Zone while 2 Live Stews rested their considerable lungs for a while. Not even the music can drown them out. Wish they’d crank up some Zeppelin just now.
Some drillin’ and grillin’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Correction to an earlier post: Alge Crumpler is here, and is working out with the No. 1 offense. The only notable no-show is newly-signed draft pick Jimmy Williams, whom we’re told is on the way. Maybe he’s stuck in traffic on I-85, finding out how Great Gwinnett Is.
The Falcons just went through some 11 vs. 11 drills, and they were pretty high tempo. Rookie RB Jerious Norwood made some smooth moves through the No. 2 defense, causing a radio type to coo:
“He’s a gliiiiiiiiider!”
And Norwood is. Very, very smooth. He looks terrific.
A moment or two before that, Vick hurled a high, floating pass around 40 yards or so toward Roddy White in the end zone, but overthrew him. In fact, the pigskin dropped nearly straight down on the turf. Some media types gave a Falcons’ flak-catcher some serious flak:
“Awwwwwwwwwwwwww!”
To which the flak-catcher said, with a huge grin: “You don’t want to peak too early!”
The AJC’s Falcons beat writer, Steve Wyche, says this little stretch of practice was pretty intense for the early nature of practice. Lotsa barking out there by players and coaches, and Jim Mora was up in the middle of it. Everybody’s rather animated. They know Uncle Arthur is watching. Always watching.
Near the end of the drills, This Blogger and some of her cohorts nearly became part of a play when Bryan Randall floated a looping, end-over-end ball to Cole “Sunshine” Magner near the sideline. An onlooking scribe made a toss back to the huddle that was a near-perfect spiral.
Beau Bock wears Crocs
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Yes, yes he does. LIME GREEN ONES! His feet look like sherbet. It made it seem a bit cooler outside, that and a brief spell of wind.
Arthur Blank is here, natch, wearing a red “Falcons” shirt, with beige shorts. The Owner was strolling on the field as non-contact drills began, and almost waltzed right into a frozen rope thrown by Michael Vick.
Don’t think Uncle Arthur is eager, agitated for this season? Not with the reinforcements he authorized in the off-season, especially on the defense. Eight and eight ain’t so great, but the murmurs among The Fourth Estate include this: Did they do enough? These guys seem good on paper, and the paper on which they signed for signficant bucks is real enough.
Rich McKay is also here, the GM rumored to be among the 11 finalists for the NFL commissioners jobs. Some interviews start tomorrow.
Don’t see Alge Crumpler out here. Not yet.
The selling of training camp
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Flowery Branch — The Boss Man said 45 minutes might not be enough time to get here, aka Uncle Arthur’s Pigskin Palace in the Boonies, from the office in Downtown Atlanta.
But This Restless Native Blogger weaseled her way through the front gates at the Atlanta Falcons complex, past the overheated, huddled masses of about 30 or 40 fans, in precisely that amount of time. And while niftily navigating her way through stop-ang-go traffic from the Gwinnett Is Purgatory water tower sign northward, including the fresh hell that is Highway 316 construction.
And all the while listening to the pillbox oratory of Chuck Smith on 790 The Zone. Had to slap in the “Dire Straits” tape just to maintain a bit of sanity. Unlike O’Brien, I don’t do lyrics.
With just a few minutes before the first practice of training camp, and an even bigger crowd is settling in on the hilly grass next to the main practice field. With this being the overhyped, overmarketed NFL, they had to walk past blaring pop music, ZZ Topp, then walk through the “Falcons 365” tent, which is a whittled-down licensed merchandising outlet, overflowing with overpriced “official” balls, jerseys and helmets.
The Falcons have set up a fan zone and port-a-johns right next to the stereo blasters, which ought to be enjoyable for the pre-rock and roll generation. Folks, it is hot out here. HOT HOT HOT!
The media work room is cooler, but crowded, with assorted local media wedged in all sorts of ways. Including 790’s Beau Bock, who just stumbled in through the doors wearing a t-shirt that says “Falcons” on it. No big Atlanta sporting event is complete without him.
Back at you after the Dirty Birds have practiced a little football.
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