5 new Falcon dads celebrate Father’s Day

FLOWERY BRANCH — After Falcons safety Erik Coleman finishes chasing wide receivers, he heads home and starts working on his diaper-changing skills.

“I can change a diaper in about 15 seconds now,” Coleman said. “I’m trying to get my time down.”

Coleman and four other Falcons have recently had children, and Coleman’s excited about his first Father’s Day after the birth of his six-month-old daughter, Carmela.

“It’s a great feeling being a father,” Coleman said. “I’m looking forward to it, to doing my best to raise her to be a responsible woman.”

Sabrina, Coleman’s wife, is plotting a low-key celebration for Coleman, who doesn’t think he’ll get a tie, the time-honored Father’s Day gift.

“I’m guessing that I will get some type of watch or something,” Coleman said. “They are good to me.”

Last season, while Coleman was terrorizing receivers on his way to leading the Falcons in solo tackles, he was attending childbirth classes and reading books on how to raise kids.

“[Punter] Michael Koenen gave us a baby book, and I read that,” Coleman said. “We tried to listen to as many people as we could.”

Although Sabrina breast-feeds Carmela, Coleman finds a way to take part in the feeding process.

“She’ll pump at night, so when I get up I can help out with the feeding,” Coleman said. “I know that it’s extremely hard. It’s like having a 24-hour a day job, so I try to help out as soon as I got home.”

Linebacker Stephen Nicholas, quarterback Chris Redman and tight ends Justin Peelle and Ben Hartsock and their wives recently have had kids.

Nicholas has a son, Stephen Jr., who is 17 months old, and his wife, Irene, is pregnant with another. As his family grows, he looks to two good examples to help him find his way as a father.

“My father and her father are definitely role models,” Nicholas said. “I definitely have gotten a lot of input from them.”

Redman knows a lot about good role models. When the Falcons broke organized team activities Thursday, he could be seen driving up Interstate 75, headed for Louisville and a Father’s Day grill-out. Redman played for his dad, Bob, in high school, and they have a close relationship.

“He’s been an inspiration my whole life,” Redman said. “I just try to pass on what he did, whether if it’s taking them out fishing or taking them out golfing. Just being there for every practice and for every game. You’ve got to be there for your kids. My dad was there, and I expect the same thing for myself.”

Redman and his wife, Ashley, had their second child, Josie May, two months ago. Her older brother, Britt, is 2 years old. As Redman got ready for his six-hour drive, he said he wasn’t expecting any big gifts, just cherishing the chance to be with family.

“It’s a long season. During the week I’m down here by myself,” Redman said. “Then, on the weekends I go home and see my family. It’s really hard to be away all week and not see them. It makes it tough. Just to be home and hangout with family will be great.”

Peelle and his wife, Sara, had their second child, Ada Jean, three months ago. She joins brother Morris. For this Father’s Day, Peelle put in a special request.

“I went up to Sara the other day and said, just give me two hours to watch the U.S. Open,” Peelle said. “Don’t buy me anything. Just take the kids for two hours.”

Peelle plans to go to breakfast with his family and then head to the beach in San Diego before getting in his time watching golf.

Hartsock and his wife, Amy, had daughter Lindsey Kate three months ago. She has a big sister Whitney. Long before Hartsock’s two girls came along, he was a big fan of Father’s Day.

“It’s your day,” Hartsock said. “Father’s Day growing up was a day for Dad. Now that I’m a Dad, I get to enjoy it.”

The Hartsocks plan to take the girls to a Monkey Joe’s and let them play — and he already knows about his gift.

“My wife surprised me with a trip,” Hartsock said. “A group of guys from church are going on a guys get-away for the day. Just hanging out with the boys for some Christian fellowship.”