Falcons’ McClure says he’s not retiring

FLOWERY BRANCH - Falcons center Todd McClure debunked Internet chatter that he’s planning to retire.

A few months ago, the popular Web site ProFootballTalk.com, wrote that McClure planned to retire if his contract was not renegotiated.

The site dusted off the rumor after the Falcons signed Jeremy Newberry on Monday. The former Pro Bowl center was fashioned as insurance if McClure walked.

“That ain’t going to happen,” McClure said Wednesday. “I think Newberry was a great addition. He’s been to the Pro Bowl twice. He can play guard or center. He’s a veteran guy who can be there in case somebody goes down.”

Robb Nelson, McClure’s agent, said the report was a “mischaracterization” of his client’s situation. The Falcons acknowledged that McClure has been playing at a high level, but do not talk about contract re-negotiations.

“No man, I’ve got a contract,” McClure said when asked if he was retiring. “I’ve been here. I haven’t missed a day of [organized team activities], mini-camps or nothing. I’m as fired up as I’ve ever been about being a Falcon right now. This is an exciting season that we’ve got coming up.”

McClure made the team after being drafted in the seventh round of the 1999 draft. He has started 134 of 136 games, including the past 112 in a row.

“I’m going to play until the wheels fall off,” McClure said. “I’m going to play until I get 31 No’s [from other teams]. Bob Whitfield told me that. He said, ‘keep playing to you get 31 No’s.’ “

McClure has turned in two stellar seasons, but has been overlooked league-wide. He has anchored three units that have led the league in rushing and last season’s that finished second. The entire line that paved the way for Michael Turner’s 1,699 yards in 2008 appears to being returning intact.

“It’s different at this point in my career here, it seems like I was always playing next to somebody different,” McClure said. “To be able to have that continuity and have the guys come back, have a year under your belt makes everybody stronger.

“I can’t say that I’ve been more excited throughout my whole career than I’ve been this offseason.”

Along the offensive line

Newberry said he has been working at guard since joining the Falcons. A 12-year veteran, Newberry played some tackle early in his career.

“I don’t think they’ll move me back to tackle anytime soon,” Newberry said. “That was an experiment that went wrong my rookie year.”

In another roster move along the line, the Falcons released Alex Stepanovich on Wednesday. He played in four games last season, his only one with the Falcons, mainly on special teams.

Last OTA

The Falcons will complete their last OTA session Thursday and break for the summer. The team will hold its first training camp practice Aug. 1.

“To sum it up, we’ve been able to put in 85 to 90 percent of our scheme,” coach Mike Smith said. “We have gone over a lot of situations.”

Smith was particularly detail-oriented.

“We wound up this week working on some specifics,” Smith said. “Things that don’t necessarily occur quite often in a game, things like being backed up. Some special situations in the kicking game as well.”

During OTAs, the Falcons have spent a lot of time on the passing game, in which the focus for quarterback Matt Ryan was on making better decisions and being more accurate with his passes.

“I don’t think those two traits can be overlooked,” Smith said. “That’s what we emphasized with Matt.”