Falcons Q & A: Bergeron hopes to stay on roster

By D. Orlando Ledbetter

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

FLOWERY BRANCH -- Why in the world would the Falcons keep cutting Randy Moss, Reggie Bush and Antonio Bryant?

They haven't. But wide receiver Troy Bergeron, who usually plays the opposition's top speed threat in practice, appears 11 times on the team's transaction list.

Since the team placed wide receiver Brian Finneran on injured reserve this week and added Bergeron to the roster, that means the former Arena Football League star will likely finish the season on the active roster.

In a conversation with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Bergeron discusses life shuttling between the practice squad and the active roster and how the Columbus native who never played college football hopes to finally stick on a NFL roster.

Q: What's it like going back and forth between the roster and the practice squad?

A: It pretty much has been the same. I do the same things in practice that I do every week. We have a couple of injuries. A couple of people are banged up. So when they need me, they just call me. I know it looks like I'm getting cut and called back every week, but I'm really just going back and forth between the practice squad and the roster.

Q: Is it just a paperwork deal?

A: Yeah, it's the same every week. Saturday morning, if we have an injury, I go up and sign my new contract. On Monday, I'll come back and I'll get released. Then I have to wait 24 hours to clear waivers. Then on Tuesday, I'll come back and sign the practice squad contract. It's not like I didn't know what was happening every week.

Q: How does that work out for you financially?

A: (Laughing). The roster checks are a lot better than the practice squad checks. I'm not mad that it's happening. I'm just trying to stay focused and do my job. If they need me, I'll be here.

Q: Facing your old Arena Football League coach (Doug Plank) this weekend? (Plank is an assistant secondary coach with the New York Jets).

A: I know he's up there. I've talked to him a couple of times. I'm excited to go up there and talk to him.

Q: Do you feel this year is finally the year that you make the full transition to the NFL?

A: That's what I'm hoping for. This is the first time that I've stuck around with a team for the whole year. The first time, I got released here in training camp and I was in Buffalo for only three weeks. This is the first year that I've actually made a team where I'm spending the whole season with them, learning the playbook. Hopefully, this offseason I'll be prepared and going into training camp.

Q: So when you are going back and forth, do you have a lucky pen to sign your new contracts with?

A: (Laughing). No. But I had it down pact. They would say, "You know the deal." I was like, "All right."

Q: Who are some of the players you've play on the scout team?

A: In practice I try to give them the best look that I can. I have try to be Randy Moss and some of the best players in the league. I have to go out there and hopefully I give them a good look for Sunday.