Falcons release three players

By D. ORLANDO LEDBETTER

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Flowery Branch -- Tight end Ben Hartsock and defensive back Von Hutchins, members of a touted 2008 free-agent class, were released by the Falcons on Tuesday.

The team also released defensive end Willie Evans.

After the Falcons made a trade for cornerback Tye Hill on Tuesday, they had 76 players on their roster and needed to get to the league-required limit of 75 players by 4 p.m. The release of Hartsock, Hutchins and Evans left them with 73.

NFL teams must cut their rosters to 53 players by Saturday afternoon.

“They’ve done a nice job while they were here,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “But it was a football decision that we made, and we’re going to be making a lot more decisions as we move down to our 53-man roster through the weekend.”

Over the 2008 offseason, when the Falcons signed running back Michael Turner, they also added Hartsock and Hutchins.

Hartsock, a blocking tight end who caught only three passes last season, signed a four-year, $9 million deal with $2.25 million guaranteed. Hutchins, who spent last season on injured reserve after suffering a Lisfranc fracture in his foot, signed a four-year, $9 million deal, with $2.35 million guaranteed.

Etc.

● Keith Zinger and Jason Rader are in a battle for the final tight end position behind Tony Gonzalez and Justin Peelle. “I think that the other two guys that are still on our roster are viable options,” Smith said. “It’s going to be very important for both of those guys ... to perform well in the game this week.”

● Center Todd McClure and defensive end John Abraham, among the veterans who will play sparingly Thursday night in the exhibition finale against the Ravens, did not practice Tuesday.

● While the starters will not play much, the first-team secondary will be under scrutiny. “We got a little dented from last week’s game, but they came back this week and have worked hard,” said Emmitt Thomas, assistant head coach/secondary. “We are eager to put that behind us.”

● Offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey likes the play of two recently acquired players — veteran wide receivers Marty Booker and Robert Ferguson. “Booker, against San Diego made plays inside and outside,” Mularkey said. “Ferguson made plays outside. They both have enough experience to know what it takes to play in this league. They’ve done well for being here for a short time.”