Falcons keep Shockley, cut Harrington

Quarterback D.J. Shockley, wide receivers Brian Finneran and Adam Jennings and tailback Jason Snelling made the cut. Quarterback Joey Harrington and guard Kynan Forney didn’t.

The Falcons got their roster to the NFL limit of 53 on Saturday, choosing to keep local product and fan favorite Shockley as their No. 3 quarterback to back up rookie starter Matt Ryan and No. 2 quarterback Chris Redman.

Harrington, the third overall pick in the 2002 draft and a starter for 10 games last season, was the odd man out in an open quarterback competition that completely shook up the Falcons’ quarterback rotation from last season.

“I’m satisfied with the process we went through to get to this point, including [offseason workouts], mini-camp, training camp and the preseason,” general manager Thomas Dimitroff said in a statement released by the team. “Our coaching staff did a good job guiding our players over the past five months, and I’m very proud of the team our staff put together. I’m looking forward to starting the regular season.”

The Falcons also placed rookie running back Thomas Brown, a seventh-round draft pick, on injured reserve, with a torn abductor muscle near his groin. Brown suffered the injury in Thursday’s exhibition finale when he was the victim of an illegal horse-collar tackle by Ravens linebacker Gary Stills, who was assessed a personal-foul penalty on the play.

Brown, who appeared to have the edge in a neck-and-neck battle with Snelling for the No. 3 tailback job, is done for the season. Surgery is not believed to be needed, although the team did not specify the future course of action for the former player at UGA and Tucker High.

Brown projected to be the leading kick-returner, but with him out, backup tailback Jerious Norwood would likely assume the role.

Besides the decision to retain Shockley, Dimitroff and the coaching staff also chose to keep six wide receivers, avoiding the scenario where they had to decide between Finneran and Jennings.

Finneran missed the past two seasons after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in the same knee. His diligence during his rehabilitation and strong training camp on offense and on special teams seemingly earned him the No. 4 or No. 5 wide receiver position ahead of Jennings.

Jennings, though, is the top option at punt returner. He had two solid games to conclude the preseason, making it difficult to cut him loose.

Even so, some of the bubble players can’t get secure because the Falcons could add a tight end, a lineman on offense or defense or a defensive back once it gets a chance to sign players released by other teams.

The Falcons could have their eyes on a strong safety because they cut both backups to starter Lawyer Milloy: Deke Cooper and Daren Stone. Antoine Harris and rookie Thomas DeCoud could fill the role, but both are better suited at free safety.

The Falcons kept only three tight ends — Ben Hartsock, Matrez Milner and Jason Rader — at arguably their most thin position. They also shed some beef on their defensive interior with the release of NT Rashad Moore.

The move to dump Forney was two-fold. The longtime starter had lost his position to nasty upstart Harvey Dahl and shown little resolve to earn it back. He also was scheduled to earn $2.95 million — too hefty a price tag for a backup lineman who couldn’t play a position other than guard.

Two of seven draft picks were released: cornerback Wilrey Fontenot and tight end Keith Zinger. Both are prospects to be on the nine-man practice squad. (The Falcons get an additional player because WR Noriaki Kinoshita is a member of the international player practice squad program.)

Falcons’ roster moves

Players cut

OL D’Anthony Batiste

S Eric Brock

OL Michael Butterworth

S Deke Cooper

C Doug Datish

DE Willie Evans

QB Joey Harrington

CB Wilrey Fontenot

OL Kynan Forney

DE Brandon Miller

DT Rashad Moore

OL Terrance Pennington

LB Mickey Pimentel

TE Marcus Pollard

CB Glenn Sharpe

DT Montavious Stanley

S Daren Stone

LB Cameron Vaughn

WR Eric Weems

WR Chandler Williams

TE Keith Zinger

Placed on injured reserve

RB Thomas Brown