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1. Rookie salary cap works for the teams. Falcons first-round pick Vic Beasley told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he expects to sign his contract with the team "soon."
Because of the rookie salary cap and the collective bargaining agreement negotiated between the league and the NFLPA, his deal will look very different from the one the Falcons signed Jamaal Anderson to back in 2007, during the pre-rookie cap era.
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Anderson, who was selected eighth overall in 2007, signed a five-year deal worth $31 million with $15.4 million guaranteed. He was promptly released in July of 2011 after his play failed to live up to his pay grade and draft status.
Beasley, who’s represented by Atlanta super-agent Todd France, can expect an increase over the deal that last season’s eighth overall pick, Justin Gilbert, signed with Cleveland. He received a four-year deal worth $12.83 million, which included a $7.6 million signing bonus.
2. Defensive line stars. Falcons defensive line coach Bryan Cox doesn't want to put too much weight on the offseason workouts. He called them "gym class."
He said the men separate from the boys when the pads go on.
But a couple of guys have stood out to him in gym class.
Grady Jarrett, Cliff Matthews and undrafted rookie Joey Mbu have been the stars of gym class.
“When you look across the defensive line you see Grady Jarrett showing some stuff and think he can come out and help,” Cox said. “You like what Cliff Matthews has done. He’s a versatile guy. He can play a bunch of different roles. He looks a little better than he has in the past.
"When you talk about Joey Mbu, as an rookie free agent coming in here, I think he's shown in gym class that he's willing to put his hands on (people), play with the proper technique and do what you're coaching him to do. Those three guys have kind of been the standouts."
3. Babineaux and Clayborn shining. Veteran Jonathan Babineaux also drew some unsolicited praise from Cox, who probably would have been a fun gym class teacher.
“Jonathan Babineaux has been consistent,” Cox said. “Jonathan and Adrian Clayborn has come in and has added a little bit of a dimension with a little bit of speed inside. He can play multiple positions. We have some guys who have come in and have looked good for us.”
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Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
4. Jalen Collins update. Falcons second round pick Jalen Collins returned to practice on Tuesday during OTAs.
“I was excited today that Collins got back on the field,” Falcons defensive coordinator Richard Smith said. “I was only able to watch him a little bit in individuals.”
5. Brooks Reed update. Linebacker Brooks Reed, the team biggest free agent signee this offseason, returned from a groin injury that was previous reported as a hamstring.
“He had hurt his groin,” Smith said. “He’d been rehabbing with the strength coaches. I was watching him in individuals (Tuesday). He looked good, but he’s a little bit rusty. He’s going to have to get in football shape. He’s fully aware of that because he’s a veteran guy and he’ll have that opportunity to do from now until we get to training camp.”
6. Justin Durant update. Justin Durant , who essentially is a replacement for linebacker Sean Weatherspoon, has been playing weakside linebacker with the first team defense.
“Love his demeanor,” Smith said. “Very focused. It means a lot to him. He’s got great leadership ability by his actions and by his words with the way he studies the game. I’ve been very impressed with the way he’s approaching everything.”
7. Congrats to Coy Wire. Congrats to former Falcons linebacker Coy Wire, who earned a regional Emmy for his work with Fox Sports South. The Stanford grad has been working hard at the broadcasting game.
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
He’s a college football analyst and appears weekly in studio on FOX Sports 1's pregame show, Fox College Saturday and other programs.
Wire is also an author, motivational speaker and sits on the board of directors for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
He resides in Atlanta with his wife and kids.
Wire, who played for the Falcons from 2008-10. He also played six seasons with the Buffalo Bills.
The awards recognize television excellence in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Asheville, North Carolina.
8. Roddy White's camp. Falcons wide receiver Roddy White is holding a football camp at Flowery Branch High on Saturday.
Campers will receive an an autograph from Roddy White, a limited edition Roddy White Football ProCamp t-shirt and a camp team photo with Roddy White.
Throughout the camp Roddy White will offer tips and instruction, highlighting the finer points of football. Participants will experience various stations specializing in fundamental football skills and will participate in touch
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
football games. Participants will be placed in small groups according to age to ensure that each child gets maximum instruction.
For more information, contact James at jdowdall@procamps.com or (513) 745-5845.
9. Babineaux 7-on-7 Camp. For 10 years, DTLR has hosted free football skills camps for metro Atlanta's underprivileged student athletes with Falcons defensive linemen Jonathan Babineaux, former Falcons and Bears standout Chauncey Davis and Baltimore Ravens Daniel Wilcox. This year former Georgia Tech star and Green Bay Packer Morgan Burnett, of College Park, will join them.
The DTLR 7-on-7 tournament will be held at 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on July 10, 2015 at Grady Stadium. DTLR will provide fr
ee t-shirts and lunch for the participants.
7-on-7 and Football Camp Information
DTLR, a Baltimore- based, independent urban retail chain has been a leading retailer in the urban fashion industry.
ROOKIE MINICAMP VIDEOS
VIDEO: Meet Falcons 2nd round pick CB Jalen Collins
VIDEO: Meet Falcons 3rd round pick RB Tevin Coleman
VIDEO: Meet Falcons 4th round pick WR Justin Hardy
VIDEO: Meet Falcons 5th round pick DT Grady Jarrett
VIDEO: Meet Falcons 7th round pick OT Jake Rodgers
VIDEO: Meet Falcons 7th round pick CB Akeem King
AJC's 2015 NFL DRAFT COVERAGE
Falcons pick Vic Beasley, pass on Todd Gurley
Scouting report: Vic Beasley the next DeMarcus Ware or a one-trick pony?
Grady Jarrett escapes fire before Falcons draft him
MARK BRADLEY COLUMN: Vic Beasley: The right pick at the right time
JEFF SCHULTZ COLUMN: Falcons' Quinn determined to fix pass rush in draft
STEVE HUMMER feature on first-round pick Vic Beasley
Falcons add CB Jalen Collins in the second round
Falcons add RB Tevin Coleman in the third round
Falcons' draft bios round 2 through 7
PHOTO GALLERY: Meet the Falcons draft class
VIDEO
Vic Beasley plans to be a double-digit sack guy
Thomas Dimitroff and Dan Quinn on the first round of the draft
Falcons coach Dan Quinn on 4th round pick WR Justin Hardy
Dimitroff and Quinn on 5th round pick DT Grady Jarrett
Quinn on 7th round pick OT Jake Rodgers
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