Good morning! Welcome to the Cover 9@9 blog. It’s our weekly list of nine things at 9 a.m. Wednesday that you need to know about the Atlanta Falcons.
1. Deion Jones' deal close. With the team set to report for training camp on Thursday (rookies) and Sunday (veterans), the Falcons are wrapping up some loose ends on the business side.
The braintrust knows that it makes for harmonious locker room when some of the top players are being retained and financially blessed.
The Grady Jarrett deal will play well to the other members of “the Brotherhood.”
The Falcons are working on a extension for wide receiver Julio Jones and middle linebacker Deon Jones.
“One down and two to go,” CBS Sports analyst Joe Corry told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution after the Jarrett deal was reached.
Deion Jones’ agent Drew Rosenhaus is reportedly in town and the parties could reach a deal by end of business on Wednesday.
In the past, general manager Thomas Dimitroff has been quick to point out the fine work of director of football operations Nick Polk in helping to get the deals completed in a timely manner.
Deion Jones is set to enter the final season of his rookie contract. The Falcons know they don’t want him to become an unrestricted free agent in 2020.
Jones has been paying attention as the team placed the franchise tag on defensive tackle Grady Jarrett and has had a protracted negotiation with wide receiver Julio Jones.
After Deion Jones, several other Falcons defenders will be up for contracts, including defensive end Vic Beasley, linebacker DeVondre Campbell and strong safety Keanu Neal. Some will leave in free agency.
Deion Jones, who was taken in the second round (52nd overall) of the 2016 draft and went to the Pro Bowl in 2017, understands the business of football.
“The connection that we’ve made through ball,” Jones said. “Like I said, we really believe in the Brotherhood. The time that I’ve had with them has been great so far. I don’t want it to e5. nd to tell you the truth.”
2. Bartkowski story. Our Steve Hummer and Curtis Compton went out to Montana to spend some time with Falcons legend Steve Bartkowski, who with his wife, Sandee, and son Pete are running the Ruby Drake Lodge. Please enjoy this wonderful story, column and the photos.
3. Position by Position preview: In order to help everyone get ready for training camp, here's the 10-part position-by-position series.
4. Signing bonus: Jarrett will receive an $18 million signing bonus.
5. Guaranteed money: In all, $42.5 million of Jarrett's deal is guaranteed.
6. League standing: Jarrett's deal averaged $17 million per year, which ranks third in the league among defensive tackles. The NFL's two highest paid interior defensive linemen, Aaron Donald ($22.5 million per year) and Fletcher Cox ($17.1 million per year).
7. Win-win for both sides. Jarrett's deal looks like a win-win for him and the team.
“Right before free agency starts, I do an article with about 10 to 15 guys and what they should be targeting,” said Corry, an Emory graduate. “I had Jarrett at $17 million per year, but $85 million over five. I had $52.5 million in overall guarantees, $37.5 million fully guaranteed at signing with $54 million over the first three years. So, this deal at $17 million per year doesn’t surprise me.”
The deal gives both sides some flexibility moving forward.
“Four (years) as opposed to five actually makes more sense,” Corry said. “If he’s continues to play at a really high level, he may only play three of the new years and they’ll renew again in his contract year.”
8. Falcons' open practice dates: Here's the schedule of the open practices:
The Falcons open the exhibition season Thursday, Aug. 1 when they play the Denver Broncos in the Pro Football Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio.
TRAINING CAMP SCHEDULE
Monday, July 22
Practice: 9:35 a.m.
OPEN - Gates: 8:30 a.m.
Tuesday, July 23
Practice: 9:35 a.m.
OPEN - Gates: 8:30 a.m.
Wednesday, July 24
Practice: 9:35 AM
OPEN - Gates: 8:30 a.m.
Thursday, July 25
Practice: 9:35 AM
OPEN - Gates: 8:30 a.m.
Friday, July 26
NO PRACTICE
Saturday, July 27
Practice: 9:35 a.m.
OPEN - Gates: 8 a.m.
Sunday, July 28
Practice: 9:35 a.m.
OPEN - Gates: 8 a.m.
Monday, July 29
Practice: 9:35 a.m.
OPEN - Gates: 8:30 a.m.
Sunday, Aug. 4 | Military Appreciation Day at Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Practice: 12:30 p.m.
OPEN - Gates: 10 a.m.
9. DEPTH CHART: Here's a look at the depth chart heading into training camp:
OFFENSE
WR 11 Julio Jones, 14, Justin Hardy, 83 Russell Gage, 13 Christian Blake, 16 Shawn Bane
LT 70 Jake Matthews, 73 Matt Gono, 75 John Wetzel, 69 Lanard Bonner, 65 Jaelin Robinson
LG 77 James Carpenter, 60 Adam Gettis, 73 Matt Gono
C 51 Alex Mack, 71 Wes Schweitzer 61 Chandler Miller
RG 68 Jamon Brown, 63 Chris Lindstrom, 64 Sean Harlow
RT 74 Ty Sambrailo, 76 Kaleb McGary, 67 Devon Johnson
TE 81 Austin Hooper, 88 Luke Stocker, 82 Logan Paulsen, 85 Eric Saubert, 87 Jaeden Graham, 89 Alex Gray
WR 12 Mohamed Sanu, 18 Calvin Ridley, 15 Devin Gray, 19 Kahlil Lewis, 7 C.J. Worton, 17 Olamide Zaccheaus
QB 2 Matt Ryan, 8 Matt Schaub, 6 Kurt Benkert
RB 24 Devonta Freeman, 25 Ito Smith, 23 Brian Hill, 32 Qadree Ollison, 38 Kenjon Barner, 30 Tony Brooks-James, 43 Marcus Green
FB 30 Ricky Ortiz, 88 Luke Stocker, 87 Jaeden Graham
DEFENSE
DE 44 Vic Beasley Jr., 91 Chris Odom
DT 95 Jack Crawford, 96 Tyeler Davison, 94 Deadrin Senat, 50 John Cominsky, 77 Ra'Shede Hageman, 93 Michael Bennett
DT 97 Grady Jarrett, 79 Jacob Tuioti-Mariner, 92 Justin Zimmer
DE 98 Takk McKinley, 99 Adrian Clayborn, 50 John Cominsky
WLB 54 Foyesade Oluokun, 42 Duke Riley, 52 Yurik Bethune
MLB 45 Deion Jones, 55 Bruce Carter, 49 Tre Crawford, 46 Del'Shawn Phillips
SLB 59 De'Vondre Campbell, 36 Kemal Ishmael, 53 Jermaine Grace, 48 Durrant Miles
CB 26 Isaiah Oliver, 33 Blidi Wreh-Wilson, 23 Jayson Stanley
NCB 27 Damontae Kazee, 28 Jordan Miller
CB 21 Desmond Trufant, 39 Taveze Calhoun, 20 Kendall Sheffield, 32 Rashard Causey
FS 37 Ricardo Allen, 41 Sharrod Neasman, 34 Chris Cooper, 35 Jason Thompson, 43 Parker Baldwin
SS 22 Keanu Neal, 37 J.J. Wilcox, 40 Ryan Neal
SPECIALIST
K 4 Giorgio Tavecchio
KO 5 Matt Bosher
P 5 Matt Bosher
KR 38 Kenjon Barner, 18 Calvin Ridley
PR 38 Kenyon Barner, 3 Marcus Green, 16 Shawn Bane
L S 47 Josh Harris, 48 Kyle Vasey
H 5 Matt Bosher
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