(With a bizarre offseason that has included the hiring of new coach, a restructuring of the front office and the noise gate investigation, the Cover 9@9 took a few weeks off. But it’s back and will be here every Wednesday at 9 a.m. We’ll try to get to everything about the Atlanta Falcons from who really turned up the noise at the Georgia Dome to exactly how much those premium seat licenses will cost.-– D. Orlando Ledbetter)
1. Longtime PR man retires. Frank Kleha, who was with the Falcons for nearly three decades in the public relations department, has retired.
Kleha will be missed.
He was always helpful to the local media and went out his way to help even as team’s media relations rules/guidelines became more stringent and teams started to cater more to their "media partners" during his tenure.
He was one of ties back to the 1980s and the resident historian. If you needed an alumni player for an interview, you talked to Kleha.
Kleha, one of the nicest folks in the business, started back in 1987 and was on hand for Marion Campbell’s second tenure as head coach.
He also worked with head coaches Jerry Glanville, June Jones, Dan Reeves, Jim Mora, Bobby Petrino and Mike Smith. He was there for the only Super Bowl trip, the Jim Mora cell phone caper, the Michael Vick federal dog-fighting investigation and Petrino's bolting off to Arkansas with games left to be played.
Kleha's official title was senior director of media relations for the past nine years.
Some of Kleha’s duties included setting up media interviews for players, coaches and front office personnel with local and national reporters from newspapers, television, radio stations and respected internet sites.
Kleha worked directly on the yearly programming needs of broadcasting partners and was also the club’s publications managing editor for the media guide, NFL program and yearbook.
Kleha is a graduate of George Mason University. For five of the last six seasons, Kleha has been part of a department that was a finalist for Pete Rozelle Award by Pro Football Writers of America for outstanding service to media.
Good luck Frank!
(BTW, The Falcons weren't a PFWA Rozelle award finalist last year after Smith kicked the media out of practice after four decades of open practices for reporting on the starting lineup, something that's recognized league-wide and is league approved. The League office allowed the pool reporter at the Super Bowl to report on Kam Chancellor's injury over the Seattle's objectives because injuries to starters and their replacements should be known to the public. Hopefully, coach Dan Quinn will return to the longstanding practice of holding open practices in Atlanta. I know Beau Bock would approve!)
2. Gurley bill: Georgia lawmakers recently passed the “Gurley bill.”
House Bill 3 – Gurley’s uniform number – stiffens the penalty for anyone who enters a contract with a student-athlete if that person or company knew the transaction would jeopardize that athlete’s scholarship, eligibility or amateur standing.
The offense could lead to jail time and a $25,000 fine.
Gurley likes the bill, but believes the athletes must remain accountable for their actions.
“Sometimes I look at my situation as a positive,” Gurley said. “I think the bill is good, but then again, at the end of the day, the athletes, like myself, have to take responsibility. You know what’s right and you know what’s wrong.
“It’s a good bill, but at the end of the day, you have to make the right decisions for yourself.”
3. Holliday on Quinn: Back in 1998 defensive end Vonnie Holliday was drafted by the Green Bay Packers. He was a celebrated first-round draft pick, who was in line to take over for the great Reggie White.
He went on to have a solid career over 15 years. He played for Quinn in Miami and recently, on 680TheFan, credited him for his longevity.
“He taught me how to play the 3-4,” Holliday said. “He extended my career six or seven years.”
Holliday, who resides in the metro area, played 214 NFL games and made 147 starts.
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
4.Ryan's golf tournament: Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan will host a celebrity golf tournament to raise money for the Aflac Cancer Center of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and the Matt Ryan Foundation at the TPC Sugarloaf.
Several current and former players will participate. Each corporate foursome will be paired with one of the celebrities for a round of golf.
Here's the photo gallery from the 2013 outing.
5. Locals Day: The players on hand for the Falcons' locals day were working out in the barn Tuesday afternoon, while some of the veterans were wrapping up their workouts.
Falcons owner Arthur Blank was out at the facilities as he was likely checking up on the team's draft preparations.
Here’s a list of some of the player who attended the Falcons’ locals day workout, which was not open to the media.
James Vaughters, DE/OLB, Stanford
Mike Davis, RB, South Carolina
Tory Slater, DT/DE, West Georgia
Norman Hayes, CB, Harvard
Rory Anderson, TE, South Carolina
John Mincy, CB, Auburn
Mike Thornton, DT, Georgia
Amarlo Herrera, ILB, Georgia
Garry Peters, CB, Clemson
DeAndre Smelter, WR, Georgia Tech
Zach Laskey, FB, Georgia Tech
Eric Newman, TE, West Georgia
Dondre Purnell, WR, Stillman
Gary Wilkins Jr., LB, Furman (Son of former Georgia Tech and Falcons TE/H-Back Gary Wilkins, who played for the Falcons from 1998-1991)
6. Offseason program started: The Falcons offseason workout program started on Monday. On Tuesday, defensive tackle Paul Soliai looked worn out walking to his car after his workout.
Under the rules for Phase One of the offseason program, new coach Dan Quinn can't attend.
The two weeks are for strength and conditioning and rehab exercises only.
Strength and conditioning coaches can be involved, but no other members of the coaching staff.
Footballs are not allowed and quarterback can only throw to uncovered wide receivers.
Quinn and a couple of players will be available Thursday to give us an update on what the strength and conditioning coaches have reported.
7. ICYMI: MOCK DRAFT 1.0 is right here! We'll drop 2.0 at 7 a.m. Friday. Our position-by-position draft series is slated to kick off next Wednesday.
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
8. THE JULIO PLAN: Received this e-mail from Falcons fan Christopher Jacobs. He has some thoughts on how to handle Julio Jones' contract situation. I'm not sure that super agent Jimmy Sexton will go for this, but it's a plan.
"Hey D.
"Tell me what you think about this. Prior to the draft the Falcons should go ahead and offer Julio Jones the third highest contract for a receiver...not highest paid. If he takes it we get it done and move on. If he doesn't, then trade him to the Raiders for their number 4 pick. They will definitely take him as they love speed and need a receiver. Then we can get our pass rusher and another top tier receiver or 2 pass rushers and a receiver in the second round.
"My point...we cannot let him kill our payroll. He is very valuable but receivers are only as good as their quarterback. You can't show me many free agent receivers that went on to be game changers without a good quarterback.
"What do you think? If you agree please write about it with hopes that someone will listen :-).
"Thanks. And keep up the great work!"
Well, Chris I'm sure those are valid concerns that the Falcons must consider. But Jones' agent is known to drive a hard bargain.
The Falcons may want to be proactive or they could wait for the Dez Bryant and Demariyus Thomas deals to get done.
9. Projected Depth Charter: Going to offer Coach Quinn my depth chart on Thursday and maybe he'll reciprocate and turn over his depth chart to share with y'all. But for now, here's what my projected depth chart looks like heading into the draft:
DEFENSE
DE – Adrian Clayborn, Malliciah Goodman, Cliff Matthews
DT — Paul Soliai, Ricky Havili-Heimuli
DT -- Jonathan Babineaux, Tyson Jackson
DE — Ra’Shede Hagemen, Kroy Biermann, Stansly Maponga
SLB — Brooks Reed, Prince Shembo, Jacques Smith
MLB — Paul Worrilow, Nate Stupar
WLB — Justin Durant, O’Brien Schofield, Marquis Spruill/Joplo Bartu, Allen Bradford, Tyler Starr
LCB — Desmond Trufant, Jordan Mabin, Brandan Bishop
SS — William Moore, Kemal Ishmael, Sean Baker
FS – Dezmen Southward, Charles Godfrey, Zeke Motta
RCB — Robert Alford, Phillip Adams, Ricardo Allen
NCB — Phillip Adams, Ricardo Allen, Dezmen Southward
OFFENSE
WR — Roddy White, Leonard Hankerson, Freddie Martino, Nick Williams
TE — Levine Toilolo, Jacob Tamme, Tony Moeaki, Mickey Shuler, Kyle Miller
RT – Jake Matthews, Ryan Schraeder, Reid Fragel
RG — Jon Asamoah, Peter Konz
C — Joe Hawley, James Stone, Peter Konz
LG — Mike Person, Harland Gunn, Adam Replogle
LT — Sam Baker, Lamar Holmes
WR — Julio Jones, Devin Hester, Eric Weems, Bernard Reedy
FB — Patrick DiMarco
RB- — Devonta Freeman, Antone Smith, Jerome Smith, Ronnie Wingo
QB — Matt Ryan, T.J. Yates, Sean Renfree
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK — Matt Bryant
P — Matt Bosher
KR — Devin Hester, Eric Weems
PR — Devin Hester, Eric Weems
LS — Josh Harris
NFL DRAFT CORNER
D. Led's Mock 1.0: Falcons select Todd Gurley with 8th overall pick
Falcons set to work on Vic Beasley in Clemson
Stanford's James Vaughters to participate in Falcons' locals day
FALCONS COMBINE MEETINGS
Oregon DE Arik Armstead talked scheme with the Falcons
Falcons met with Alabama quarterback Blake Sims
Falcons to meet with Florida DE Dante Fowler Jr.
Falcons met with Wake Forest CB Kevin Johnson
Falcons met with Alabama safety Landon Collins
COLLEGE PRO DAY VISITS
SOUTH CAROLINA: Ex-Gamecock Davis leans on brother for NFL help
SOUTH CAROLINA: RB Mike Davis (Stephenson High) has strong showing
GEORGIA: Todd Gurley reflects on his career in Athens
GEORGIA: Quarterack Hutson Mason has solid showing at Pro Day
GEORGIA: Chris Conley performed well in position drills
GEORGIA TECH: Synjyn Days hopes to run to daylight in NFL
GEORGIA TECH: VIDEO -- Head coach Paul Johnson
ALABAMA: Amari Cooper aiming to be top wide receiver in the draft
ALABAMA: VIDEO: Amari Cooper on his draft status
ALABAMA: Lineman Austin Shepherd has met with the Falcons
CLEMSON: Vic Beasley would love to play for the Falcons
