(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 dome to exactly how much those seat licenses will cost.-– D. Orlando Ledbetter)
1. WHAT ARE THE FALCONS HIDING?: Falcons owner Arthur Blank or president Rich McKay owe the Falcons fans some answers about this noise gate situation.
When was Roddy White fired?
How was the sound pumped into the stadium?
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Why didn’t anyone notice the extra noise?
Did the culture of the organization create an environment that tacitly – directly or indirectly – encouraged White to fabricate the “stadium experience?”
Those are just a few of the very reasonable questions that the Atlanta Falcons fans, who are being asked to shovel over bushels of money for seats in the new stadium, deserve to have answered.
Also, it was peculiar that the Falcons stated that they would not appeal the league’s penalties. Perhaps, there was a negotiated settlement reached before the penalties were released. The penalties don't seem all that "severe."
The league helped the Falcons and the Browns out by not releasing the penalties last week when throngs of media were at the owners’ meeting to ask them questions.
A few days later, the league released the penalties and the Falcons have elected to take cover behind a strongly worded statement.
Just not sure what they are trying to hide from the public.
2. SEND IN THE $90,000 FOR YOUR TWO SEATS: We're getting a lot of letters and emails like this:
"Orlando, Please let me introduce myself, I am XXXXXXXX, I live in central Florida and consider myself the number 1 Falcons fan. I will have season tickets for over 40 years when the stadium opens in 2017. I was shocked and dismayed recently when I was contacted by my psl agent and informed that if I don't pay 90,000.00 for my two seats I will not be guaranteed seats in the new stadium. I honestly couldn't believe such a thing, but was further informed I could put up a 200.00 deposit and only after everyone else had been offered seats would I be able to chose from what was left if anything. I am probably the worlds largest collector of falcons memorabilia, and have a house decorated almost totally in falcons objects, a few Braves and ATL Olympics also. My license plate is XXXXXXX. I would hope that someone of your stature in the Atlanta sports scene could bring the Falcons to task about this situation. I deserve better along with all the long time season ticket holders. I know very few if any that sit with me can afford this and will all lose our tickets. I would appreciate any assistance you could give us. Thank you for your consideration. If you have any questions of me please feel free to contact me."
3. FRIDAY NIGHT TYKES: I started binge watching the Friday Night Tykes show over the weekend.
When did it become OK for the coaches to cuss so openly around the kids? One of the coaches got into a fight in the parking lot with the kids around.
The grown-ups didn’t have enough good sense to get away from the park to settle their differences. That was an automatic suspension.
But this gets me to the recruiting of the young kids. I started a list of the players on the show who could at least play in high school and maybe in college.
Here’s Mike Carvell’s story on the college recruitment of middle schoolers. I’m OK with it as long as they spend 20 hours a month in the Public Library reading some books, too.
The Calvin Johnson Jr. Foundation, Inc., has a fundraiser titled “Catching Dreams – Going Purple in Support of Pancreatic Cancer” set for June 27 at the Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center.
There will be a silent auction, VIP reception, dinner, live music and scholarship presentation. CLICK HERE for more information.
5. SOUTH CAROLINA PRO DAY: Heading over to Columbia for South Carolina's Pro Day today.
The Falcons might be able to get some help from two local players in running back Mike Davis (Stephenson) and tight end Busta Anderson (McEachern).
Davis was slowed by injuries last season, but still managed 982 yards on 199 carries. He was 18 yard short of joining the great George Rogers as the only players in school history to have multiple 1,000-yard rushing seasons.
He’s the younger brother of former Clemson standout James Davis, who went to Douglass High and played briefly in the NFL with Cleveland and Washington in 2010.
Anderson was on the Mackey Award watch list and had 22 catches for 260 yards and a touchdown over 10 games last season. He has had a series of triceps injuries.
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
The Falcons parted ways with running backs Steven Jackson and Jacquizz Rodgers this offseason and did not sign a running back in free agency.
They did sign two tight ends in Jacob Tamme, who’s 30 and the often-injured Tony Moeaki.
Anderson is intriguing prospect, who you know is fundamentally sound after playing for coach Kyle Hochman at McEachern.
“Good initial burst and agility to gain separation off the line of scrimmage and shows good hands,” according to Rob Rang of NFLdraftscout.com. “Impressive body control and hand-eye coordination to make leaping grabs. Unlike many other "hybrid" tight end/receivers across the country, Anderson seems to enjoy the physical battles at the line of scrimmage, showing surprising strength and tenacity while blocking. He is quick and competitive when sealing the edge and works to sustain his blocks.”
In all, 17 draft-eligible Gamecock players are slated to participate, including Damiere Byrd, A.J. Cann, Ryland Culbertson, Patrick Fish, Cody Gibson, Sharrod Golightly, Tyler Hull, Nick Jones, Kadetrix Marcus, Connor McLaurin, Sidney Rhodes, Corey Robinson, J.T. Surratt, Dylan Thompson and Brison Williams.
6. WEST GEORGIA'S SLATER CREATING A BUZZ: West Georgia defensive tackle Tory Slater is creating a buzz.
Slater is scheduled to visit the Seattle Seahawks on April 15-16 and will attend the Falcons’ locals day on Tuesday.
Slater, 6-5, 290, went to Chapel Hill High in Douglasville.
7. LOCALS DAY: Stanford defensive end/outside linebacker James Vaughters and Harvard cornerback Norman Hayes are also slated to attend the Falcons' locals day on Tuesday.
8. FALCONS FREE AGENCY WRAP: Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff made a point that the team was active in free agency. He noted that the team has signed 21 players.
He's counted the 10 players that were re-signed or extended plus the 11 new players.
9. PROJECTED DEPTH CHART: Here's what the 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, 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
FALCONS STORIES
Falcons to focus on adding another cornerstone
Quinn-Dimitroff partnership off to a strong start
Q&A with Falcons head coach Dan Quinn at the combine
Falcons coach Dan Quinn fired up to watch pass-rushers
Q&A with Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff on moving forward
Falcons to keep character filter on draft picks
Falcons close to re-signing kicker Matt Bryant
Falcons LT Jake Matthews recovering from offseason surgery
Falcons plan to extend WR Julio Jones contract
Falcons could target Denver TE Julius Thomas in free agency
Falcons' roster gutting could have big names (i.e. Steven Jackson)
Cutting the Falcons roster -- Should they stay or should they go?
COMBINE STORIES
Todd Gurley speaks about autograph-signing caper
Bucs appear set to cast future with Jameis Winston
Todd Gurley intriguing prospect to NFL teams
Chris Conley puts on a dazzling show at the combine
Waller, Smelter out to prove NFL standing at the combine
VIDEO DEPARTMENT
Watch: D. Led -- Falcons news at the combine
Watch: NFL Network's Mike Mayock at the combine
Watch: Todd Gurley has interviews set up with 24 NFL teams
Watch: Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff at the combine
Watch: Falcons coach Dan Quinn at the combine
Watch: Rams GM Les Snead on the pass-rush talent at the combine
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
PHOTO GALLERIES
Photographs from the 2015 NFL scouting combine
About the Author
