FLOWERY BRANCH – The Falcons have exercised the fifth-year option on wide receiver Julio Jones today.
Falcons coach Mike Smith said last Tuesday, the team planned to have Jones around for a long time. The option will allow the team to start working on a long-term deal in the future..
The Pro Bowl wide receiver, who is recovering from foot surgery, is still working with the training staff.
“Again, I’m not going to talk about specific contractual situations,” Smith said. “I do know this, Julio Jones is going to be an Atlanta Falcons for a long, long time.”
The team elected to announce to move on its twitter account.
Smith said the Falcons expect to have Jones back for the beginning of the regular season.
“Julio is participating with our athletic performance department,” Smith said. “With (trainer) Marty Lauzon and his group. He will be able to get out on the field and do some walkthrough stuff with us when we start going.
“Our focus with Julio is one thing and that’s having him prepared for our opener, which I’m sure we’ll get the date in the next couple of days. I believe the schedule will be coming out in the next couple of days. But that’s what our focus is.
“He’s progressing well. We’re not going to do anything to hinder his time-frame in terms of getting back to work with us.”
FALCONS' DRAFT BOARD
--A look at Louisville LB Preston Brown
--A look at Iowa TE C.J. Fiedorowicz
--A look at West Virginia RB Charles Sims
--A look at Auburn DE Dee Ford
--A look at Brigham Young OLB Kyle Van Noy
--A look at Arizona State OLB/DE Carl Bradford
--A look at Missouri DE Kony Ealy
--A look at Texas Tech TE Jace Amaro
--A look at Alabama S Ha-Ha Clinton-Dix
--A look at Minnesota DT Ra'Shede Hageman
--A look at Boston College QB Chase Rettig
--A look at Oregon RB De'Anthony Thomas
--A look at Central Florida RB Storm Johnson
--A look at USC TE Xavier Grimble
--A look at Ohio State OT Jack Mewhort
--A look at Louisville S Calvin Prior
--A look at Ohio State LB Ryan Shazier
--BLOG: A list of the confirmed players at LOCALS DAY on Tuesday
--BLOG: FSU linebacker Telvin Smith visited the Falcons on Monday
--Falcons check out Towson State RB Terrance West, CB Jordan Love (UGA transfer)
--MyAJC ($): Eye-test vs. Tape-measure test: Falcons must trust their eyes during draft prep.
FALCONS REWIND
--Blog: Falcons are not switching to a 3-4 defense front, they've been using it for past 2 seasons
--Blog: New jersey numbers picked; Devin Hester to wear No. 17
--Blog: Falcons awarded three compensatory picks
--Blog: Lamar Holmes was a performance-pay leader in 2014
--Blog: Umenyiora will return in 2014, no restructured deal
--Blog: Falcons release FB Bradie Ewing
--Blog: Falcons WR Roddy White owes Mercer fan some prime tickets
--Blog: Falcons owner Arthur Blank engaged to be married.
--Blog: Former Falcons WR Kevin Cone to work out for Carolina
--Blog: Falcons re-sign defensive tackle Peria Jerry
--Blog: NFL to move forward on cleaning up 'on-field' language
--MyAJC ($): Falcons spend $80 million in free agency to buy toughness
--Las Vegas doesn't like Falcons' free agency moves
--Falcons Free Agency Tracker -- Falcons have committed $107.36 million to salaries
--Q&A with PR/KR/WR Devin Hester
--Q&A with Falcons right guard Jon Asamoah
--Q&A with Falcons defensive end Tyson Jackson
--Q&A with Falcons defensive tackle Paul Soliai
2014 NFL DRAFT CENTRAL
--Mock Draft 1.0: Falcons trade out of sixth spot to land Pryor and Ebron
--12 teams who could draft UGA star Aaron Murray
--Louisville LB Preston Brown to work out for the Falcons
--Louisville DE Marcus Smith to work out for the Falcons
--MyAJC ($): OT Greg Robinson, DE Dee Ford shine at Auburn's Pro Day
--VIDEO: Tackle Greg Robinson on Auburn's Pro Day
--VIDEO: Running back Tra Mason on Auburn's Pro Day
--Blog & VIDEO: Clemson QB Tajh Boyd has stellar Pro Day showing
--VIDEO: Clemson WR Sammy Watkins on his Pro Day
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