FLOWERY BRANCH – Falcon coach Dan Quinn supported
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
the team’s quick decision to release linebacker Prince Shembo, who was involved in an animal cruelty case that resulted in the death of a dog.
Shembo, a promising young linebacker who was set to enter his second season and possibly make $510,000, was released by the team on Friday. Falcons owner Arthur Blank, who went through the Michael Vick federal dog fighting investigation of 2007, was involved in the decision to release Shembo.
“We felt it was best for us to handle the things that we could on the field and then also best for him to handle the things he needed to do off the field,” Quinn said.
With the case pending, Shembo cleared league-wide waivers and is now a free agent.
Shembo was expected to contend for a role in the team’s outside linebacker rotation.
“We never like to have somebody not be a part of what we are doing,” Quinn said. “I think from everybody looking inside and outside-in, we have a pretty unique thing going here. It’s unfortunate that he’s not going to be able to be a part of it, but we have guys here ready to go.”
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