No player has ever rushed for more yards with the Falcons, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that the franchise would recognize Gerald Riggs’ accomplishments.
Still, it has been 25 years since Riggs last played for the Falcons, so he was taken aback when he got word that he will receive the team’s highest honor.
“I received a phone call from a guy, at first I thought it was a joke and thought somebody was impersonating Arthur Blank,” Riggs said of the team’s owner. “But I found out that it was the real deal, and he told me that I was going to be put in the Ring of Honor.”
Riggs will become the ninth player to earn the distinction from the franchise. The ceremony will take place at halftime of the Oct. 7 game against the New York Jets at the Georgia Dome.
“I think it’s been a long time coming,” Riggs said. “You never know when it’s going to happen, but when it does, your emotions and stuff, you are not really sure where they are going to be. I’m happy about it. I think it will set in even more so when that day gets here.”
Riggs, 52, rushed for 6,631 yards over seven seasons with the Falcons. His 48 rushing touchdowns rank second to Michael Turner in franchise history.
The Falcons selected Riggs with the No. 9 overall pick in the 1982 draft out of Arizona State. He was voted to three consecutive Pro Bowl teams from 1985-87.
“Coming in and being a No. 1 draft pick, you want to accomplish the things they at least expect from you,” Riggs said. “You certainly don’t want to be a bust. So to be able to do the things that I have done, it’s great to accomplish those things and that’s really all that mattered.”
The other members of the Falcons’ Ring of Honor are running back William Andrews, quarterback Steve Bartkowski, offensive tackle Mike Kenn, defensive end Claude Humphrey, linebacker Tommy Nobis, cornerback Deion Sanders, linebacker Jessie Tuggle and center Jeff Van Note.
Sanders (2011) was the last player inducted by the team.
Banged up: The first game of the season took a toll on the Falcons' health. Four starters sat out practice Wednesday with injuries, and three others were limited.
The starters who didn’t practice were offensive tackle Sam Baker (knee), defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux (knee) and wide receivers Julio Jones (knee) and Roddy White (ankle).
The starters who participated on a limited basis were safety Thomas DeCoud (knee), cornerback Asante Samuel (thigh) and linebacker Sean Weatherspoon (knee).
In addition, key defensive line reserves Peria Jerry (knee) and Cliff Matthews (neck) were limited.
The Falcons were scheduled to practice in full pads for the entire 105-minute session Wednesday, but ended up taking them off for the final 30 minutes or so.
“We still felt our guys were still a little banged up from the game on Sunday,” coach Mike Smith said. “It was a very physical football game. With the level of physicality in that ballgame we knew we were going to have some guys still sore and we wanted to get through it, and we did that.”
Samuel did not play in the Falcons’ 23-17 loss at New Orleans on Sunday. He worked out with trainers at practice Wednesday, along with Baker, Babineaux and Jones.
White was not at practice. He was limited to 27 plays Sunday because of the ankle injury and posted on his Twitter account that fantasy players who own him shouldn’t play him if he doesn’t practice. Smith said he “anticipates (White) is going to play for us” Sunday.
Trueblood on move: It appears offensive tackle Jeremy Trueblood has moved up the depth chart a week after signing with the Falcons.
With Baker sidelined, Lamar Holmes moved from right tackle to left, and Trueblood was at right tackle during the scrimmage portion of practice. Undrafted free agent Ryan Schraeder had been the backup at both tackle positions.
The Falcons signed Trueblood last week after Holmes struggled during the preseason. Trueblood, 30, started 84 of 101 games at right tackle for Tampa Bay from 2006-12 while Holmes made his first career start Sunday.
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