Character part of Falcons' evaluation process
INDIANAPOLIS -- Despite the temptation to select players who may have a character issue or two, the Falcons plan to continue concentrating on players with high standards and good moral character.
The Falcons are taking part in the NFL scouting combine here and have interviewed players late into the evenings. In the team's post-Michael Vick era, they have red-flagged players with checkered pasts.
The team will continue its practice of removing players from consideration who they feel will not fit into their close-knit locker room.
"We are very particular about our locker room, and we've worked very hard to make sure we get a cohesive unit in there," general manger Thomas Dimitroff said Friday. "As much as I think at times that we'd like to open up a little bit and think that we could add the challenging soul, it's so nice as it is, and it's so cohesive right now, that you don't want to let go of how good we have it in the locker room."
Linebacker Martrez Wilson (out of Illinois), defensive end Robert Quinn (North Carolina), defensive tackle Marvin Austin (North Carolina), defensive end Adrian Clayborn (Iowa) and tight end Weslye Saunders (South Carolina) all have varying degrees of character issues, ranging from arrests to accepting benefits from agents.
The players would have to sufficiently explain those issues to the team in order to be considered by the Falcons.
"I think everyone wants to make sure that they do their research to see, to make sure that the individual fits into their scheme and their system," Dimitroff said. "What is right for one team, might not be right or better for another team."
The Falcons arrived here with their draft board complete. They can focus on the players on-site and address off-field concerns.
The Falcons were very thorough in their background search of quarterback Matt Ryan before the 2008 draft.
"We spent a lot of time not only with him physically in Boston, but a lot of time with associates he dealt with," Dimitroff said.
The Falcons want to improve their pass rush and become more explosive on offense. They are intensely studying the talented group of defensive linemen.
"This is the second year that I think we've had a very good defensive-line draft," Dimitroff said. "The defensive tackles and defensive ends. I think it's great for the league because for the longest time we had a dearth of [defensive linemen]."
Dimitroff and the personnel department also have to concentrate on offensive linemen because three of their starters -- right tackle Tyson Clabo, right guard Harvey Dahl and left guard Justin Blalock -- could possibly become free agents, depending on the outcome of the labor dispute.
With tight end Tony Gonzalez set to enter the last year of his contract, the Falcons have to look at tight ends, too.
"As far as the tight ends, the numbers are not high, but there are some good football players," Dimitroff said.
The Falcons also are checking out the wide receivers.
"There are some big athletic receivers who were big producers," Dimitroff said. "That will be a fun class to watch going into the future."
One thing is certain, character will be a major factor in the team addressing its needs.
"We've been pretty particular about making sure that we draft for our system," Dimitroff said. "I firmly believe that it really doesn't matter what [another team does] as long as we have the player up on the board where we think he fits in our system, and that's where we believe we should take him.
"Other people can have different scores on other players, but we need to make sure that we have a good fit, not only schematically, but in the locker room."
About the Author
Honored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame in recognition of his "long and distinguished reporting in the field of pro football," D. Orlando Ledbetter, Esq. has covered the NFL 28 seasons. A graduate of Howard University, he's a winner of Georgia Sportswriter of the Year and three Associated Press Sports Editor awards.
