Falcons wide receiver Taylor Gabriel believes the team has moved past its collapse in Super Bowl LI.
“We had a team meeting before we came back and (coach Dan Quinn) told anybody has anything on your chest, get it off your chest right now,” Gabriel said. “It was a group setting, and after that meeting our focus has been this year. I feel like everybody feels that way. At the end of the day, we have to move on.”
Gabriel didn’t speak up.
“I felt like there wasn’t any need to say anything,” Gabriel said. “We all came back. We were upset about the outcome . . . as long as we stay focused . . . we went to a Super Bowl last year so there was nothing we did wrong.
“If anything, I feel like it makes us hungrier.”
Gabriel is limited in practice as he recovers from a leg injury. He’s been catching punts and checking with the officials on how high he has to raise his hand on fair catches.
“I’m feeling good,” Gabriel said. “As long as I get to 100 percent, I feel like I’ll be OK. That’s the goal, getting 100 percent before I go out there (full speed). I don’t want to go out there at 65 percent and hurt myself again.
“The training staff has been great. I’m close, just going out there getting my confidence back getting in and out of my breaks.”
Gabriel, who was claimed on waivers from Cleveland at the start of last season, believes the wide receiving corps will be strong again in 2017.
“We had 13 different guys score (receiving) touchdowns, not just (wide receivers) . . . It’s all around the board,” Gabriel said. “When you sit back and look at our group, I feel like there’s really no downfall. Everybody’s competing for a spot.”
The rookies, including former Georgia wide receiver Reggie Davis, are doing well, too.
“He looks good, and a lot of other younger dudes look good,” Gabriel said. “It’s very surprising how far along they are.”
AJC sports producer Matt Winkeljohn contributed to this story.
