FLOWERY BRANCH – Falcons linebacker Sean Weatherspoon was playing at a high level and perhaps on the verge of a Pro Bowl breakthrough in 2012, heading into the final year of his rookie contract.
But a string of injuries have derailed his once-promising career.
In 2013, Weatherspoon missed 10 games with foot and knee injuries.
Over the offseason, while rehabbing alongside Julio Jones, who had foot surgery, Weatherspoon crumpled to the ground with an ruptured Achilles tendon. He missed all of the 2014 season.
Last season, when the Cardinals were willing to guarantee more money in his contract than the Falcons, who’d offered an incentive-laden deal, Weatherspoon left to play in Arizona.
He suffered a hamstring early in training camp that lingered for most of the season. He got on the field late in the season as nickel linebacker defending running backs out of the backfield. He was playing 10 to 15 plays down the stretch.
He played 13 plays in the NFC Championship game against Carolina and six on special teams.
Somehow, through that storm, Weatherspoon, who re-signed with the Falcons this offseason for a modest one-year, $1.5 million make-good contract, has remained upbeat.
“Ultimately, I’m renting that locker in there,” Weatherspoon said after a recent offseason workout. “I’m ready to come to work and just be the guy that I know I can be to help the team.”
Weatherspoon was drafted in the first round (19th overall) of the 2010 draft out of Missouri. Veteran linebacker Mike Peterson dubbed him “Simba” because he would one-day grow up and rule the jungle as the Lion King.
“The one thing with football is, or anything that you do, if you stop growing, you’re really going backwards,” Weatherspoon said. “I had a chance to learn some different schemes. Some different techniques. Some different terminology that’s going to help me adjust to this defense.”
Falcons coach Dan Quinn wanted to keep Weatherspoon last season, but the lure of guaranteed money after two injury-plagued seasons was the correct business move.
“This will be my fourth (defensive) coordinator,” Weatherspoon said. “When you’ve played under four guys you have the ability to adjust. I’ve been around and I’m looking forward to getting here and maximizing my opportunity.”
Weatherspoon has also matured and has settled into a family life with the birth of his daughter.
“I’m just learning Richard Smith and Dan Quinn’s philosophy,” Weatherspoon said. “That’s something that’s going well, but I think, I don’t just want to talk about growing as a player, but just as a man.”
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