FLOWERY BRANCH — Sean Weatherspoon is back on the football field — and you can hear him.
The Falcons linebacker let everyone know during a recent practice, shouting “I got my swagger back.”
The vocal second-year player missed five games last season with knee and ankle injuries. Before the injuries Weatherspoon played strongside linebacker in the base defense. Following his return, he played mostly in the nickel package.
This season, there is a good chance that Weatherspoon will start at weakside linebacker, with Curtis Lofton in the middle and Stephen Nicholas on the strongside. The Falcons re-signed Mike Peterson for his veteran presence and run-stuffing ability.
“You have to be ambidextrous around here,” said Weatherspoon, last year’s first-round pick. “You have to be able to play both sides. I got a lot of [strongside] work last year. I feel comfortable [on the strong side]. If they want to work me [on the weak side], I’ll get more comfortable with that.”
Last season, Weatherspoon had 52 tackles (38 solo), including a career-high 10 and his one sack, against the Cardinals on Sept. 19.
Weatherspoon said he benefited from his time off the field when injured last season. He sat with linebackers coach Glenn Pires during position meetings.
“Even though I wasn’t playing, I was in on the game plan as if I could have been playing,” Weatherspoon said. “That’s one thing I made sure I stayed on top of the classroom work.”
Bratkowski settles in
Falcons quarterback coach Bob Bratkowski, who spent the past 10 seasons seasons in Cincinnati, is settling into his new environment.
“With the way the situation evolved with the lockout, it gave me a lot of time to spend with the coaches and learn about the organization itself,” said Bratkowski, the son of Georgia great Zeke Bratkowski. “I’m highly impressed with the structure of the organization from Mr. [Arthur] Blank all the way down through it to the coaches and Mike Smith.”
Bratkowski is reunited with Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey. They worked together in Pittsburgh in 1999 and 2000. Bratkowski coached the receivers, and Mularkey the tight ends during their two seasons together.
“We’ve always talked about how much fun it would be to work together,” Bratkowski said. “The opportunity came. It’s been great to be back with him and be able to see his family again.”
Grimes update
The Falcons are still waiting for cornerback Brent Grimes, a restricted free agent, to sign his first-round tender and report to training camp.
Grimes can sign the tender, at a salary of $2.61 million, and report Thursday, the first day he is eligible according to the NFL’s new collective bargaining agreement.
Grimes can wait as late as Aug. 20 to receive an offer from another team. If Grimes, who was an alternate to the Pro Bowl last season, stays out until Aug. 20, he will miss the Falcons’ first two exhibition games.
Should Grimes gets an offer from another team, the Falcons can match it or receive a first-round draft pick as compensation.
Smith was asked about Grimes after Tuesday’s morning practice.
“We hope to get all of our guys in here as quick as possible,” Smith said. “We wait for [management] to tell us when they can come out and practice. When they do, we are going to integrate them in and see what they are capable of doing. We know that those guys are going to be big contributors on our football team.”
Snelling update
The Falcons would like running back Jason Snelling, an unrestricted free agent, to return. He’s eligible to practice Thursday if he re-signs. Calls to his agent were not returned.
Staff writer D. Orlando Ledbetter contributed to this article.
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