FLOWERY BRANCH – As the dust starts to settle on the release of wide receiver Roddy White, the team’s all-time leading receiver, his camp is pointing the finger at offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan.
“There is one reason Roddy is no longer with the Falcons and it is Kyle Shanahan,” said Jonathan Feinsod, White’s longtime agent, on Sunday to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
“Kyle forced the Falcons to choose between him or Roddy. This was not Roddy’s choice. Over the last 11 years Roddy has played for four different head coaches. Four different offensive coordinators. Three different wide receiver coaches and one incredible owner. Their opinions of Roddy and his opinion of them would all be consistently positive. Roddy has had and continues to have an incredible professional and personal relationship with them all.”
Falcons coach Dan Quinn contended that it was his decision to release White on Wednesday and that he did not consult with Shanahan.
“I did not consult or confer with any of the assistant coaches,” Quinn said. “From my long history as an assistant coach, I know often times you want to have everybody forever. I did not confer with Kyle in any way regarding this decision.”
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Shanahan used White as a decoy and never really implemented him into the attack.
White’s production dropped dramatically under Shanahan. He had 125 targets and 80 catches in 2014 with Dirk Koetter calling the plays. Last season, White had 70 targets and just 43 catches.
White also blamed Shanahan for his release in an interview with ESPN.com.
He also contended that Shanahan mismanged at least two games the Falcons could have won.