Just As I Predicted: Jerry Signs Before Camp

I knew it would happen, and I said so earlier this week: Falcon first-rounder Peria Jerry has signed with the team, ensuring Atlanta’s NFL franchise will have all of its draft picks signed and ready to butt helmets when camp opens this weekend.

He signed a five-year contract late Thursday with the team.

Jerry, whom NFL analyst Ross Tucker once called “a rolling bucket of butcher knives,” will replace Grady Jackson, 35, on the D-line. Jerry is represented by Brett Farve’s agent, Bus Cook.

Jerry was a consensus All-SEC selection at Mississippi and was considered the second-rated defensive tackle in the draft behind Boston College’s B.J. Raji, who was selected by Green Bay with the ninth pick in the draft. Jerry was taken 24th.

During his college career, Jerry was known for his penetrating moves and stoutness against the run. He registered 11.5 sacks and 33 tackles for losses and was chosen first-team All-American by The Associated Press.

The signing completes the offseason transformation of the Falcons defense, which saw the departure of Jackson, Keith Brooking and Lawyer Milloy, among others.

 

Atlanta Falcons: One “Moore” Down, One More to Go

With the signing of second-rounder William Moore, a University of Missouri safety, the Atlanta Falcons only have one more draftee to sign: the rolling bucket of butcher knives known as Peria Jerry, their first round pick.

My prediction is that he will be signed this week.

Moore, 6’0″ 227 pounds, started 32 of 48 games at the University of Missouri, and finished his career with 284 tackles (182 solo), three sacks, 17 tackles for loss, 22 passes defensed, and six forced fumbles.

He totaled 11 interceptions in his collegiate career for 162 yards. He set a school record by returning four for touchdowns, breaking Erik McMillan’s previous mark.

Moore’s eight interceptions in 2007 also broke the old school single-season record of seven set by Hall of Fame safety, Roger Wehrli (1968). Following his junior (2007) and senior (2008) seasons, Moore earned second-team All-America honors from the Associated Press.

Thomas Dimitroff is too smart of a GM, Mike Smith is too smart of a head coach, and Arthur Blank is too smart of an owner to have the man they’re building a new defense around hold out during camp. That’s why they’ll get the deal done this week…that is, unless Jerry is being advised by an incompetent agent.

Falcons in Flowery Branches—Your Training Camp Guide

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The countdown is on to the NFL’s 2009 training camps. The Atlanta Falcons are recognized pretty much around the league as having one of the NFL’s top—notch training facilities, located about an hour north of downtown in the community of Flowery Branch, GA. Here’s what you need to know about the Birds in the Branch …

 

Practices
More to come on this later. The best place to go is the Atlanta Falcons Web site (www.atlantafalcons.com) or call the training camp hotline (770—965—2752). Practice times are subject to change without notice.

 

Where can I park?
Training camp parking is available at the Hog Mountain Sports Complex and Flowery Branch High School across the street from the Falcons Training Complex. After Hall County Schools begin, parking will be available at the Hollis Transportation Lot located one mile from the Falcons Training Complex. A complimentary shuttle service will be provided from this location. Follow the signs to this location. There is no general parking available at the Falcons training complex.

What should I bring?
In case you haven’t heard, it gets a little bit hot down here in the Deep South (hey, at least you’re not in pads and helmets for hours on end under the blazing sun. Then again, you’re not making millions of bucks a year, either, so there is a trade off). Anyway, there’s not a lot of shade out there for spectators, so you’d best pack:

hats

jackets

rain gear

sunglasses

sunscreen

binoculars

blankets

umbrellas

lawn chairs

strollers

 

The club does have a 10’x10’ area located at the top of the viewing hill for fans to get out of the sun.

 

The big no-no’s include:

 

weapons of any kind

alcoholic beverages

pets (only service animals are allowed, and definitely NO PIT BULLS)

camcorders, professional cameras/tripods (unless you want to start another Belichick-like controversy)

large backpacks, bags, coolers

anything deemed inappropriate by security

Can I take pics?
Still cameras with lenses under 12” and without flash attachments are permitted for use during all training camp workouts at Flowery Branch. No flash photography of any type will be permitted at any time. No audio or video recording devices are allowed, including camcorders or cellular phones with video capabilities. Video taping during practice is strictly prohibited (see above reference to Belichick).

Coolers?
Yep. But they’ll be checked by Falcons security, team personnel, or law enforcement officials, and some of those guys look like they could try out for the team. Alcoholic beverages and glass containers are prohibited.

 

What about backpacks and bags?
Backpacks and large bags over 8.5” wide by 13’ long by 5” deep are not permitted. Everything is subject to inspection.

Shirts and shoes are required. Don’t wear a T-shirt with a sweet-looking pit bull on it, or anything else that might be consider sarcastic or inflammatory.

 

And no smoking. If you light up, you won’t be confronted by Delta-lina, but more likely a massive security guard.

 

You can buy team merchandise and concessions on site, but there isn’t an available ATM on campus, so hit the bank before you come.

 

Autographs?
Like anything, it’s a crapshoot. The best place and time for autographs is when the players are coming off the field after a practice and heading back into the main complex. There is a spectator area near the building, and it’s roped off from the main practice field. Remember, these guys have just worked out for a few hours in intense heat and under enormous physical and emotional pressure from screaming coaches, so don’t be offended if all they want to do is head for the A/C and a few dozen barrels of Gatorade.

 

Atlanta Falcons:Lawrence Sidbury Signing Signals Focus on Defense

With the signing of fourth—rounder Lawrence Sidbury, the Falcons now have only two remaining draft picks unsigned, including first—rounder Peria Jerry. The signing of Sidbury ,and the size of the defensive end’s contract, a four-year, $4.4 million package, signals the Falcons’ seriousness and focus on improving the defense for their ’09 campaign.

Sidbury, 6′3″, 265 lbs., started 31 of 52 career games at the University of Richmond, recording 145 tackles, 20.5 sacks and 38 tackles for loss. His 20.5 sacks rank fourth in school history and his 11.5 quarterback takedowns in 2008 rank third on the school’s single—season records list.

Now, of course, the focus must intensify on Jerry, the defensive tackle who has been described by SI.Com’s Ross Tucker as a “rolling bucket of butcher knives.” My guess is that, any day now, we’ll see a press release announcing Jerry’s signing, as well as that of William Moore, a safety out of Missouri who, along with Jerry, are expected to compete for starting jobs on a defensive squad that lost or released five starters from last season.

The Falcons’ organization has been through too much over the last several years, and Coach Mike Smith and Co. have too much momentum going from last season, to risk a silly and meaningless training camp holdout.

In addition to Sidbury, the Falcons have signed cornerback William Middleton, a fifth—round pick from Furman who graduated from Atlanta’s Marist School; defensive tackle Vance Walker, a seventh—round pick from Georgia Tech; cornerback Chris Owens, a third round pick from San Jose State; linebacker Spencer Adkins, a sixth round pick from Miami; and tackle Garrett Reynolds, a fifth round pick from North Carolina.

Previewing The NFC South and The Atlanta Falcons

Sometimes called NFC NASCAR, the NFC South has been one of the league’s toughest divisions. Despite the fact that the division is often overshadowed in the media by the NFC and AFC East, you will usually find an NFC South team battling for the league’s wild card spot at the end of the year.

Besides the Falcons, the other NFC South team that was most active during the offseason, in terms of personnel, were the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

New head coach Raheem Morris has already shown signs of stacking the roster with quarterbacks, in much the same fashion as his predecessor Jon Gruden.

The biggest question is, is first-round draft pick Josh Freeman, who the Bucs acquired after trading up in the draft, a better choice for the franchise than shoring up a porous defense that cost Tampa a playoff spot last year?

The Bucs did draft DT Roy Miller in Round 3, but outside of those two picks, the Bucs didn’t have a very productive draft.

Already there are five QBs on the roster, so time will tell if veteran Byron Leftwich, Freeman, or the remaining signal callers will make an impact. Also on board is TE Kellen Winslow, but speculation is that the Bucs overpaid the one-time Pro Bowler with a six-year, $36.1 million contract, making him the highest-paid tight end in NFL history.

Speaking of quarterbacks, many observers expected the Carolina Panthers to begin a quarterback succession plan.

Instead, the Panthers signed the aging and injury prone Jake Delhomme to a five-year extension, it keeps him under contract through 2014.

The only news coming out of Carolina has been ongoing is the Julius Peppers saga, and aging quarterback Jake Delhomme will again be the starter. John Fox has shown himself to be one of the NFL’s best head coaches, but Carolina made no significant offseason changes this year, and the ’09 team is basically the same as that fielded in ’08.

Carolina’s draft brought home four rookies on the defensive side of the ball, but the team’s first selection came with the 11th pick of the second round. New defensive coordinator Ron Meeks has a major challenge on his hands, molding a defense around a disgruntled superstar in Peppers.

Only the New Orleans Saints remain solid from front to back in 2009.

The team suffered no major losses on offense, defense or its coaching staff. NFC passing leader Drew Brees continues on his path to NFL superstardom, and despite the fact that the team was very quiet in last month’s draft, the squad expects to be the favorite for another division championship.

The Saints only drafted four players, all of them on defense, including top CB prospect Malcolm Jenkins. Rumor has it that the Saints are interested in free agent RB Edgerrin James, which will further strengthen and solidify an already powerful offensive machine.

The Saints remain the class of the division, with the Falcons in second place. Huge questions abound in Carolina and Tampa Bay, who both have a tough shot at making the wildcard.

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