FALCONS TICKETS AND MUCH MORE ... TICKET CENTRAL all 404-223-8444 or email us at ticketservices@falcons.nfl.com. You can also chat live with one of our representatives on ATLANTAFALCONS.com.
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GROUP TICKETS f you are interested in group tickets go to ATLANTAFALCONS.com and download the 2010 Atlanta Falcons Group Ticket Priority Form. By completing and submitting this form you will ensure that your group gets the best possible seating for 2010. A member of our staff will contact you once we receive your priority form. The 2010 regular season home opponents include the New Orleans Saints, Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals and Green Bay Packers. We anticipate a high volume of requests for group tickets, so please return the priority form promptly so your group doesn’t miss out! For additional questions regarding group tickets please call group services at 404-223-8034 or send us an email to ticketservices@falcons.nfl.com.
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DONATION REQUESTS he Atlanta Falcons accept requests for the donation of Falcons items for use in charitable fundraising activities. Due to the large number of requests the team receives, the Falcons are only able to accept requests from 501(c)3 non-profit organizations and schools within the state of Georgia. All beneficiaries of items must support youth groups and focus on one or more of the following areas: health, arts, athletics, physical fitness and/or education. Please mail your requests to: Atlanta Falcons Community Relations Donation Requests 4400 Falcon Parkway Flowery Branch, GA 30542
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Turner looking to get back to 2008 form in third season with Atlanta ichael “the Burner” Turner wants to make sure he keeps his life interesting. When he’s not dubbed from head to toe in the Falcons’ red and black practice getup, the seven-year veteran goes bowling, goes to the movies and plays video games. “I like to switch it up,” Turner said. “There’s not one thing I like to do all the time. I just like to switch it up.” But when Turner laces up his cleats, throws on his No. 33 red practice jersey and black helmet, he is reminded of the past two seasons he has spent in Atlanta as he enters his third year with the franchise.
stagnant as he sat on the sidelines, watching his team play without him in the lineup. The glue for the Falcons’ offense was out and no one could tell when he would be able to make his return. Seven months removed from his initial injury, Turner said he feels he is at 90 percent. He gets treatment each morning before practice and is focused on getting back into game shape as the Falcons continue their organized team activities. “The main thing was just getting back healthy,” Turner said. “That was my main thing. Working out and working out hard. Getting my conditioning level up and making sure my ankle didn’t get in the way or interfere with that.”
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“I had more fumbles than usual last season,” Turner said. “So I want to make sure I continue to improve on that and take care of that and make sure that’s not an issue this year.” The Falcons’ ball carrier wants to become an all-purpose back and catch more passes out of the backfield this upcoming season. “And (work on) route running, being more of a threat in the passing game,” Turner said. Despite Turner’s ankle injury and sub-par numbers last season, the former Pro-Bowler knows his role for the Falcons. He is the workhorse of a team that posted back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in franchise history the last two years. He can put the team on his back and get the job done for another win. “Everybody depends on me to get my job done,” Turner said. “We have a lot of great guys on this offense, so there’s really not that much that needs to be said or done. We have playmakers all over the field and we expect each other to go out there and play to our capabilities.” Photos courtesy of Jimmy Cribb/Atlanta Falcons. Bowers can be reached at rachelgbowers@gmail.com.
offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey — has decided to incorporate the no-huddle offense more, something Turner said brings about big plays for the Falcons. “(No-huddle is) not just for quick yardage, but big plays, and keeps the defense off balance,” Turner said. “We’ve really been using it a lot the last couple years. I think it’s been working our way for us.” As Mularkey works more no-huddle plays into the playbook, Turner continues to go through the motions during practices and organized team activities to stay on top of the mental aspects of the game. “I just need to work on my game to make sure I’m staying sharp and focused with my reads,” Turner said. “And picking up blitzes.” Along with memorizing the playbook from cover to cover and knowing it like the back of his hand, Turner knows the importance of not turning the ball over and making sure his hands are a safe place for the football.
“The main thing was just getting back healthy,” Turner said. “Working out and working out hard.”
A NEW BEGINNING … Falcons fans flocked to the former San Diego Charger after the numbers he posted in his first season with Atlanta in 2008. He was second in the league in rushing yards with 1,699. He was second in the league in touchdowns with 17. And, he was also second in the league in yards per game with 106.2. But in mid-November last season against division rival Carolina, the 5-foot-10 running back saw his hopes of matching his 2008 numbers dwindle after he suffered a high ankle sprain in his right foot, which he re-injured two weeks later against Tampa Bay. Turner missed five of the last seven games in the regular season with extremely limited play in the two games he participated in. His production was
MAKING BIG PLAYS … While Turner continues treatment for his high ankle sprain to ensure he is 100 percent in the coming weeks, the brains of the operation on the offensive side of the football —
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Weatherspoon learning the ropes, looking forward to contributing on the field scheme instead of just being robotic. I think it is pretty good for me as a rookie,” Weatherspoon said. The NFL only takes the best athletes at every position and Weatherspoon has noticed the skill level of the signal-callers. “The ball definitely comes out fast when the quarterback drops back and the receivers are a little bit faster,” Weatherspoon said. Letting your teammates know what is happening on defense is important at the linebacker spot. “The defense communicates throughout the routes instead of just talking before the play. There is a lot of communication so that is something that has been a change,” he said. The Falcons’ linebackers have been more than happy to teach Weatherspoon the tools of the trade. “They are making sure that if I have any questions I can lean on them. Mike Peterson and those guys are dealing with me right now as a rookie, talking it up and making sure I am doing the right things,” Weatherspoon said. “I really appreciate these guys because we all know a lot of veterans that wouldn’t be happy for a first-round linebacker to come in. They have been doing a great job of trying to make me a better player and I respect them for that,” Weatherspoon added. Falcons safety William Moore played with Weatherspoon at Missouri and was very excited to reunite with his former teammate. “It’s fun being out there with William. It is like being back home. William is going to have an opportunity to step up for us this year and we look forward to him doing big things as well,” Weatherspoon said. Weatherspoon was a captain in college and wants to be a leader with Atlanta. The first-year player knows it is important to lead on and off the field. “Some people talk about it but other leaders talk about it and they do it,” Weatherspoon said. He wants to put his teammates in the right places and get them fired up in the tunnel prior to the games. “If they look at me and see confidence in me, then I know that they will be confident,” Weatherspoon added.
ll Sean Weatherspoon wanted to do as a kid was become an NFL football player. At Jasper High School in Texas, he was a three-sport athlete. He was a linebacker, a high jumper and a guard for his basketball team. Many Division I universities recruited Weatherspoon, but he chose Missouri. He was a tackling machine, recording 413 career tackles as a Tiger. Weatherspoon was a second-team All-American and a Butkus Award finalist in his senior year.
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DRAFT DAY … It’s April 22, 2010. The IQ test is over, the combine is done, and Weatherspoon has completed the interviews with professional teams. It is finally draft day. All he can do now is wait for a phone call and realize his dream. It is pick No. 19 and he still is waiting to hear his name called. However, Weatherspoon is not worried because the Atlanta Falcons are on the clock. A Falcons team that is focused on defense in the draft, finishing with the 28th-ranked passing defense from a season ago, has Weatherspoon at the top of their draft board. “The Falcons showed a lot of interest in me and I had a lot of interest in them during that period of time,” Weatherspoon said. “Before the combine, at the combine, after the combine, they did a lot of things to show me that they really wanted me.” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell walked up to the podium and said the magic words: “With the 19th pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, the Atlanta Falcons select Sean Weatherspoon, outside linebacker, the University of Missouri.” “It was the most exciting time of my life so far, man. So I was glad when I got that call, it was just a dream come true,” Weatherspoon said.
LEARNING TO ADJUST … There were a lot of differences between college football and the NFL, and Weatherspoon had to adjust. Learning an NFL system in just four months is a big task for any rookie. Weatherspoon is taking a positive approach to the challenge and knows he can succeed as a Falcon. “I play Will at one practice and the next practice I’m the Sam. It’s kind of funny because I get to see it from both aspects and I get to see the big picture of the defensive
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Weatherspoon will be competing with outside linebackers Stephen Nicholas and Mike Peterson for a starting spot. Sean is one of those rare athletes that will do anything for his new team. “Whenever I go in, I am excited and ready,” Weatherspoon said. “If I have to come off the bench and make plays, then that’s my goal. If they see me as being a starter when the time comes I will definitely be excited with that.”
the importance of getting the ball back in quarterback Matt Ryan’s hands. “We have to know what the down and distance is and play tighter on receivers and tight ends. We have to be alert when we know that the running backs are coming to get those one or two yards,” Weatherspoon said. The Falcons’ locker room is loose and the players definitely know how to welcome the rookies. “One day I came into the locker room and the guys were acting like they were playing wiffle ball and they asked me to get up to bat. Mike Peterson had a water balloon behind his back that I didn’t see and he chucks it at me and hits me with it. It was pretty funny,” Weatherspoon said. “I am just grateful to be a part of this organization and I know I have to pay my dues just like all of the other rookies,” he added. Photo is courtesy of Daniel Cox/Atlanta Falcons. Anello can be reached at anello35@students.rowan.edu.
THE SOLUTION … Two chinks in the Falcons’ armor last season were defending running backs and tight ends in the passing game and stopping the opponent on third downs. Weatherspoon was drafted to be part of the solution to both problems. “The practice that I am getting right now on the tight ends and the running backs will help me when the season comes. When the fall comes, I will have to put my skills on display,” Weatherspoon said. Head coach Mike Smith is emphasizing
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MEET THE FALCONS Name
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Abraham, John Adkins, Spencer Anderson, Jamaal Babineaux, Jonathan Baker, Sam Bergeron, Troy Biermann, Kroy Blalock, Justin Bruggeman, Rob Bryant, Trey Bryant, Matt Buckley, Tim Bush, Rafael Clabo, Tyson Coleman, Erik Dahl, Harvey Daniels, Dominique Davis, Chauncey DeCoud, Thomas Derricks, Gabe Douglas, Harry Drescher, Justin Finneran, Brian Franks, Dominique Giordano, Matt Gonzalez, Tony Grimes, Brent Harvey, Brandyn Hauschka, Steve Hawley, Joe Henley, Rajon Jackson, Chevis James, Robert Jenkins, Michael Jerry, Peria Johnson, Mike Johnson, Weston Johnson, Thomas Klecko, Dan Koenen, Michael Lewis, Trey Lindholm, Garrett Lofton, Curtis McClure, Todd Meier, Kerry Moore, William Mughelli, Ovie Nance, Dimitri Nicholas, Stephen Norwood, Jerious Ojinnaka, Quinn Owens, Christopher Palmer, Michael Peek, Colin Peelle, Justin Peters, Corey Peterson, Mike Redman, Chris Reynolds, Garrett Robinson, Dunta Romberg, Brett Ryan, Matt Schillinger, Shann Schlueter, Blake Shockley, D.J. Sidbury, Lawrence Smith, Antone Snelling, Jason Stephens, Emmanuel Strickland, Andy Svitek, Will Turner, Michael Valdez, Jose Walker, Vance Ward, Eric Weatherspoon, Sean Weems, Eric White, Roddy Williams, Brian Wilson, John Parker Wire, Coy Wolfe, Ryan Woods, Bear Zelenka, Joe Zinger, Keith
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2010 DEPTH CHART Offense WR Michael Jenkins: The Ohio State product returns to start his seventh season with the Falcons. He is backed up by Harry Douglas, who returns after spending the 2009 season on the injured reserve list with a left knee injury. TE Tony Gonzalez: After a successful first season with the team, the veteran tight end returns for 2010 with the Falcons. He is backed up by Justin Peelle and Keith Zinger. LT Sam Baker: The Falcons hope the oft-injured Baker will stay healthy and pave the way for the offense in his third season. Baker will be spelled by Will Svitek, who saw spot duty last year. LG Justin Blalock: After three successful seasons, Blalock returns as a starting left guard with the Falcons. Behind him are thirdround pick Mike Johnson and veteran Jose Valdez. C Todd McClure: The veteran center continues his tenure as bellwether of the Falcons’ offensive line. Experienced Brett Romberg and rookie Joe Hawley sit behind him on the depth chart. RG Harvey Dahl: Beginning his fifth year in the NFL, Dahl’s experience and notorious mean streak help to solidify the Falcons’ offensive line. Quinn Ojinnaka is the backup. RT Tyson Clabo: Clabo has maintained a constant presence in the starting lineup for the Falcons for three years now. Third-year man Garrett Reynolds provides depth. WR Roddy White: After recording a career-high in touchdowns during the 2009 season, White returns for his sixth year with the Falcons, hoping to record his third consecutive 1,000-yard season. Steady vet Brian Finneran is a reliable second option. QB Matt Ryan: Entering his third season with the NFL, Ryan has asserted himself as one of the top young QBs in the game. He will be backed up by Chris Redman, while D.J. Shockley and John Parker Wilson will battle it out for No. 3. FB Ovie Mughelli: Mughelli returns as a powerful run-blocker and short-yardage back. Verron Haynes could see time in his place. RB Michael Turner: After breaking out in 2008, Turner was not the same and was admittedly out of shape in ’09. He is reportedly healthy coming into the year. Big-play threat Jerious Norwood and steady Jason Snelling will also get carries.
Defense DE (left) Chauncey Davis/Jamaal Anderson: The steady but unspectacular Davis is among several players fighting for playing time at defensive end. Anderson will press for time and also play snaps at DT. DT (left) Peria Jerry: Jerry gets another crack at the job after going down with a season-ending injury last year. Thomas Johnson did an adequate job as his replacement, and will back him up this fall. DT (right) Jonathan Babineaux: After recording a career-high in sacks during 2009, Babineaux returns to the Falcons’ defense in hopes to duplicate those numbers. He will be backed by rookie Corey Peters and Trey Lewis. DE (right) John Abraham: Abraham begins his fifth season with the Falcons. Kroy Biermann and Lawrence Sidbury are two more ends looking for playing time. OLB (left) Sean Weatherspoon/Stephen Nicholas: The first-round pick hopes to establish himself as an NFL starter this year, while Nicholas held the starting job last year and will battle him for the starting spot. MLB Curtis Lofton: Lofton enters his third NFL season having proven himself as one of the league’s better middle linebackers. Robert James and rookie Bear Woods can learn a lot from working behind him. OLB (right) Mike Peterson: Peterson is back for his second season with the Falcons after an up-and-down ’09. Old legs could cause him to rest some snaps, opening the door for Spencer Adkins and rookie Weston Johnson. CB (left) Dunta Robinson: Robinson will make his debut for the Falcons during the 2010 season. Chevis Jackson and wild-card rookie Dominique Franks might see some time in the nickel and dime. FS Thomas DeCoud: DeCoud was a pleasant surprise in 2009 in his third season. Matt Giordano and rookie Shann Schillinger from the University of Montana sit behind him. SS Erik Coleman/William Moore: Coleman stepped up and did the job with William Moore out for much of last season due to an injury. He and the second-year man will battle for time, as Moore was expected to help anchor the secondary as a rookie. CB (right) Brian Williams: Williams is a proven corner that will draw opposing teams’ No. 2 receivers. Brent Grimes will spend time in the nickel, with speedy Chris Owens also getting a look.
Special Teams KR Eric Weems: Weems returns for his second season as kick returner for the Falcons. After progressing throughout the 2009 season, his experience is expected to add stability for the special teams. PR Eric Weems/Harry Douglas: Weems was steady in place of the injured Douglas last year, but the Louisville alum’s big play potential may be too enticing to keep him off the field. LS Joe Zelenka: As one of the most experienced long snappers in the NFL, Zelenka returns for his second season with the Falcons. K Matt Bryant: Bryant returns after having provided much-needed consistency at the position after replacing Jason Elam. Steven Hauschka and rookie Garrett Lindholm will provide competition. P Michael Koenen: The former Texas A&M Aggie has blossomed into one of the NFL’s top punters. He leads a unit that set a record for fewest net return yards in 2009.
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