February 9
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Former Falcons linebacker Buddy Curry and current kicker Matt Bryant spoke to the Health and Human Services committee of the Georgia legislature in support of the "Georgia Return to Play Act of 2012" on Wednesday at the State Capitol. "I remember coming off the field in a daze," said Curry, who played for the Falcons from 1980-87. "I was trying to find out which sideline was my own. ... My only thought was to get back on the field." Bryant, a father of seven kids ages 14 to 5 months, wants what is best for the youth."
February 8
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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For the second consecutive year, the Falcons will be represented at the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony. A year after defensive back Deion Sanders was enshrined, former defensive stalwart Chris Doleman will join him Aug. 4 in Canton, Ohio. While Doleman started and finished his NFL career with the Minnesota Vikings, he played two seasons for the Falcons and helped them reach the playoffs in 1995, for just the fifth time in franchise history."
February 6
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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The Falcons have been in touch with former Miami linebacker Channing Crowder, who plans to make a comeback after sitting out last season. Crowder, the former North Springs High and Florida standout who prematurely retired at age 28, is ready to make a comeback. The Atlanta Falcons, who hired Crowder's last defensive coordinator in Mike Nolan, have been in touch and will most certainly check out Crowder. "I'd love to play in Atlanta," Crowder said. "Coach Nolan is my guy. Actually, when he got the job in Atlanta he [sent] me a text. Coach Nolan is a first class guy. I'm not just saying that to be politically correct. He's a first class guy and a great defensive coordinator. He's a great"
February 4
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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The Atlanta Falcons' desired open-air stadium might wind up with a retractable roof if ongoing negotiations get bogged down. While both the Falcons and the Georgia World Congress Center Authority say the focus remains on trying to reach a deal that would put the team in an outdoor stadium and preserve the nearby Georgia Dome for indoor events, neither side shuts the door on the option of an indoor/outdoor, retractable-roof facility. That option would be much more expensive, could make the Dome unneeded and would represent a change in stance for the Falcons, who have expressed a preference for an open-air stadium without the added cost of a retractable roof. A Georgia legislator briefed on"
February 3
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez said Thursday that next season probably will be his last — though it's not the first offseason he has said that, nor does should it come as a surprise. Gonzalez, who last month signed a one-year, $6.9 million contract extension with the idea that the 2012 season might be his last one, oddly made Thursday's declaration not through the team or his agent but rather on an ESPN/Facebook chat, which can be found by clicking here. He is in Indianapolis for the Super Bowl and has been doing interviews on radio row."
February 1
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Falcons coach Mike Smith has been busy filling out his new staff. Upon returning from Mobile, he shot this little video with the team's website. If you can't watch the entire 9:08, here are some of the highlights: 1. The Falcons have nearly completed their new offensive playbook. 2. Defensive coordinator Mike Nolan with utilize a "multiplicity" of defenses. (Will sprinkle in some 3-4 principles.) 3. The coaches are set to do their specific position-by-position evaluations. 4. They have to concentrate on the top juniors who have applied for the draft between now and the combine."
January 31
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Glenn Thomas, 34, has quietly worked behind the scenes as the offensive quality control assistant for the Falcons over the past four seasons. In coaching-agent circles, he's considered the leader to replace Bob Bratkowski as the team's new quarterbacks coach. From 2001-07, Thomas spent his coaching tenure at Midwestern State. He was a graduate assistant coaching wide receivers from 2001-04. He coached the school's passing game and quarterbacks in 2004. He was the coordinator from 2005-07."
January 29
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Former Fresno State head coach Pat Hill, who was fired in December after going 4-9 last season, has agreed to terms with the Falcons to become their offensive line coach, the team announced Saturday. Now the Falcons only have to fill their openings at quarterbacks coach and defensive backs coach. Miami assistant Joe Danna is the leading candidate to replace Alvin Reynolds as the defensive back coach. Hill spent 15 seasons the head coach at Fresno State, where he led the Bulldogs to a 112-80 overall record and went to 11 bowl games. Hill finished with a 112-80 record at Fresno State."
January 29
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff is gearing up for free agency. With no lockout this offseason, there will be a return to normalcy in the NFL. Free agency will come first, followed by the draft. After last year's labor dispute was settled, a frenzied free-agency signing period began in late August. The Falcons, who are projected to be about $28 million under the salary cap when it's announced this week at the Super Bowl, are working on a few contract extensions that could keep some of their 17 unrestricted free agents off the market when it opens March 13."
January 27
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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The diversified play of tight ends in the NFL playoffs has put the spotlight on the group of six players at that position who are getting ready for the 63rd annual Senior Bowl. While the practice sessions were moved inside Thursday because of rain, the tight ends continued to be closely scrutinized. The game is set for 4 p.m. Saturday at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. During the NFL playoffs, New Orleans' Jimmy Graham (6-foot-7, 260 pounds), San Francisco's Vernon Davis (6-3, 250) and New England's Rob Gronkowski (6-6, 265) and Aaron Hernandez (6-2, 250) all made some spectacular plays in the passing game. Hernandez even ran out of the backfield as a running back."
January 26
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
columnist Jeff Schultz
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Last week in the opener of this cyber mini-series, I looked at the possibility of the Falcons parting ways with Michael Turner, who despite finishing third in the NFL in rushing this season was showing signs of wear and might not be worth the $5 million in salary he is due next season. It stirred a lot of debate and, honestly, I was surprised by how many folks wanted him traded or cut. Today, I'm focusing on five mistakes (or generally perceived ones). Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff hasn't made a lot of them, but there are five high-profile ones (actually, four by Dimitroff and one by then-general manager Rich McKay). Dimitroff didn't ask for my advice, but hey, I'm not charging"
January 25
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Eleven months ago, the Georgia World Congress Center Authority and the Atlanta Falcons agreed to enter negotiations about a potential new open-air football stadium downtown. They're still negotiating, both parties say. A possible sign of movement came earlier this month, when Gov. Nathan Deal included money in his 2012 budget to purchase property next to the proposed stadium site. The GWCC Authority, which oversees the state-owned complex that includes the Georgia Dome, voted last February to negotiate with the Falcons toward a possible memorandum of understanding on a $700 million stadium that would be built about a half-mile north of the Dome."
January 24
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Three times in four seasons, the Falcons of Mike Smith and Matt Ryan have been eliminated by the eventual NFC champ. This isn't, however, to suggest they keep being undone by an unlucky draw. In each case, the Falcons entered with the better regular-season record. When it happens once or even twice, we can shrug and say, "Them's the breaks." When it happens three times since 2008, we pluck at common threads. And we find … • In each case, the Falcons held a lead. They'd rallied from a 14-3 deficit to lead 17-14 at the half in Phoenix on Jan. 3, 2009, but the Arizona Cardinals — who'd lost four of their final six regular-season games to finish 9-7 — scored the next 16 points. The game turned"
January 24
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Former Falcons defensive backs coach Alvin Reynolds, an original member of head coach Mike Smith's staff, was fired, the team announced on Monday. The Falcons have been undergoing an intensive review of their football operations since they were blown out 24-2 by the New York Giants in the wild-card round of the NFL playoffs on Jan. 8. Reynolds, who's coached in the NFL for 18 seasons, became the fifth coach from last season's staff to either be fired or leave for another job. He was responsible for coaching the safeties."
January 23
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Despite not having a first-round pick in the 2012 NFL draft, several members from the Falcons' personnel department and coaching staff will scout the practices and the 63rd annual Senior Bowl all-star game. The practices start on Monday and the game, between the North and South teams, will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. The NFL Network will cover the practices and the game. The Falcons traded away their 2012 first and fourth round picks to the Cleveland Browns as part of the deal for wide receiver Julio Jones last year. They retained picks in the second, third, fifth, sixth and seventh rounds."
January 22
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Back in 1985, Dirk Koetter decided to leave the small town of Pocatello, Idaho, to chase his dream of one day becoming like his father. He was 26, four years past his college playing days at Idaho State. He had coached a few years in high school before going to San Francisco State to work on a three-man staff with head coach Vic Rowen and Andy Reid. "Going to San Francisco was an eye-opener," Koetter said. He made his adjustment to the big city by burying himself in the playbooks that lined the shelves of the football office. "We had a decent office," said Reid, who now coaches the Philadelphia Eagles. "[Rowen] had playbooks from all over the country. We were well-educated.""
January 20
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
columnist Jeff Schultz
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The Falcons need some fixes. They're not a wreck. (Wrecks don't make the playoffs in three out of four seasons.) But they have problems — offensive line, secondary and defensive line, for starters. They may need to fill holes during free agency, and that means they'll need to create salary space. Some players will have to go. Which brings me to Michael Turner. This should not be taken as the start of a "Dump Michael Turner" movement. The guy finished third in the NFL in rushing with 1,340 yards. But the question of whether to keep him, cut him or trade him (if possible) for a mid-round draft pick is a legitimate one."
January 19
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Mike Nolan is not going to change the Falcons' 4-3 defensive scheme. About that the new coordinator is adamant. The Falcons have built toward that scheme in the draft and free agency, and Nolan considers it a "solid foundation." Nolan has been known to use a 3-4 defense, but said Wednesday that his 14 seasons as an NFL coordinator have been equally split between the two schemes. "We are not trying to move this toward a 3-4," Nolan said in a conference call. "I will flat say that.""
January 18
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Mike Nolan was a hard-hitting safety coming out of the University of Oregon and was invited to the Denver Broncos' training camp. While he didn't make the team, he made a lasting impression. A few years later, Nolan received a call from Dan Reeves, who had cut him, to see if he would join his coaching staff. "I hired Mike to come in, and he coached special teams and also he coached the defensive secondary," Reeves said Tuesday. "Then when I went to New York, I hired him as our defensive coordinator. He was with me a long time.""
January 18
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Falcons offensive line coach Paul Boudreau was relieved of his duties on Tuesday. Also, the team is expected to announce their new defensive cordinator shortly. Boudreau joined the Atlanta Falcons coaching staff as offensive line coach in 2008 and spent four seasons with the team. "We would like to thank Coach Boudreau for his contributions to our team over the past four seasons, and we wish him well in his future endeavors," said Falcons head coach Mike Smith in a release issued by the Falcons."
January 17
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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The Falcons hired Mike Nolan, who received his start in coaching from Dan Reeves, as their new defensive coordinator on Tuesday. He replaces Brian VanGorder, who left the team last week to become Auburn's new defensive coordinator. Nolan is considered a 3-4 coach. But Falcons coach Mike Smith's respect for him from their days together in Baltimore runs deep. They will blend the principles of Nolan's 3-4 with Smith's 4-3. The Falcons hired Dirk Koetter as offensive coordinator on Sunday."
January 17
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
columnist D. Orlando Ledbetter
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New Falcons offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter participated in a conference call with the local media today. He met with quarterback Matt Ryan for about an hour during the interview process. Koetter said he has more film study to do on the Falcons, but stated that he's a proponent of the vertical passing game, running the football and that he's been ordered to improve the team's screen passing attack."
January 17
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Falcons offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter shared some of his vision for the team's offense in a teleconference with the local media on Monday. Koetter, 52, formerly of the Jacksonville Jagugars, was named to the post on Sunday. Koetter met with quarterback Matt Ryan for about an hour last week. He told Ryan that he's a proponent of the vertical passing game, running the football and that he's been ordered by head coach Mike Smith to improve the team's screen passing attack."
January 16
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Dirk Koetter, formerly of the Jacksonville Jaguars, agreed to terms to become the Falcons new offensive coordinator on Sunday, the team confirmed. Koetter is set to talk to the media on a conference call at 11 a.m. Monday. "I am very pleased to add Coach Koetter as our offensive coordinator," Falcons head coach Mike Smith said in a statement issued by the team. "Dirk is a veteran offensive coach who will bring years of NFL experience as an offensive coordinator as well as a fresh set of ideas to our offense. He is bright, he understands the intricacies of the vertical passing game, but he also wants to be able to run the football which is very important in the NFL. I look forward to"
January 15
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Linebacker Sean Weatherspoon, dubbed the "Baby Lion" by Mike Peterson when he was a rookie, grew up during his second season. The 2010 first-round draft pick settled in nicely at weakside linebacker with 125 tackles, 14 tackles for losses, eight passes defensed and four sacks. "I think Sean had a breakout season this year," Falcons coach Mike Smith said. "People took notice in terms of his ability around the [NFL]. You saw that in the Pro Bowl voting as well. He garnered some attention there. I think he's going to be a great player for us in the future.""
January 15
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Since the dust has started to settle from the Falcons' early playoff exit, perhaps the most troubling thing to come out of the defeat was how the team was dominated physically by the New York Giants. The Falcons couldn't "knock back the line of scrimmage" on a couple of short-yardage situations when they had a difficult time blocking the Giants' strong front seven. In essence, the Falcons were built as a power football team and now are undergoing a full analysis of their roster to make sure that they can play the style of football that coach Mike Smith and general manager Thomas Dimitroff want to play. "Anytime you're playing in the National Football League, you need to be able to go"
January 14
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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The Falcons promised a stealth search for their offensive and defensive coordinators, but the names of the most likely candidates already are leaking out. Also, with Bob Bratkowski leaving to join departed offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey in Jacksonville, they must find a new quarterbacks coach, too. Ideally, the Falcons would like to have the coordinators in place so that could help work the Senior Bowl in Mobile. Practices there start Jan. 23, and the game is Jan. 28. But if the candidates to replace Mularkey and departed defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder work for teams in the Super Bowl, the Falcons wouldn't be allowed to seek permission until after the game Feb. 5. "We are going"
January 14
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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The leading candidates for the Falcons' offensive coordinator job: Brian Billick: An analyst with Fox Sports, he is Falcons coach Mike Smith's brother-in-law. He had some high-powered offenses in Minnesota. In Baltimore as a head coach, his teams were known for defense. He guided them to a victory in Super Bowl XXXV. Tom Clements: The former Notre Dame star has been Green Bay's quarterbacks coach for the past six years. He would not become available until the Packers are eliminated from the playoffs. Clements, an attorney, was an offensive coordinator in Buffalo in 2004 and 2005."
January 13
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Could Brian Schottenheimer, formerly of the New York Jets, be the Falcons new offensive coordinator? NFL Network's Joe Theismann, who knows Schottenheimer from his days coaching with the Washington Redskins, linked him to the Falcons in a radio interview this morning on 680TheFan's morning show, the Rude Awakening with Chris Rude, Sandra Golden and Perry Laurentino."
January 12
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
columnist D. Orlando Ledbetter
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Falcons owner Arthur Blank admitted that he was "angry" after the team's early exit from the playoffs in a press conference on Wednesday. Blank, head coach Mike Smith and general manager Thomas Dimitroff spoke to the local media in the aftermath of a season that saw their Super Bowl hopes come crashing down in the wild-card round of the playoffs. Before the presser, the team had already lost defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder to a "family decision" to return to the college ranks and around the same time, offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey was being introduced as the new head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars."
January 12
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Arthur Blank was not happy with how last season turned out and he wanted to let Atlanta know all about his angst. He broke from his usual clinical approach and bared his soul to Falcons fans in a news conference that was carried live on local radio from his Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation's offices in Buckhead. Not many owners around the NFL have held this type of event where he let everyone know just how disappointed — he used the word "angry" when prodded by a radio personality — he was with the Falcons' 10-6 record and early exit from the wild-card round of the playoffs."
January 12
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Falcons wide receiver Roddy White was added to the NFC Pro Bowl team today, according to the NFL. White will replace Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson, who is unable to participate due to injury. White finished the season with 100 catches for 1,296 yards and eight touchdowns. He finished second in the NFL, and led the NFC in receptions for the second straight season."
January 12
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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The Falcons are entering into a new phase under general manager Thomas Dimitroff and coach Mike Smith. Let's just call it the "Makeover, Part Two." Since arriving in 2008, the two have worked together to turnaround the fortunes of the franchise trying to rebound from the Michael Vick era and Bobby Petrino leaving them at the altar. They have enjoyed unprecedented success, but Falcons owner Arthur Blank, pointing to three losses in the playoffs, is demanding more."
January 11
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
columnist D. Orlando Ledbetter
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Since returning from the playoff loss to the New York Giants, Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff has gone through two days of non-stop meetings with head coach Mike Smith and other members of the football operations department. In a wide-ranging Q&A with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Tuesday evening, Dimitroff discussed his spending on free agents Dunta Robinson and Ray Edwards, the Julio Jones trade, quarterback Matt Ryan, what the team will be looking for in a new defensive coordinator and how they'll attain a breakthrough in the playoffs."
January 10
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Brian VanGorder, the Falcons defensive coordinator for the last four seasons, resigned to accept the same post at Auburn on Monday. "Coach Brian VanGorder has accepted the position of defensive coordinator at Auburn University," Falcons coach Mike Smith said. "Brian has been an integral part of our success here over the last four years. I want to thank Brian and his family for all that they've done for our organization. I want to personally thank Brian for all of his hard work and all the work that he's done to make us successful here in Atlanta.""
January 10
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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The Falcons' offseason evaluation likely will address the failures in the running game, especially in short-yardage situations, a problem compounded by two unsuccessful fourth-and-1 opportunities in Sunday's 24-2 playoff loss to the Giants. "It's a big concern," coach Mike Smith said Monday at his season-ending news conference. "You've got confidence in your football team that they are going to be able to move the football a half yard. There were many times this season when we were unable to get that accomplished. In the past, our fourth-down efficiency has been very good. This year it's not so good.""
January 10
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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After suffering an embarrassing playoff loss for the third time in four seasons, the Falcons began a team makeover on Monday, signaled by the departure of Brian VanGorder to the college ranks. VanGorder, 52, Atlanta's defensive coordinator the past four seasons and linebackers coach for one season, left the team to accept the defensive coordinator position at Auburn. Neither Falcons coach Mike Smith nor VanGorder offered reasons for the change. While it appeared VanGorder might have been made a scapegoat, Smith would not address any specifics."
January 10
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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The Falcons had their year-end meetings, took physicals and cleared out their lockers on Monday, and no one was happy about it. "We didn't have the season that we wanted to have," said defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux. "Just getting to the playoffs obviously wasn't the goal. We wanted to win and go far in to the playoffs.""
January 9
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
columnist Mark Bradley
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In April they traded five draft picks to grab one wide receiver because they felt they needed to be more "explosive" to reach the Super Bowl. On Sunday the Atlanta Falcons saw that grand design blow up in their corporate face. Their sleek offense ran into the NFL's 27th-ranked defense and managed nary a point. Think about that. In a league where nobody can stop anybody, the Falcons' offense was outscored by its own defense. A year ago it was possible to write off the Green Bay loss as a case of the No. 1 seed being undone by a hot quarterback. These Falcons lost to a 9-7 opponent that didn't do much itself until it was clear the visiting team could do nothing. Said Mike Smith, 0-3 as a"
January 9
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Much to the dismay of the Falcons' front office and despite their best efforts, the Falcons are not a championship level NFL team. The Falcons were defeated by the New York Giants 24-2 and rudely escorted from the playoffs at MetLife Stadium before a raucous crowd of 79,909 fans on Sunday. After playing a gutsy first half, the Falcons were treated like imposters trying to crash a glitzy Broadway party in the second half."
January 9
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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After their pass defense failed again in the playoffs, the Falcons will have tough decisions to make over the offseason. Defensive end John Abraham, middle linebacker Curtis Lofton, cornerback Brent Grimes, safety Thomas DeCoud and defensive end Kroy Biermann are key free agents, and not all are likely to return. Abraham was the team's sack leader with 9.5, Lofton led the defense in tackles with 167 , DeCoud led the team in interceptions with four and Grimes was considered the team's man-to-man cover corner. Biermann was the top backup defensive end."
January 9
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Falcons owner Arthur Blank was hoping for a breakthrough for his team in the playoffs against the New York Giants on Sunday. But after a gutsy first half, the Falcons were defeated in their first postseason game for the third time over the past four seasons. After the 2008 season, they lost to Arizona in the wild-card round. Last season, as the No. 1 seed in the NFC, they were routed 48-21 by Green Bay at the Georgia Dome."