February 23
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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The San Diego Chargers released running back LaDainian Tomlinson Monday, after nine seasons. The Falcons plucked away his backup, Michael Turner, two seasons ago in free agency. Turner is currently backed up by Jerious Norwood and Jason Snelling. Both are set to become restricted free agents. Norwood will be one if a labor agreement isn't reach by March 1. Snelling, who played strong last season, finshed with a 147-yard rushing effort against Tampa Bay. He'll be a restricted free agent no matter what."
January 7
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Instead of getting ready this week for a first-round playoff game, Falcons coach Mike Smith and his staff are evaluating the 2009 season. He will share their findings with the media Monday, and general manager Thomas Dimitroff will discuss the franchise's plan going forward. NBC's lead NFL analyst Cris Collinsworth and NFL Network commentator Jamie Dukes share their views on five things the Falcons need to do to make the next step to elite status in the league. 1. Avoid injuries and get the running game back on track. The Falcons lost starters for more than 40 games this season. The biggest injury was to running back Michael Turner, who suffered a high right ankle sprain in Game 9. He ..."
December 22
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Despite re-injuring his ankle twice, Falcons running back Michael Turner will continue to try and play this season. "He started his rehabilitation this morning," Falcons coach Mike Smith said Monday. "We want to get him back as quickly as possible because there are still two more games to play." Turner was originally injured when Carolina's Chris Gamble tackled him in the second quarter of a game on Nov. 15 in Charlotte. After sitting out two weeks, Turner came back against Tampa Bay on Nov. 29 and had 12 carries for 33 yards before he was hit on the ankle again. Then on Sunday on the first play of the game against the Jets, he was hit on the right ankle again by New York safety Jim ..."
December 21
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Falcons running back Michael Turner was knocked out the game again Sunday, after taking another shot to his the same injured right ankle. Later, he was not sure the event was a coincidence On the Falcons' first play of the game, Turner charged up the middle for seven yards before New York Jets safety Jimmy Leonhard hit Turner low, plowing into the ankle that is still recovering from a five-week-old high sprain. Turner was originally injured when Carolina's Chris Gamble drilled him in the second quarter of a game on Nov. 15. "Michael did not get out of his first carry," Falcons coach Mike Smith said. Turner expects opposing teams to target his ankle, but stopped short of calling Leonhard's ..."
December 18
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan and running back Michael Turner returned to practice on Thursday and both are hopeful they will be able to play against the New York Jets on Sunday. Both have missed the last two games. Ryan suffered a turf toe injury and Turner has recurrent a right ankle sprain. "Nobody likes to have to sit down," Ryan said. Turner originally was injured against Carolina on Nov. 15."
December 13
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan, who is battling a turf toe injury, will not play today against the New Orleans Saints. Ryan, who guided the Falcons to the playoffs as a rookie and was named the league's rookie of the year, was placed on the inactive list for the game. The Falcons are 6-6 and need a victory over the 12-0 Saints to keep their playoff hopes alive. Ryan suffered the injury early in the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Nov. 29. He did not play last week against the Philadelphia Eagles. Chris Redman, a seven year veteran, will make his 12th career start at quarterback for the Falcons. Also, running back Michael Turner, who re-injured a high ankle sprain will trying to ..."
December 12
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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The Atlanta Falcons are in must-win mode with a 6-6 record, but their roster isn't cooperating. Quarterback Matt Ryan and tailback Michael Turner officially are listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints at the Georgia Dome after missing practice all week with toe and ankle injuries. Top cornerback Chris Houston has been ruled out with a hamstring injury, and the offensive line is banged up, among other positions. Ryan and Turner have been deemed "game-time decisions." Ryan, who missed last week's game against the Philadelphia Eagles, was able to participate in walk-through sessions this week. Falcons Coach Mike Smith said Ryan will play if the team believes ..."
December 5
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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For the third consecutive day, four Falcons offensive starters did not practice for Sunday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Quarterback Matt Ryan (turf toe), running back Michael Turner (ankle), wide receiver Michael Jenkins (ankle) and right guard Harvey Dahl (ankle) did not practice Friday. While Ryan has been ruled out of the game, the other three players were listed as questionable on the injury report."
December 4
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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The Falcons received some good injury news. Wide receiver Brian Finneran returned to practice and looks as if he'll be able to play Sunday against the Eagles. "Having Brian back is going to be big for us," Falcons coach Mike Smith said Thursday. "It gives us another healthy wide receiver." Finneran suffered a left knee injury against Washington and has missed the past three games. "He's looking very good," Smith said. "He's moving around. It should be a go for him." Quarterback Matt Ryan (turf toe), running back Michael Turner (ankle), wide receiver Michael Jenkins (ankle) and right guard Harvey Dahl (ankle) did not practice for the second consecutive day."
December 3
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Running back Michael Turner doesn't regret coming back and trying to play on a high right ankle sprain against Tampa Bay. "I'll do it every time," Turner said on Wednesday. "The team needs me out there. We need everybody out there. If I can go and give some type of effort, I'll suit up and go each time. I don't have any regrets about that." Turner re-injured the ankle and is "day-to-day" for Sunday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles. He doesn't think he came back too soon, just 14 days after the initial injury."
November 30
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
columnist Mark Bradley
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That wasn't mere urgency at their backs on that final drive. It was utter desperation. The Falcons can read the schedule and the standings, and they know the difference between 6-5 and 5-6 is more than one game, especially when the opponent tipping the balance arrived at 1-9. "Going under .500," Roddy White would say later, after he'd caught the fourth-down touchdown pass that won it, "that's desperation." The Falcons escaped Sunday's game with a season's worth of hopes still alive, but with every week those hopes are tempered by mounting reality. They started 4-1. Then they lost four of five. They were one play from making it five of six against an overmatched opponent coached by a man ..."
November 30
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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The Falcons' win over Tampa Bay came at a considerable price. Over the course of the game, quarterback Matt Ryan, running back Michael Turner, guard Harvey Dahl and, depending on whom you ask, offensive tackle Sam Baker all left the game with injuries. Their prognoses for Sunday's game against Philadelphia and beyond are uncertain. Ryan was out after the first series with a toe injury on his right foot, replaced by Chris Redman. Turner left in the third quarter after reinjuring his right ankle. Dahl and Baker left in the first half. According to a press box announcement, Dahl injured his right ankle and Achilles tendon. While coach Mike Smith said Baker was "banged up in a number of ..."
November 28
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Falcons running back Michael Turner was listed as "questionable" on the team's injury report that was released Friday. Turner, the team's leading rusher, suffered a high ankle sprain against Carolina on Nov. 15 and did not play Sunday against the New York Giants. He has been limited this week in practice. The questionable designation means the Falcons believe Turner has a 50 percent chance of playing against Tampa Bay at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Georgia Dome."
November 27
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Running backs Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood both practiced again on Thursday. Norwood fully participated, while Turner was limited. "Jerious is definitely ahead of Mike," Smith said. "Mike is probably going to down to the wire in terms of a game-time decision on if he's going to be able to play or not.""
November 26
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Falcons running back Michael Turner, who has been receiving continued treatment for his right high ankle sprain, returned to practice on Wednesday. "Michael was limited today and took some reps," Falcons coach Mike Smith said. "Hopefully, we'll get a good read on him after practice and tomorrow." Turner was injured early in the second quarter against Carolina and did not play last week against the New York Giants. The Falcons are hopeful that he will be able to play against Tampa Bay on Sunday."
November 24
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Falcons running back Michael Turner has been receiving continued treatment for his right high ankle sprain, but he remains uncertain how close he is to returning to action. "I'm just taking it easy right now and hoping for the best," Turner said Monday. The team's leading rushing, Turner didn't play against the New York Giants on Sunday, nor did he test the injury, suffered against Carolina on Nov.15, by running on the field before the game. "We didn't get that far," Turner said. Jason Snelling, who filled in for Turner, is likely to do so again Sunday against Tampa Bay. But Turner doesn't want to rule himself out yet. "It's an ankle sprain," Turner said. "These injuries are kind of like ..."
November 21
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Falcons running back Michael Turner, who has not practiced since suffering a high right ankle sprain last Sunday, was listed as "doubtful" Friday for Sunday's game against the New York Gaints. The team released its NFL-mandated injury report. Also, wide receiver Brian Finneran was declared out for the game, an important NFC battle between two 5-4 teams. Under NFL rules, the "doubtful" designation means that there is a 75 percent chance that Turner will not play."
November 19
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Backup running back Jason Snelling is preparing to start for Michael Turner against the New York Giants on Sunday. "My approach is that I'm going to be coming in and starting this game," said Snelling on Wednesday. "That's the mind-set that I have to have this week." Turner suffered a high ankle sprain against Carolina and did not practice. He would not rule himself out of Sunday's game. "I don't have a time frame on the injury," Turner said. "I'm not going to count myself out right now. It's only Wednesday. I'm going to take a couple of days. Later on in the week, I'll know for sure if I'll be able to play or not." Falcons coach Mike Smith remains hopeful that Turner will recuperate. ..."
November 18
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Falcons running back Michael Turner, who suffered a high ankle sprain against Carolina and will not practice on Wednesday, did not rule himself out for Sunday's game against the New York Giants. "I don't have a time frame on the injury," Turner told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Wednesday. "I'm not going to count myself out right now. It's only Wednesday. I'm going to take a couple of days. Later on in the week, I 'll know for sure if I'll be able to play or not." Falcons coach Mike Smith told the New York media in a conference call that Turner would not participate in practice and that he was "day to day." A few weeks back, Smith said Jerious Norwood was "day to day" with a hip ..."
November 15
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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An extended lost of running back Michael Turner could handicap the Falcons in their bid for a second consecutive playoff trip. Turner was turning in another stellar effort before suffering a sprained right ankle. The injury was severe enough for him not to return to the game. He had nine rushes for 111 yards with just over nine minutes left in the second quarter before going down. He left the game after two runs to move the ball down to Carolina's 15 with 9:08 left in the second quarter. On a 10-yard run up the middle, he was tackled by Carolina's Jon Beason and left the game. He was seen trying to walk for the trainers on the sidelines before leaving the field to go to the locker room. ..."
November 14
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Falcons running back Michael Turner won the FedEx Ground player of the week award on Friday for his 166-yard rushing performance last week against the Washington Redskins. Turner was selected for the award over Cincinnati's Cedric Benson and Tennessee Chris Johnson."
October 26
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
columnist Jeff Schultz
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After a performance that saw them commit three turnovers, allow four sacks, have their running back again look like he was trying to move with bricks tied to his ankles, allow a 72-yard punt return for a touchdown and generally get slam-danced Sunday by a Dallas team that struggled to defeat Kansas City, we can safely say this about the Falcons: They're probably not this bad. But do you know what they have been? Fortunate. After weeks of tiptoeing over hot coals with a scrambled secondary, they finally watched an opponent turn yards into touchdowns. After weeks of skating on offense despite mediocre performances from a sluggish-looking Michael Turner, having only half of a well-functioning ..."
September 12
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Michael Turner, the Atlanta Falcons Pro Bowl running back, is Mr. YAC. Yards After Contact. Turner led the NFL in that category (913 yards) as well as broken tackles last season. From the sounds of it, Channing Crowder and his friends on the Dolphins' defense have heard enough about those tidy little factoids to make them want to, you know, yack. Not just from the media. From a Dolphins coaching staff eager to whip them into a frenzy. "It's inspirational," says Crowder. "We're in defensive meetings, all together, and it's all about how great a running back [Turner] is and how one guy can't take him down and we've got to get to the ball." Crowder shakes his head. His eyes bulge. "You're ..."
January 10
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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The awards continue to pile up for the Falcons. Running back Michael Turner and defensive end John Abraham were named to the Associated Press 2008 NFL All-Pro teams announced Friday. Turner, who rushed for 1,699 yards and a team-record 17 rushing touchdowns during the regular season, was named to the first team. Abraham, who set the franchise record for most sacks in a season with 16.5, was named to the second team. The All-Pro teams consist of the best players in the league from both conferences as voted on by a panel of 50 sportswriters and broadcasters who cover the NFL. Baltimore safety Ed Reed was the only unanimous selection. Falcons coach Mike Smith and general manager Thomas ..."