Atlanta Falcons Cut Down to Final 53

Days like today are some of the toughest for an NFL head coach and his staff, when they have to tell hard-working young men “Thanks for the effort, but we wish you well in the future.” The NFL mandates that all teams cut rosters down to 53 players today, and the Atlanta Falcons announced their final roster cuts a few hours ago.

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NFL Rumors: Atlanta Falcons Roster Cuts May Bring Some Surprises

Today is the day the Atlanta Falcons roster cuts, along with the rest of the NFL, have to bring the roster down to the mandatory 53 men.  Like most teams, there were bound to be a few surprises, and the Falcons certainly had a few unexpected cuts.

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Atlanta Falcons Will Give Young Players a Lot of Reps Against Jaguars

In tonight’s preseason finale for the Atlanta Falcons against the Jacksonville Jaguars, I wouldn’t expect to see a lot of familiar names.  The final preseason game is going to be a showcase for a lot of  young, hungry guys to make their last impression on the Falcons coaching staff.

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Atlanta Falcons Roster Cuts Continue: Release Chris Redman, Sign Luke McCown

The changes under center for the Atlanta Falcons continued this week, as Atlanta released number two quarterback Chris Redman, and signed nine-year NFL veteran QB Luke McCown to backup starting quarterback Matt Ryan.

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The Atlanta Braves Playoff Path Could Be Fraught With Peril

It’s been a question for Atlanta Braves fans a number of times this season. If the Braves hold on and make it to the post-season, do they have what it takes to get back to the World Series for the first time since 1999?

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Rant Sports 100 in 100 College Football Previews: No.5 Georgia Bulldogs

The 2012 college football season is now right around the corner. Today we head to the Southeastern Conference to preview the No.5 school on the Rant Sports 100 in 100 college football preview series, the University of Georgia Bulldogs.

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Rant Sports “What If” – Ted Turner Doesn’t Sell to AOL/Time-Warner?

In January ESPN’s Rob Parker called Atlanta the “worst sports town in America”.  Arguments have been made for and against Parker’s assertion of the south’s capital city, but one thing is certain about Atlanta:

Ted Turner put Atlanta sports on the map, and had he not been strong-armed into selling out to AOL/Time-Warner, things would be very different for all the city’s teams.

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John Parker Wilson Released by Atlanta Falcons, Dominique Davis Now Number Three QB

As I predicted in my earlier column, the Atlanta Falcons have indeed released backup quarterback John Parker Wilson, which means that rookie and former undrafted free agent Dominique Davis will be at least the third string quarterback, and he may even challenge Chris Redman for the second string spot.

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Atlanta Falcons Begin Making Moves to Cut Roster

Now that the third preseason game is in the books, the time has come for roster cuts to begin.  The Atlanta Falcons have until 4pm ET on Monday August, 27 to bring the roster down to 75 players, as mandated by the NFL.

A number of roster moves were made to begin that process:

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GUEST BLOG POST: Why DeSean Jackson Needs To Give His Full Effort For The Eagles To Succeed

 13-year old guest blogger Emily Gruver has graced us with another article.  She's definitely a young lady who has her finger on the pulse of the Philadelphia sports world.  Please be sure to mention her work to your friends, and follow her on Twitter @emily_gruver

When looking back at the Philadelphia Eagles season last year, the word that comes to mind the most is the word disappointment. The expectations for every player and coach in that locker room were set very high and the Eagles failed to reach them. You could make several different arguments for the reasons why and what caused it. Now even higher expectations are set for them this season.

Recently, Eagles star wide receiver DeSean Jackson told ESPN's Lisa Salters that he didn't give a full effort last season because he didn't want to get injured before signing a new contract. It was fairly obvious that Jackson didn't give his all last season.

 Jackson's lack of effort was a huge disappointment, and caused problems for the team in a number of ways.  At one point, when questioned about his effort he said "I let it get to me, even though I tried not to let it. I was trying to protect myself from getting hurt, now I'm just giving it my all." 

Even Lance Armstrong Couldn’t Save Cycling From Itself and the USADA

To me, the question isn’t whether or not Lance Armstrong took anything that helped to “enhance” his performance in winning seven straight Tour de France races. The question is why do the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) and various cycling organizations insist on continuing with a witch hunt against the one man who could have helped the sport maintain some relevancy?

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Missouri Will Be the Biggest Trap Game of the Season for Georgia

The Georgia Bulldogs are ranked number six in the AP Preseason Top 25 poll, and are picked by many to come out on top of the SEC East in 2012.  The Bulldogs themselves may even have flashing aspirations of an SEC or even national championship.  Only one thing remains standing in Georgia’s way….playing the games on the schedule.

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NFL Rumors: Atlanta Falcons Could Consider Signing Jeff Otah

With a near-lethal mixture of rookies, injuries, and under-performing veterans, the Atlanta Falcons offensive line is in need of some help.  Jeff Otah, who’s trade from the Carolina Panthers to the New York Jets was nullified when he couldn’t pass the physical, might be a possible stop-gap solution.

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Atlanta Braves Division Title Hopes All But Fizzle Against Strasburg

Coming into the series with the Washington Nationals this week, the mantra for the Atlanta Braves and their faithful seemed to be “Sweep or bust!”  Unfortunately, it looks like it might end up being just that…in the wrong direction.

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It’s Time for the Atlanta Falcons to Disable Roddy White’s “Send” Button

Just when you think the Atlanta Falcons‘ outspoken wide receiver Roddy White is getting it, and knows that discretion is the better part of valor…he regresses back to his typical ways, and says something regrettable on social media.

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Falcons Will Miss Tamba Hali and Catch a Break for Season Opener

Anytime you have a game coming up against a team with a double-digit sack guy on defense, you have to adjust your game plan to make sure that guy doesn’t disrupt your offense.  The Atlanta Falcons now don’t have to worry about that part of the game in their season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs on September 9.

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Atlanta Falcons Lose Will Svitek for Season With Arm Injury

The Atlanta Falcons have showed a significant lack of depth so far in the 2012 NFL preseason and one of the positions they were thinnest in just got a little thinner as the team announced that backup offensive tackle Will Svitek is out of the season with an upper arm injury.

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GUEST BLOG POST: Why the Oklahoma City Thunder Need to Re-sign James Harden

This is the first post by 13-year old guest blogger Emily Gruver.  Emily is an aspiring sports journalist from Pennsylvania who writes for a few different blogs.  I'm happy to include her work here on Georgia Sports Craze and hopefully help to further her career.  You can follow Emily on Twitter @emily_gruver

There aren't many players who are as talented at their position as James Harden.

A few days ago, a deal went down that caused some Oklahoma City Thunder fans to become concerned, and even cringe a little.  It was the re-signing of power forward Serge Ibaka to a 4-year, $48 million contract extension. The Thunder now have to be careful about their money moving forward.

Clearly, Serge Ibaka can be a phenomenal player, and he tallied up some pretty good numbers last season, averaging 9.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 3.7 blocks per game. Even with those numbers, it's clear he can improve and get much better from here on out, especially since he's only 22 years old.

The Atlanta Braves’ Ben Sheets May Have Hit the Wall

In July, the Atlanta Braves picked up starting pitcher Ben Sheets after two years away from baseball.  It was a low-risk/high-reward type of signing.  If Sheets did well, he’d be hailed as an amazing comeback story who helped bring the Braves back to post-season play.  If he flopped, the Braves spent a minimal amount of money to give another aging pitcher a shot.

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NFL Rumors: Dominique Davis Could Be Moving Up the Falcons’ Depth Chart

Matt Ryan doesn’t have anything to worry about.  He’s the Atlanta Falcons franchise quarterback. However, Chris Redman and John Parker Wilson had best check their rear view mirrors, because here comes Dominique Davis.

Both Redman and Wilson had fairly forgettable performances in the Falcons first two preseason games, while Davis not only made the most of his limited time on the field, but also seemed to have...

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MLB Can Only Blame Themselves for the Melky Cabrera Controversy

You would think when a MLB player tests positive for performance enhancing drugs, gets suspended, and comes clean about it publicly, there would be little or no controversy.  But when you are dealing with professional sport’s least progressive league, all bets are off.

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Atlanta Falcons Depth Will Be Tested Against Bengals

For all the good things that coaches saw when the Atlanta Falcons played the Baltimore Ravens in their preseason opener last week, it was all overshadowed by one huge, glaring, unmistakable fact.

The Falcons are sorely lacking depth at just about every position.

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Atlanta Braves Looking at Six-Man Rotation for Late Season Push

With the now-dreaded month of September looming on the Atlanta Braves schedule, manager Fredi Gonzalez is trying to figure out the best way to keep the arms fresh in both the starting rotation, and the bullpen.  One option being considered is a six-man starting rotation once the September roster expansion happens.

So who would the Braves go with?  The Braves have nine potential starting pitchers on the roster who could be used.    

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Akeem Dent Placed Under NFL Concussion Protocol Program

The infant 2012 Atlanta Falcons season has only seen one preseason game, and Atlanta, who already lost rookie fullback Bradie Ewing for the season to injury, got more bad news today.

The team announced that middle linebacker Akeem Dent will be out for the foreseeable future in accordance with the league’s concussion protocol program.

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Julio Jones Looks to Become Unleashed in 2012

It’s only been one preseason game, but Atlanta Falcons‘ wide receiver Julio Jones showed, in just one quarter of football against one of the best defenses in the league, why the Falcons took the gamble of trading away a bounty of draft choices to get him in the 2011 NFL Draft.

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Falcons Rookie Bradie Ewing Out for Season

In what has become an all too familiar tale during the NFL preseason, another player was lost for the season to injury.  This time it was the Atlanta Falcons rookie fullback Bradie Ewing.

Not only is this a pretty big hit for Atlanta, but it’s a sad story for Ewing... (Read More)

Atlanta Falcons Preseason Opener Was a Costly Loss, But With an Upside

Just a few words to all the Atlanta Falcons fans and followers.  It’s the preseason, and it’s going to be fine.  Yes, the Falcons ended up on the wrong side of a 31-17 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, but the news isn’t all bad, not by a longshot.  So to loosely quote Atlanta and ESPN radio personality John Kincade: Just open the bottle, sit back,…and let it breathe.

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Atlanta Falcons Preseason Match-Up: “New” O-Line vs Courtney Upshaw

A lot has been made this off-season about the Atlanta Falcons practically standing pat on what was a poorly performing offensive line from 2011.  During the preseason opener against the Baltimore Ravens, that “new” offensive line will be put to the test by a perennially elite defense, with a brand new addition.

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Former Atlanta Hawks Star Dan Roundfield Drowns While Saving Wife

Dan Roundfield  1953-2012

Former Atlanta Hawks forward/center Dan Roundfield drowned on Monday, off the Caribbean island of Aruba while helping his wife as she was struggling in rough waters. He was 59.

Roundfield, who played 11 professional seasons with the Indiana Pacers, Detroit Pistons, Washington Bullets, as well as Atlanta, had been swimming with his wife, Bernie, on Monday when they...

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The Most Devastating NFL Preseason Injuries Ever

We’ve all heard the arguments about the NFL preseason, and some of the problems that it brings with it.  Yes, it’s a chance for the coaches to get a look at players, and make determinations as to who is going to make the squad.  But the games don’t mean anything, so why risk your key players?

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Atlanta Falcons – Tennessee Titans Scrimmage; Mike Smith Takes Hit

The Atlanta Falcons and Tennessee Titans have a history of some brutal scrimmages and joint practice sessions.  However, with a no tackling to the ground rule, this year was to be a toned-down version…at least for the players.

Falcons’ head coach Mike Smith didn’t figure players needed to be warned about not leveling coaches on the field.  As he stood near the 50-yard line at the Coahulla Creek High School field in Dalton, Ga. where the practice was being held, he found himself a recipient of the biggest hit of the day.   (Read More)

Atlanta Falcons Get No Love in the AP NFL Pro32 Power Rankings

It’s the August NFL list that has caused many a football fan to cringe, and sent many expletives flying into space.  The first ever AP NFL Pro32 Power Rankings (Pre-Season) are out, and the Atlanta Falcons find themselves down near the middle of the pack.

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The Atlanta Falcons Refuse to be a Part of the Saints ‘Rebirth’

The New Orleans Saints built a statue commemorating a very famous moment with their most bitter rival, but the Atlanta Falcons don’t want any part of it.  Is this sour grapes by Atlanta, or just the Saints rubbing the Falcons’ noses in it?

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