"We've got to keep the push up the middle off our quarterback," Smith said.
The Falcons took care of some important business the previous day,Wholesale Jerseys Free Shipping, completing a four-year contract extension with receiver Roddy White. The deal, reported to be worth up to $30 million, takes White a step closer to spending his entire career with the Falcons.
The Falcons unexpectedly waived second-year receiver Darius Johnson, who made a surprising contribution after star Julio Jones went down with the a season-ending injury. An undrafted rookie, Johnson wound up playing in 10 games, including two starts, and finished with 22 receptions for 210 yards and a touchdown.
The 32-year-old was heading into the final year of his contract before agreeing to the extension,Wholesale Jerseys Free Shipping, which is expected to clear some additional salary cap space.
Not after what happened a year ago,Cheap NFL Jerseys.
But the Falcons were clearly bolstered by No. 11's return.
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons won't be easing their way into this season.
Jones and White will have to carry the bulk of the receiving load now that tight end Tony Gonzalez has moved to the television studio.
"I can't tell you irrevocably that last year was an aberration," offensive guard Justin Blalock said. "But we know how to play ball around here. We know how our program works. We're not going to just completely throw all that out the window because of one season."
Heeding that admonition, first-round pick Jake Matthews — expected to move right in as a starter on Atlanta's beleaguered offensive line — got into a scuffle with defensive end Kroy Biermann about 90 minutes into practice.
On a more positive note, Jones took part in the first practice after recovering from a broken bone in his right foot — the same bone he broke during his college career.
Looking to get bigger and stronger, Atlanta drafted Matthews with the sixth overall pick and signed free agent Jon Asamoah, who will take over a guard position.
Coming off a dismal 4-12 record — their first losing mark since 2007 — the Falcons opened training camp Friday eager to show it won't happen again.
White battled a high ankle sprain much of last season, missing games for the first time in his career, but a strong finish showed the team he's still one of the league's best receivers.
Smith would not discuss why Johnson was let go right before camp, but it opens up some competition for the fifth receiver slot behind Jones,Wholesale NFL Jerseys, Roddy White, Harry Douglas and newcomer Devin Hester.
"He was running routes very well," Smith said. "We have a prescription we're going to try to stand by the first couple of weeks and then make an evaluation after that. But it was great to see Julio back on the field."
"I'd like to see the intensity level from day one be much higher than what it's been in the past,Cheap NFL Jerseys Supply," coach Mike Smith said. "I think everybody understands there's a sense of urgency in what we want to accomplish."
Jones was held out of offseason drills and will only be practicing every other day during camp, all in hopes of making sure he is at full speed for the Sept. 7 opener against New Orleans.
Gonzalez retired after making 83 catches for 859 yards and eight touchdowns in his final season, the sort of numbers that aren't expected out of his successor, second-year player Levine Toilolo.
"I always had faith in them and they've got faith in me," White said. "It was just working out numbers and getting the right thing done so I can be here long term."
Much of the attention in training camp will be on the offensive line, which was downright atrocious last season. Quarterback Matt Ryan was sacked a career-high 44 times and the Falcons ranked last in the league in rushing.
The teammates were quickly separated, but that's the sort of feistiness Smith wants to see throughout camp.
"It's a little different without (Gonzalez) out there," White said. "His ability to get open, catch balls and stuff like that. Harry is going to have to make a lot of plays on the inside,Atlanta Falcons Jersey, and Devin is going to have to contribute and help us out."
While acknowledging they can't go through another season like the last, the Falcons don't want to dismiss all the success they had before that — five straight winning seasons, two division titles, and nearly reaching t作者:
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While the Browns are downplaying Manziel's injury,Atlanta Hawks Jerseys, it's more drama for the 22-year-old whose bad rookie season was followed by a 10-week rehab stint for an unspecified condition. The team has been satisfied with Manziel's progress on and off the field, and Pettine doesn't view the injury as a roadblock in the development of the former first-round draft pick.
Pryor's chances of making Cleveland's roster lessen every day he's not on the field, and Pettine said he's "hopeful" the former Oakland quarterback will play against the Buccaneers. Pryor's snaps were limited Wednesday, and Pettine said the key will be how he responds from the workload and if he can build off it for Thursday.
Meanwhile, Pro Bowl cornerback Joe Haden and wide receiver-in-training Terrelle Pryor returned to practice after being sidelined with hamstring injuries.
Mike Pettine said the second-year quarterback will likely sit out an exhibition Saturday at Tampa Bay,Cheap Arizona Cardinals Hoodies.
Pettine said afterward the Browns will discuss signing another quarterback. Among the free agents available are Jason Campbell, Tyler Thigpen and Josh Johnson, who have all spent time with Cleveland.
Browns Pro Bowl safety Tashaun Gipson also returned after missing time with a calf injury,Wholesale Jerseys Free Shipping.
Manziel was not available for interviews following practice. His injury clears the way for McCown to be named Cleveland's starter for the Week 1 opener against the New York Jets, an announcement Pettine has delayed.
BEREA, Ohio (AP) — Johnny Manziel entered the NFL with a flair for making sensational plays. And, as it turns out,NFL Jerseys Wholesale, an elbow problem.
"It hasn't bounced all the way back," Pettine said. "We're going to err on the side of caution."
Manziel will have fewer snaps now that training camp is over, and that should help his elbow, Pettine said.
"He's managed it, and I just think he just went a little bit too far with it," Pettine said. "Could he play if he had to? More than likely he could. But why do that in the preseason? If this was the regular season it might be a different story. But we just want to be cautious and not have it develop into something that can continue to bother him throughout the year."
Manziel has been slowed by soreness for at least the past two weeks of training camp. The pain flared up Sunday on a long throw, forcing him off the field for the final 30 minutes of practice. He didn't throw on Monday, and following a scheduled off day for the team, Manziel was again limited to just handing the ball off during Wednesday's workout.
Manziel's right elbow soreness — a problem the Browns said has troubled the former Texas A&M star since he was in high school — isn't going away, so the team is shutting him down.
An MRI did not reveal any structural damage in the 2012 Heisman Trophy winner's elbow.
Pettine said Manziel has been able to handle the elbow issue in the past.
"I just see it as a minor setback," Pettine said. "If this was something he hadn't experienced before and the MRI showed some damage,Wholesale Jerseys China, I mean I would be a lot more concerned."
"It wasn't ideal to have guys back and have the field be slick," Pettine said. "But there weren't any issues with it,Cheap Air Max 2018, so hopefully we can get him out there tomorrow and if he makes it through tomorrow he should be good to go for Saturday."
If Manziel is out, the team is down to just presumed starter Josh McCown and veteran backup Thad Lewis. Connor Shaw, who started Cleveland's season finale in 2014 and was listed No. 3 on the depth chart, recently underwent ligament surgery on his right thumb and will miss significant time.
