The Falcons are officially back as 2014 XFINITY Atlanta Falcons Training Camp began Friday. Fans gathered on the hill to watch their favorite players practice.
Two falcons watch the first day of training camp from the hill.
Two falcons fans share an umbrella while watching training camp from the hill.
CB Jordan Mabin
T Sam Baker, T Mike Johnson, G Jon Asamoah, C Joe Hawley
WR Julio Jones
WR Geraldo Boldewijn
RB Steven Jackson
WR Julio Jones
WR Roddy White
CB Jordan Mabin
T Mike Johnson
LB Yawin Smallwood
QB T.J. Yates
CB Javier Arenas
WR Harry Douglas
CB Robert Alford
DE Tyson Jackson and DT Paul Soliai
QB T.J. Yates
RB Steven Jackson
The "Share a Coke" campaign made a stop at Flowery Branch today.
CB Robert Alford
Line backers coach Glenn Pires
CB Desmond Trufant
QB T.J. Yates takes the snap from C Joe Hawley
TE Levine Toilolo
TE Mickey Shuler
TE Bear Pascoe
Offensive line coach Mike Tice works with his group
C Joe Hawley
QB Matt Ryan
Assistant General Manager Scott Pioli
WR Courtney Roby
WR Jeremy Ebert
WR Courtney Roby
WR Geraldo Boldewijn
DE Ra'Shede Hageman
DT Jonathan Babineaux
CB Desmond Trufant makes a leap
General Manager Thomas Dimitroff
WR Julio Jones
WR Roddy White
Offensive line coach Mike Tice walks through the field during stretching
Fans take photos at the training camp sign
"Welcome to Flowery Branch!"
Make sure you pick up a copy of the official training camp fan guide
There were free skin cancer screenings on Friday. The group will be back again on Sunday. Get screened!
K Matt Bryant signs autographs
HBO's "Hard Knocks" crew captures head coach Mike Smith talking to assistant to the head coach, Devin Bonik
CB Desmond Trufant
CB Josh Wilson
WR Freddie Martino
WR Bernard Reedy
WR Jeremy Ebert
CB Robert Alford talks to CB Desmond Trufant
DE Tyson Jackson
DT Peria Jerry
CB Javier Arenas
WR Harry Douglas
WR Roddy White
CB Ricardo Allen goes up against WR Julio Jones
Head coach Mike Smith gives a thumbs up
DT Paul Soliai
T Jake Matthews
DE Kroy Biermann
QB T.J. Yates throws a pass
The 2014 XFINITY® Atlanta Falcons Training Camp has begun and the fans have arrived with it, excited to see the players compete for a spot on the 53-man roster and hopeful for a glimpse, and maybe an autograph, of their favorite player. Whether they are a diehard Falcons fan following players from their Alma Mater or it is their first time at training camp, fans lined up hours before the 2:30 p.m. gate opening at Flowery Branch.
Richard Pillsbury, a 20-year-old Atlanta native, received a football signed by Paul Worrilow for being the first person in line. A lifelong Falcons fan, he is looking forward to what the new coaches and players are going to bring to the team this year.
Sitting behind Pillsbury, Travis Hurd, Will Hurd, and Brad Brown made the hour-and-a-half trek from Calhoun, Ga. to be here for the first open practice.
"I'm excited just to get to see some football finally. We've been waiting a long time it seems," Brown said.
He isn't the only one.
Sixteen-year-old Jordan Bischoff held a sign that read "This is Dirty Bird Country" with signatures from past and current players surrounding the bold letters. Jordan's dad, Jay Bischoff, explained the sign started two years ago at the Friday Night Lights game, which is around the same time his daughter really got into the team. Since then, the sign has been to exhibition games, season games, another Friday Night Lights game, six to eight training camp sessions, and two player signings.
"It was appreciated by William Moore last year at the Friday Night Lights game," Bischoff said. "He was very impressed with the sign and signed it a second time."
The Bischoff's were not the only ones with autographs. Brandon Keeler was sitting with his fiancé, Cassie Gee, and proudly displayed a Falcons football helmet autographed by head coach Mike Smith.
A Falcons fan since 1993, Keeler has been coming to the opening day of training camp since 2005. That was also the time he purchased a football and set a goal to have it signed by Falcons players to the point where there is no longer any room for another signature.
Not only is Keeler excited to fill up his football and helmet with signatures, he's excited to see what the team has to offer this year, especially the defense.
"Pat Angerer is going to be a really good player. I think he'll teach (Paul) Worrilow a lot more than what he already knows, and he already came in really well last year," Keeler said.
