FLOWERY BRANCH – Als Entscheidungsträger hat man es nie leicht, die Träume seiner Schützlinge platzen lassen zu müssen. Denn der jährlich anstehende Roster Cut bedeutet nicht nur, dass Spieler entlassen werden, sondern auch, dass Karriere-Träume ein jähes Ende finden könnten. Das Business in der NFL hart. Doch die Entscheidung für die Verantwortlichen ist noch härter, wie Head Coach Raheem Morris durchblicken ließ: "Wenn die Entscheidung, wen man behält und wen man gehen lässt, leichtfällt, bin ich weg", sagte Morris. "Ich gehe, wenn die Entscheidung leichtfällt, denn das ist immer schwierig. Wir sind eine Organisation, in der die Menschen an erster Stelle stehen, und so werde ich auch immer bleiben."
Und so dauerte es tatsächlich auch bis Punkt 22:00 Uhr deutscher Zeit, bis die Falcons ihr Roster für die kommende Saison verkündeten. Das sind die Spieler, die nach dem Roster Cut ihren Traum in der Saison 2024 bei den Falcons leben dürfen:
Quarterback (3):
Kirk Cousins / Michael Penix Jr. / Taylor Heinecke
Running Back (4):
Bijan Robinson / Tyler Allgeier / Avery Williams / Jase McClellan
Wide Receiver (5):
Drake London / Darnell Mooney / Ray-Ray McCloud / KhaDarel Hodge / Casey Washington
Tight End (3):
Kyle Pitts / Charlie Woerner / Ross Dwelley
Offensive Line (9):
Jake Matthews / Matthew Bergeron / Drew Dalman / Chris Lindstrom / Kaleb McGary / Ryan Neuzil / Kyle Hinton / Storm Norton / Jovaughn Gwyn
Defensive Line (8):
Grady Jarett / David Onyemata / Ta'Quan Graham / Zach Harrison / Eddie Goldman / Kentavius Street / Ruke Orhorhoro / Brandon Dorlus
Outside Linebacker (5):
Matthew Judon / Lorenzo Carter / Arnold Ebiketie / James Smith-Williams / DeAngelo Malone
Inside Linebacker (4):
Kaden Elliss / Troy Andersen / Nate Landman / JD Bertrand
Cornerback (5):
A.J. Terrell / Mike Hughes / Dee Alford / Clark Philipps III / Antonio Hamilton Sr.
Safety (4):
Jessie Bates III / Justin Simmons / Richie Grant / Micah Abernathy
Specialists (3):
Younghoe Koo (Kicker) / Bradley Pinion (Punter) / Liam McCullough (Long Snapper)
Damit steht also auch fest, für wen der Traum (jedenfalls vorerst) maximal in einem Practice Squad weitergehen könnte. Folgende Spieler haben es nicht in das First-Team geschafft:
Released:
Chris Blair / Natrone Brooke / Spencer Brown / Dylan Drummond / Prince Emili / John FitzPatrick / O.J. Hiliare / Anthony Johnson / Zion Logue / LaCale London / Jesse Matthews / Kenny Oginni / Jayden Price / Andrew Stueber / Tre Tarpley III / Tommy Togiai / Carlos Washington / Barry Wesley / Dane Cruikshank / Julien Davenport / Demone Harris / Kevin King
Waived / Injured:
Milo Eifler / Josh Thompson
Reserve / Injured:
DeMarcco Hellams
Get a monochrome look at the matchup between the Atlanta Falcons and the Jacksonville Jaguars at Mercedes-Benz Stadium during Preseason Week 3.
Scenes from the Dirty Birds Nest during the Atlanta Falcons preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga. on Friday, August 23, 2024. (Photo by Matthew Bish/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons offensive lineman Kyle Hinton #68 lines up for a play during the Preseason Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Friday, August 23, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins #18 and Atlanta Falcons quarterback Taylor Heinicke #4 hug before the Preseason Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Friday, August 23, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons safety Justin Simmons #31 arrives before the Preseason Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Friday, August 23, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons safety Jessie Bates III #3 and Ryan Nielsen after the Preseason Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Friday, August 23, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris during warmups before the preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga. on Friday, August 23, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive lineman David Onyemata #90 arrives before the Preseason Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Friday, August 23, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons cornerback Anthony Johnson #43 makes a tackle during the Preseason Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Friday, August 23, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris arrives before the Preseason Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Friday, August 23, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons Cheerleader in the tunnel before the Preseason Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Friday, August 23, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons safety Jessie Bates III #3 arrives before the Preseason Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Friday, August 23, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud III #34 arrives before the Preseason Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Friday, August 23, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge #12 during warmups before the preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga. on Friday, August 23, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons safety Jessie Bates III #3 prays with other Falcons and Jaguars players after the Preseason Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Friday, August 23, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker Bradlee Anae #47 makes a tackle during the Preseason Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Friday, August 23, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins #18 arrives before the Preseason Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Friday, August 23, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker Bradlee Anae #47 makes a sack during the Preseason Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Friday, August 23, 2024. (Photo by Steven Burroughs/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris after the Preseason Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Friday, August 23, 2024. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons Cheerleader during the Preseason Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Friday, August 23, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons linebacker Milo Eifler #52 makes a tackle during the Preseason Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Friday, August 23, 2024. (Photo by Kathryn Skeean/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons linebacker Donavan Mutin #45 makes a tackle during the Preseason Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Friday, August 23, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Train Horn Puller before the Preseason Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Friday, August 23, 2024. (Photo by Kathryn Skeean/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Taylor Heinicke #4 takes a snap during the Preseason Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Friday, August 23, 2024. (Photo by Kathryn Skeean/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons players run out of the tunnel before the Preseason Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Friday, August 23, 2024. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the Dirty Birds Nest during the Atlanta Falcons preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga. on Friday, August 23, 2024. (Photo by Matthew Bish/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins #18 warms up before the Preseason Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Friday, August 23, 2024. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins #18 on the sideline during the Preseason Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Friday, August 23, 2024. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive end Demone Harris #91 lines up for a play during the Preseason Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Friday, August 23, 2024. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons player before the Preseason Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Friday, August 23, 2024. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/Atlanta Falcons)
The Coin Toss before the Preseason Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Friday, August 23, 2024. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins #18 after the Preseason Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Friday, August 23, 2024. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Taylor Heinicke #4 during the Preseason Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Friday, August 23, 2024. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver OJ Hiliare #11 runs with the ball during the Preseason Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Friday, August 23, 2024. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons cornerback Natrone Brooks #35 celebrates a tackle during the Preseason Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Friday, August 23, 2024. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins #18 warms up before the Preseason Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Friday, August 23, 2024. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons running back Avery Williams #26 warms up before the Preseason Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Friday, August 23, 2024. (Photo by Kathryn Skeean/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive lineman Grady Jarrett #97 leads the team huddle during warm ups before the Preseason Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Friday, August 23, 2024. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Molly B's on the concourse during the Preseason Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Friday, August 23, 2024. (Photo by Kathryn Skeean/Atlanta Falcons)
