Falcons coach tight-lipped about Julio Jones’ future
FILE - In this Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020, file photo, Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) warms up before an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in Atlanta. The Atlanta Falcons began their offseason training program Tuesday, May 25, 2021, without longtime star receiver Julio Jones, who apparently has no intention of returning to a rebuilding team that is still struggling to get under the salary cap. (AP Photo/Danny Karnik, File) Danny Karnik
FILE - Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) speaks with wide receiver Julio Jones (11) during the second half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, in Atlanta, in this Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020, file photo. The Atlanta Falcons began their offseason training program Tuesday, May 25, 20921, without longtime star receiver Julio Jones, who apparently has no intention of returning to a rebuilding team that is still struggling to get under the salary cap. (A
ATLANTA (AP) â The Atlanta Falcons began their offseason training program Tuesday without longtime star receiver Julio Jones, who apparently has no intention of returning to a rebuilding team that is still struggling to get under the salary cap.
Rookie coach Arthur Smith was tight-lipped about the Falcons’ options, but insisted that he doesnât begrudge Jones for speaking his mind.
âWe encourage our players to speak for themselves,â Smith said during an interview session dominated by questions about Jones’ future. âThat doesn’t change anything for us. We understand our plan going forward. We’ve had multiple private conversations with our players. Those conversations will remain private on my end.â
Originally posted on Sportsnaut | By Matt Johnson | Last updated 5/9/21
The Atlanta Falcons had a chance to draft their quarterback of the future with the No. 4 pick, but they instead chose to strengthen the offense surrounding Matt Ryan. With a new regime in charge, Ryan might be staying with the franchise even longer.
Facing one of the worst salary-cap crunches in the NFL, Atlanta needed to restructure many of its contracts this spring. Ryan was among the first to do so, converting $21 million of his base salary into a signing bonus and significantly reducing his cap hit.
The move offered immediate financial help for a franchise that needed it, but the Falcons knew they would have to pay for it later. Ultimately, it might have even played a role in the organization’s decision to draft Kyle Pitts over Georgia native Justin Fields.
NFL notebook: Patriots make several promotions within scouting department
With longtime director of player personnel Nick Caserio gone to the Texans, New England makes moves to shore up its scouting.
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Around Bill Belichick, the Patriots employed a more collaborative approach to execute their offseason plans once longtime director of player personnel Nick Caserio left to become the Texans general manager last January.
In his place, several members of the Pats’ scouting department stepped in, and many have now been rewarded. According to reports, Matt Groh has been promoted to director of college scouting. Groh was among Belichick’s three-man inner circle this offseason and helped lead the team’s draft preparation and free agency plans.