Police Say Falcon Got Physical With Wife

Gwinnett County police say Falcons linebacker Michael Boley’s wife told them Boley was cheating on her, and that’s why he became angry and grabbed her.  Boley was arrested on Saturday and charged with misdemeanor battery, then released on 12-hundred-dollars bond.  According to the police report, officers were called to the couple’s Dacula home Saturday where Boley told the responding officer that he and his wife got into an argument.  According to the police report, Boley says his wife wanted to leave, but he did not want her to take their children.  A short time later, he pushed her out the door.  Boley was arrested without incident.

Falcons Linebacker Arrested Over Weekend

Falcons linebacker Michael Boley is out on 12-hundred dollars bond this morning after being arrested and charged with battery on Saturday, according to booking records at the Gwinnett County Detention Center.  Boley, considered a rising star for the franchise, was the 2005 fifth-round draft pick and lives in Dacula.  Details of the arrest are not being released and team spokesmen know of the arrest but are not commenting.

Atlanta Signs Seven Undrafted Free Agents

The Falcons have announced the signing of 7 undrafted free agents:

Isaac Brown, LB, Central Michigan;Jimmie Kaylor, P, Colorado State; Glenn Sharpe, CB, Miami, Fla.; D.J. Wolfe, S, Oklahoma; Brandon Miller, DE, Georgia; Jamar Brittingham, RB, Bloomsburg; and Michael Butterworth, OT, Slippery Rock.

Falcons Day One Recap

Falcons Move Back Into Round One and Draft OT Baker

The Falcons, already happy with getting their next franchise QB, moved back into the first round Saturday and got Matt Ryan or whoever plays QB some help, as they nabbed OT Sam Baker from USC. Baker is 6-foot-4, and 309 pounds, and while his stock seemed to drop as the draft got near, the Falcons had seen enough of him to want to move up and get him.

Here is the lowdown on Baker from NFLdraftcountdown.com

Strengths:
Has a large frame with long arms and some growth potential…Athletic with terrific feet…Quick, agile and moves well…Very smart with good awareness…Technically sound…Uses his hands well…Plays with pretty good leverage…Great balance…A natural left tackle..Fine character..Has a lot of experience against top competition.

Weaknesses:
Needs to bulk up and add weight…Has to get stronger…Lacks a nasty demeanor and killer instinct…Toughness has been questioned..An average run blocker..Gets pushed back at the point…Not overly powerful…Has some minor durability issues.

Notes:
Father, David, is the commissioner of the Arena Football League and also played basketball at UC Irvine…Brother, Ben, was an offensive lineman at Duke…Was a four-year starter in the Pac 10…Began his college career as an offensive guard in ‘03…May be overrated and a product of hype to a certain degree…Finesse blocker who won’t be a good fit for every team but has an intriguing set of physical tools that could make him a hot commodity on Draft Day…A bit of a polarizing prospect.

And here is ESPN’s take on Baker:

Injuries hindered Baker during his senior season at USC and his draft stocked dropped considerably leading up to the draft. In addition, he isn’t a physical run-blocker who is going to consistently drive defenders off the ball. Six tackles have been drafted thus far, and Baker had been a top-three tackle prospects before his senior season. In addition, the Falcons’ greatest offensive need is at tackle. Although Baker doesn’t dominate the point of attack as much as you would like for a first-round offensive tackle, he moves well, gets into position quickly and can sustain his blocks once he’s locked onto the defender.

Falcons Select QB Matt Ryan With The Third Pick

Falcons Use #2 Pick on BC QB Matt Ryan

Can the Falcons get back to being competitive?  They think so, and will start that phase with a quarterback, as Saturday they passed on DT Glenn Dorsey of LSU and instead went with QB Matt Ryan, the senior QB of Boston College.  Ryan will be the start of a new regime with the Falcons, as he will hopefully put the past seasons nightmare with Michael Vick, DeAngelo Hall, and Bobby Petrino behind them.  Last season with BC Ryan threw for 31 touchdowns, 19 picks, and 4,507 yards.  The Falcons want to start putting butts back in the seats now, and the Ryan pick shows that.

Here is a scouting report on Long from NFLdraftcountdown.com

Strengths:
Good size and a big frame…Smart and understands how to read a defense…Is a natural born leader…Solid technique and mechanics…Displays great poise…Good touch and timing…Able to buy time in the pocket…Throws well on the run…A hard worker…Has experience running a pro style offense…Top-notch competitor and a winner…Is tough, strong and fearless…Productive and had an outstanding senior campaign…Very dedicated and extremely passionate about the game of football.

Weaknesses:
Arm strength is only average…Still throws too many interceptions…Accuracy can be streaky…Struggles with the deep ball…A bit of a gunslinger who will play too recklessly at times…Not very mobile and won’t beat you with his feet…May have some minor durability issues…Isn’t a great athlete…May not have a huge upside.

Notes:
Nickname is “Matty Ice”…Overthrew Quinton Porter to take over the starting job in 2005…Was plagued by a broken foot as a junior…Really emerged as a top pro prospect as a senior, propelling his team to a great season even though he was surrounded by ordinary talent…Physical tools aren’t special but they’re adequate across the board and his intangibles are second to none…A safe pick who should become a solid starter at the next level but probably isn’t a franchise signal caller.

Dimitroff Looking at Options with Third Pick

Falcons new GM Thomas Dimitroff says that the team has been looking at options with their number three pick in Saturday’s draft.  The GM says a few teams have contacted the Falcons about the pick, and that he is right now in listen mode.  “Right now there’s nothing concrete at all,” Dimitroff said of talks with teams interested in moving up in the first round. We’ve obviously gotten phone calls, I don’t want to necessarily mention who they are right now, but there’s definitely been some interest.”

The team will have options, among them being DT Glenn Dorsey of Louisiana State, Arkansas RB Darren McFadden (even though they have free agent back Michael Smith in the fold), or maybe Ohio State DE Vernon Gholston, who has been moving up and up in draft talks.

Atlanta may also take a look at QB’s in the second round, where they have three picks.  On their list include Matt Ryan, Joe Flacco, Brian Brohm and maybe Andre Woodson.  Whatever the Falcons do, it will be of great interest to plenty of other teams come Saturday.

Boley Signs Falcons’ Tender Offer

The Macon reported that Falcons standout LB Michael Boley signed a tender offer with the team on April 9. Boley’s tender offer would require the team that beats out the Falcon’s offer to forfeit a first round pick in compensation to the Falcons in next weekend’s draft. Boley had a career season in 2007 finishing with 125 tackles, three sacks, seven passes defended and two interceptions.

QB’s Ryan and Brohm Visit Falcons

The Falcons have a lot of work ahead of them to get back to being a competitive team and try and make a run in the NFC South, and that work may very well start at the QB spot, as the team has been taking a hard look at that position. Adam Schefter of NFL Network is reporting that the Falcons spent the weekend with Boston College QB Matt Ryan, and also have privately worked out Louisville QB Brian Brohm.

Schefter gave some thought that team owner Arthur Blank would like new GM Tom Dimitroff to draft Ryan, as a clear indication that the franchise is starting over with a franchise QB. Dimitroff joined the club in January, and has been given total control over who to draft. The Falcons may also look to trade some of their picks to move back in the first round if they don’t want to take a QB with their first pick. They have the 34th, 37th and 48th picks to dangle to other teams.

The team has the number three pick thanks to a coin toss between them at the Raiders and Chiefs, and it’s been said they will NOT take a QB with that pick, but with indications of these workouts out there, that thought process may be changing as the Draft nears.