Falcons Practice Squad: Bear Woods Is Sort Of A Falcon

Jay Adams introduces your 2010 Atlanta Falcons practice squad:

Tight end Robbie Agnone, wide receiver Tim Buckley, running back Dimitri Nance, wide receiver Andy Strickland, tackle Jose Valdez, safety Rafael Bush, defensive end Emmanuel Stephens and linebacker Bear Woods.

Bear Woods has been a fan favorite since he was signed as a rookie free agent, inspiring many forced jokes to be attempted — many of them Chuck Norris jokes, some mere puns — on his behalf due to his name that feels so close to being a sentence, redlocks hair style, and quiet intensity.

In tribute, we present this quote from a 1984 Ronald Reagan ad:

There is a bear in the woods. For some people, the bear is easy to see. Others don’t see it at all. Some people say the bear is tame. Others say it’s vicious and dangerous. Since no one can really be sure who’s right, isn’t it smart to be as strong as the bear?

Falcons Practice Squad: Possible Signings

Today the Falcons can begin constructing their eight-player practice squad from among their cuts.

A prediction from Daniel Cox, who has observed just about every day of practice this offseason:

I could see the team retaining a cornerback. With only five on the roster, three of them (Brent Grimes, Dunta Robinson, Brian Williams) having had one injury or another in the past few months, it would be nice to keep Chevis Jackson handy. Of course, Jackson will likely be considered active-roster material by at least one general manager, having played in 31 games in his first two years. If the Falcons aren’t lucky enough to see Jackson slip through, Dominique Daniels could be the one to stash on the practice squad.

Since Troy Bergeron will likely make the active roster once Kerry Meier is eligible to be placed on injured reserve, I’d drop Andy Strickland from Cox’s list and add a cornerback.

Falcons Roster Cuts And Potential Signees From Other Teams

On Saturday, the Falcons cut the following players:

The Falcons terminated the contracts of fullback Dan Klecko and center Brett Romberg. Atlanta waived tight end Robbie Agnone, wide receiverTroy Bergeron, wide receiver Tim Buckley, running back Dimitri Nance, center Blake Schlueter, wide receiver Andy Strickland, wide receiver Ryan Wolfe, tight end Keith Zinger, safety Rafael Bush, safety Eric Brock, cornerback Dominique Daniels, cornerback Chevis Jackson, linebacker Weston Johnson, defensive end Maurice Lucas, defensive end Emmanuel Stephens, guard Jose Valdez and linebacker Bear Woods. The Falcons also waived-injured wide receiver Brandyn Harvey.

The Falcoholic presents two lists of note on the matter of the team’s roster trimmin’s:

• Falcons Make Cuts, Settle On Final Roster: A rundown of the names we’ll be hearing much less of, and refreshers on players that will be sticking around.
• Players The Falcons Could Target Now That Cuts Are Over: Some guys football nerds know, and then a name everybody knows and/or loves: T.J. Houshmandzadeh.

Falcons Roster Cuts: FB Dan Klecko And S Eric Brock Released

The Falcons must trim their roster to 53 players by 6 p.m. tomorrow. Their first two cuts of the weekend have been reported:

Klecko won two Super Bowls as the Patriots' fullback from 2003 to 2005, and has also played defensive tackle throughout his career. The team is comfortable entering the season with only one fullback, Ovie Mughelli, on staff. Third-string halfback Jason Snelling can play fullback in a pinch if needed. Jason Snelling can pretty much do anything, now that you mention it.

Brock is a third-year man from Auburn. He played in three games for the Falcons, mostly on special teams. The team is down to five safeties now: Thomas DeCoud, Erik Coleman, William Moore, Shann Schillinger, and Rafael Bush. Bush is the long shot.