The Atlanta Falcons haven't officially announced their 2011 training camp schedule for once the NFL lockout ends. The NFL lockout hasn't even ended yet, though Drew Brees is one of many saying the end is assured. NFL.com's Albert Breer presents a timeline in the event of a deal being completed Monday, which includes this outline of team camp schedules:
Ten teams would open camp Wednesday, another 10 Thursday, another 10 Friday, and the remaining two on Sunday.
How do we know which teams slot where in that lineup? FOX's Jay Glazer -- who was the first to report a deal had been struck, way back at 3 am ET this morning -- says it will depend on Week 1 preseason schedules. For example, the two Sunday teams would be the Texans and Jets, who play in Week 1's Monday night game.
Since the Falcons are scheduled to open on Friday, August 12 against the Miami Dolphins, that puts them in line for a Thursday, July 28 camp start, as that Friday game is on the second day of that game week.
There are dozens of moving parts here, from the deal itself through scheduling, but I think it would be reasonable to hope for players and coaches to be on the field Thursday in Flowery Branch.
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