Quote:
Falcons players react to acquisition of Ray Edwards

Falcons wide receiver Roddy White invoked Malcolm X when he was discussing the team's acquisition of defensive end Ray Edwards.

"We're willing to do that," said White, an All-Pro last season. "We're going to do it by any means necessary to get where we need to get. Our ultimate goal is to play for the Super Bowl and that's the direction we're headed."

With the news breaking on Friday afternoon that the Falcons had agreed to terms on a five-year deal with one of the top defensive ends on the market to bolster their subpar pass defense, players were thrilled with the signing.

As recently as Wednesday, the outspoken White tweeted "We tried to get charles (Johnson) from the panthers but I would be pissed" if the Falcons did not land a big defensive name. After practice, White was asked about that.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, I was ho-rahing like this, man," he said, raising his arms in the air in a celebratory pose. "Got a new D-end, man. Seeing that contract come across the board, I'm excited, man. We need to help (defensive end John Abraham) out, rush the quarterback and keep those guys in the pocket and get some sacks.

"It's easier to cover somebody for two seconds instead of three and four seconds. We got good corners and things like that and this is just going to add to our already good pass rush and we'll get a lot more sacks, which means we'll get a lot more pressures and you get a lot more interceptions."

Abraham said as soon as the lockout ended, the subject was one of the first things he asked his coaches about. Abraham had 13 sacks last season, fifth in the NFL.

"That's definitely a good addition," he said. "I think Ray has proven himself in the league. I think when I got here, I asked the coaches when I had a chance to talk to them finally I said, ‘Are you going to bring me any help?' They did their job, so I got to do mine and make it worth our while."

The Falcons' pass defense was 22nd in the NFL last season and they ranked No. 20 in sacks. It was the most glaring weakness on a 13-3 team – a weakness that they have now addressed in a big way.

"Having somebody who's proven themselves, if they can get eight to 10 sacks a year with someone on the opposite side of me, hopefully, it can help me out and help him out also," Abraham said. "Hopefully, we can raise each other's game."

Veteran tight end Tony Gonzalez was getting taped when he heard the news. He said moves like that are one of the reasons why he wanted to join the Falcons after a long tenure in Kansas City. He included the team's trade that moved them up in the draft to take wide receiver Julio Jones at No. 6 among the Falcons' aggressive moves under general manager Thomas Dimitroff.

"Honestly, that's why I'm here," Gonzalez said. "I mean, who trades for a guy who's in his 13th year for a second-round draft choice (as Atlanta did)? I think they know what they have, they know the opportunity. The opportunity is short in the NFL and you have to take advantage of it while you have it. A move like Julio, that's a great move because it helps us this year, but also your future… then with Ray and whoever else they bring in.

"It might not be over. They might still be out there maybe getting a DB or a lineman or something and it's not over yet and I hope it's not because the more the merrier. Let's make a serious run."

(07-29-2011 08:22 PM)Paprika Neck Wrote:  i hope all this makes kroy and spinbury step their games up...

(07-29-2011 09:08 PM)Jesus Wrote:  What do all of you think?
Could this be our year?