Falcons were 28th in pass yards a season ago

Of course, before each season, hope springs eternal and somesuch other cliches about how things can go right for nearly any NFL team under the correct set of circumstances. And, indeed, the Falcons are one of those teams that can fare very well, provided everything falls into place for them. But such calculated assessments don't do well with the ticket-buying public.

Though the new Atlanta Falcons jerseys (28/1 Super Bowl odds) missed the playoffs, they managed to post a winning season in consecutive years for the first time in team history. Here is Atlanta's 2010 training camp outlook.

After a ridiculous 2008 season (1,699 rush yards, 17 touchdowns), Michael Turner fell off in 2009 as he dealt with injuries. Word on the street is he's lost considerable weight and is poised for a return to glory. Matt Ryan enters his third year at quarterback and may be ready for a jump to the next level.

If anything needs a fix, it's the pass defense; the Falcons were 28th in pass yards a season ago. Generating a stronger pass rush should be a priority this year, as Atlanta managed just 28 sacks last season. Unfortunately, very little was done to correct the defense in the offseason Jamaal Anderson and not much could change in 2010.

As you can probably tell, we're impressed with this ad. SI's Jimmy Traina is too, saying he's "ready to become a Falcons fan" after seeing the video. While we wouldn't go that far, it's a fine piece of advertising, and if we were Falcons jerseys fans, we'd definitely be ready to run through a wall.

The Tennessee Titans begin training camp

Cary Williams was disciplined by the NFL because of "a situation" involving his family in Tennessee while he was a member of the Tennessee Titans, his agent Marc Lillibridge said Thursday. There was no arrest involved, according to the agent.

Lillibridge appealed Williams' two-game suspension. He pointed out that Seattle linebacker Leroy Hill was suspended for one game after he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor drug possession in April and then was arrested days later in a domestic violence investigation (the NFL could still revisit the last incident and extend the suspension).

"I thought we had a strong case," Lillibridge said. "We reached out to the league office. But once the punishment is handed out, it's done. Of course I'm disappointed. But those are the rules, and the players have to abide by them."

Training camp will operate similarly to previous years. Free parking is available directly across the street from Baptist Sports Park at the CVS/Caremark corporate offices (445 Great Circle Road). A merchandise tent will be on site next to the practice field selling a wide selection of Titans apparel and merchandise, and cold non-alcoholic beverages will also be available to purchase. Fans can watch practice from the outside perimeter of the three practice fields, but spectators should be prepared to stand in typical Middle Tennessee summer heat for the duration of their visit, as shade and seating are very limited.

On the field, fans will see a club that expects to build on its strong finish in 2009, when the Titans won eight of their last 10 games. A collection of seasoned leaders, intriguing rookies and blossoming young veterans will be on hand as the team ultimately prepares for its Sept. 12 regular season opener against the Oakland Raiders. Between the start of camp and then, jobs will be won at vital positions, including cornerback, linebacker, defensive line and running back, and the roster will be pared from 80 players at the start of camp to 53 at the conclusion of the preseason.

Jeff Fisher, beginning his 16th training camp as head coach, will closely monitor the development of the entire cast, including starting quarterback Vince Young, who has a 26-13 career record and is coming off a personal best in 2009 of a 82.8 passer rating; running back Chris Johnson, who last year became one of six players in NFL history to reach 2,000 rushing yards in a season; Pro Bowl cornerback Cortland Finnegan, who has recorded five interceptions in each of the last two seasons; and defensive end Derrick Morgan, the team's 2010 first-round draft choice out of Georgia Tech.

Chris Johnson will report to training camp on time!

 That's right, folks. The 2009 NFL Offensive Player of the Year has finally come to terms with Titans football jerseys owner Bud Adams to get him in uniform and on the field for 2010.

 Whether or not he will have a repeat of last season and rush for 2,000 yards, no one can say for sure.

 One thing we can all agree on is this is only a temporary fix to a much bigger problem.

 CJ2K will get $2.5 million this season regardless of whether he breaks Eric Dickerson's rushing record or if he breaks his leg in Week 1.

 The question still surrounding Johnson is what will happen after the season.

 There are two scenario's that can happen:One possibility is Tennessee has a disappointing season and Chris Johnson flops. The entire year fans will talk about how the Titans should not pay him at the end of the season.The other scenario.Tennessee has a successful year and make it to the playoffs. Chris Johnson runs for an impressive amount of yards. All season long Titans fans will be in a state of denial forgetting all about the inevitable controversy bound to happen at the end of the season.

 Here is where we get to the topic at hand.Titans owner Bud Adams has never been known to dish out tons of money.Hence why it always seems like the Titans never go after the big players in the free agency that would require big bucks to sign.The Titans always go for mediocre to somewhat decent talent so they will only have to give a mediocre contract to match.Now, don't get me wrong here.If Chris Johnson has an amazing year, I believe he will actually get paid. But it will still be dragged out and painful.However, should Johnson only rush for 1,300 yards or less, still having what we would think is a decent season, good luck getting 30 to 40 million guaranteed in your next contract.Unfortunately, this has been the story of the Titans franchise for some time now. I don't see it ending any time soon.

 I am ecstatic that Chris will be going into training camp on time. I am especially happy that he will start the season on time as well.Not for just being a Titans jerseys  fan, but also because he's on my fantasy team. So, as you can imagine this is a much larger issue for me.All jokes aside though, having CJ this season will be.As I have said in previous articles, he wants to be a Titan.How much longer he will be a Titan, though, is the question.He loves his teammates like family. His offensive line are his big brothers.

 While family is a great thing, the sad part about family is it will often split up and go separate ways.

 Don't be surprised if this family splits up because Grandpa Adams and little CJ can't come to an agreement.

The Tennessee Titans and their running back

The new Tennessee Titans jerseys and their running back Chris Johnson has agreed to a revised deal that will ensure Johnson continues reporting to his teams training camp sessions.

While numbers have not been revealed, rumors are pointing to a $2.5 million payment for the coming season.

According to, both sides are reviewing the new terms and they are expected to sign a new contract within 48 hours.

    "We're still talking through some issues," a source close to the deal revealed, "It's going to get done, but it's not done yet."

Johnson was hoping for a $30 million guaranteed payment contract after he was one of six running backs to rush for over 2,000 yards in 2009, however he's also no longer the lowest paid running back on his team  ($550,000 in guarantees last season).

Johnson still has three years left on his contract and he had mentioned that even a small raise would be welcomed. The Titans could have offered Johnson more money with an upfront one-time payment, however they were not willing to make that move at this time.

What do you think, should the Titans have offered Johnson more Cortland Finnegan upfront money to ensure he remains with the team for the long term?

Gage heads into the 2010 season knowing he has to do more, starting with staying healthy.

"I don't feel like I did too good last year, looking at the whole season,'' he said. "As a team, we started off 0-6 and couldn't recover. And when I finally started to make a move, I then missed four games with the injury. I never felt like I got into that groove and into position to be explosive and make things happen.
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Tennessee Titans' Vince Young wants to keep momentum from last season

"And that is what this offseason has been about for me, to get myself into position to do more.''

Gage finished with 28 catches for 383 yards and three touchdowns. It was his lowest Kerry Collins  output as a Titan. He had 651 receiving yards and six scores in 2008, one year after hauling in 55 catches for 750 yards.

"I just want a career-best in every category. That's what I am shooting for,'' Gage said. "Whether it's touchdowns, receptions, reception yards, yards per catch, I just want to make this season a personal best, all the way across the board.

"I feel like I am poised to definitely excel toward the middle to end of training camp, heading into the season.''

Said Coach Jeff Fisher: "The injury set him back. He made some great catches for us. I am very pleased with what he did. … Justin has had a really good offseason, so he's ready to contribute again.''

Gage, an eighth-year pro, said the competition during training camp should be great for all the receivers. Britt and veteran Nate Washington hope to be more consistent, while promising rookie Damian Williams will compete with Lavelle Hawkins, Dominique Edison and others for playing time.

The Seahawks have added 1,000 season ticket packages for the upcoming season, the team announced Tuesday.

The addition brings to total season tickets to 62,000.

"With 60 consecutive sellouts and the beginning of a new era, we believed this was an opportune time to reward those fans who have patiently waited for a chance to purchase season tickets," said COO John Rizzardini said in a news release.

Single-game tickets go on sale Aug. 2. The Seahawks open the preseason Aug. 14 at home against the Tennessee Titans. The open the regular season Sept. 12 at home against the San Francisco 49ers.

Tennessee Titans - the team that selected him in the third round of April's

Fantasy owners everywhere are hoping that CJ can get some kind of deal that makes him happy so he can get to training camp and prepare for the upcoming season. If the hold out continues much longer, the people with the second pick in redrafts might actually have a decision to make instead of just being on autopilot and selecting whoever is remaining from AP and CJ.(both would be a pretty solid consolation prize) I'm sure the Titans realize they literally have nothing without Johnson and they will find a way to resolve this issue. Even if he does get something done, it is imperative that he participates in training camp because he could start the season shaky and the risk of injury is slightly higher for players who do not ease their way into the regular season. Obviously, you can't pass up a player of his caliber but if he misses a significant portion of training camp the decision between him and Peterson is much closer.

 "I was blessed enough to have a healthy child. I can't imagine if she was having to be in the hospital and having to go through what a lot of parents have to go through," Curran said of his daughter Eleana, who will turn 2 later this fall. "It would just add so much stress. It's a great opportunity to be where I'm at, having just signed a contract and be so blessed, to be a blessing to somebody else."

Curran admits that his daughter's well being was a motivating factor in his decision to leave Georgia a year early, but his family's financial future is now set after he finalized a four-year deal and hefty signing bonus with the Titans on Thursday.

Not that Eleana cared much about the business end of her daddy's new job.

"She's just making life great," Curran said with a smile. "I got back from signing a contract and all that and went and saw her and she ran up and gave me a big hug and told me that she loved me. I just forgot the contract and everything. I forgot about all of it. ... There's nothing like (parenthood). It's awesome."

Curran spent part of his afternoon Saturday bringing smiles to the parents and children who paid $25 apiece to meet some of their favorite current and former Bulldogs and help raise money for the aforementioned charities.

He was joined by numerous current Bulldogs, as well as ex-Georgia greats like Champ Bailey, Robert Edwards, D.J. Shockley and Countdown to Kickoff founders Matt and Jon Stinchcomb and David Greene.

Curran was listed as a host of Saturday's event, although he was unsure exactly what Kerry Collins duties were included in his job description. If his ability to greet each fan with a warm smile and a hug or a handshake made Curran a host, though, he was an obvious choice for the job.

Life is unquestionably rosy right now for the NFL rookie, who plays a position beloved by his new head coach, Jeff Fisher.

"Out of all the coaches in the league, I thought (Tennessee) was a great place for him," said former Georgia linebacker Randall Godfrey, who was a second-team All-Pro with Fisher and the Titans in 2000. "You're talking about a defensive-minded coach, a guy who loves linebackers. I think he's gonna have a great career in Tennessee."

Much like he did at Georgia, Curran might have to contribute early in his Titans career. Injuries and suspensions have thinned Tennessee's ranks at linebacker, creating a void that some players - possibly Curran - will have to fill.

"I'll take any opportunity I can get," he said. "My job is to train as if I'm Chris Johnson a starter, and I'm just waiting for that break to come. That's the same thing I did at UGA when I got here as a freshman. I tried to play my role and do extra work and doing whatever it takes."

Curran is also pleasantly surprised by how generous the veterans at his position - a group that new Tennessee Titans jerseys includes former Georgia star Will Witherspoon - have been to him and the other rookie linebackers. That warm reception runs counter to what he was told to expect in the professional ranks.

"Talking to guys who are in the league, some of the former players, you hear, 'Oh, it's just a job. Guys just come in and don't really hang out like we did in college,' " Curran said. "One of the things that surprised me was how cool the vets were and how they embraced me and wanted to help.

"You'd think guys would be kinda threatened by you coming in, being a high pick. It's a job, because Cortland Finnegan you've got guys that are trying to feed their families, but everybody there was just happy for me and wants to help me, and that's one thing that surprised me that I'm happy about."

Perhaps the vets simply identified Curran's professional promise - much like former Bulldog and Titan Godfrey, who predicted Curran will be a "tackling machine" and fan favorite in Nashville, just as he was in Athens.

The Titans drafted Derrick Morgan with their first round pick

The Titans are hoping that they will get more of the Vince Young that finished the 2009 season, than the one that got booed off the field in 2008. Young did get in some legal troubles this offseason, but isn't expected to be suspended. Also, Kerry Collins decided to stick around, and will be a nice backup if Young struggles.

There is no question that the majority of the Titans offense will be ran through Johnson, but don't be surprised if the Kerry Collins Titans cut back on his carries a bit in 2010. That means either Javon Ringer or undrafted back LeGarrette Blount need to show they are ready to contribute.

At wide receiver, the Titans look like they have the makings of a great player in second year pro Kenny Britt, but many question the work ethic Britt brings to the locker room. Nate Washington and Justin Gage round out the top three receivers, but neither are real threats to opposing defenses. At tight end, Bo Scaife is likely in his final season with the team, and that means the Titans need to see something out of youngster Jared Cook this season.

The offensive line deserves more credit than they are getting for the amazing season put together by Johnson, and they will be the key to the Titans getting back to the playoffs in 2010.  It looks as though the days are over for Kevin Mawae as the starting center in Tennessee, as the Titans are expected to move Eugene Amano to center and slip in Leroy Harris at the left guard spot.

 There is no question the Titans felt the loss of Albert Haynesworth on the defensive line, but there is hope that this unit Cortland Finnegan can get things turned around. Jason Jones and Tony Brown hold down the two tackle spots, but for this unit to excel, they need Jones to put together a big season. The Titans drafted Derrick Morgan with their first round pick, and he is expected to step in right away and start at defensive end opposite of William Hayes, as Kyle Vanden Bosch left town to play for the Detroit Lions.

At linebacker, it doesn't look like Keith Bulluck will be back, and the Titans jerseys are ready for that, with the addition of Will Witherspoon, who is expected to start in Bulluck's old spot. David Thorton returns as the other starting outside linebacker, but his job isn't safe and we could see more of Gerald McRath this season. In the middle, Stephen Tulloch is back and must play well for this unit to improve.

In the secondary, the Titans bring back a very solid corner in Cortland Finnegan, but who will start on the other side is up in the air. With Rod Hood being placed on the IR, it looks like it will likely come down to Jason McCourty, Ryan Mouton, and Alterruan Verner in training camp.

At safety the Titans are hoping for a big season from both Chris Hope and Michael Griffin, who both failed to live up to their Pro Bowl performances in 2008.

 Curran was the team's second third-round selection, 97th overall, in the 2010 NFL Draft after Chris Johnson  a three-year career at Georgia.

He made 298 tackles and recorded 6 1/2 sacks during his time with the Bulldogs. During his sophomore and junior seasons, he became the first Georgia player with 100 or more stops in back-to-back campaigns since 1996-97.

Ryan caught 14 passes for 135 yards and two touchdowns, all career-highs, for Kansas City last season in 10 games, eight as a starter.

The Seattle Seahawks have consistently been picked

   The 49ers can't really be called sleepers anymore with nearly every pundit around calling for them to win the division, and the Cardinals will likely to take a giant step backwards after losing Kurt Warner, Anquan Boldin and Karlos Dansby. That leaves Seattle (sorry St. Louis, but no) as the go-to pick here. Russell Okung is an upgrade at left tackle, and he might actually keep Matt Hasselbeck healthy for an entire season. Justin Forsett emerged as a scintillating runner near the end of the '09 season, and anyone other than Julius Jones is a step in the right direction. Earl Thomas is a rookie but should fill the role of free safety better than anyone the Seahawks have had recently.

    Seattle is relying on a lot of first year talent, but if guys like Lofa Tatupu can Seattle Seahawks return from injury with no ill effects, they could begin to see some success after a hiatus from owning the division. If nothing else, Pete Carroll will energize the franchise, and he might be able to coach current bust defensive end Lawrence Jackson into the player he was at USC.


From Thomasville, Ga., Miranda (6-0/175) was a dangerous kickoff return man to go Seattle Seahawks with his skills in the secondary. He was selected in the fourth round of the 1999 NFL  draft by the Indianapolis Colts. He spent one year with the Colts  and two with the Seattle Seahawks.

 Miranda holds school records for kickoff return average in a season (30.7) and career (33.3). He recorded 56 tackles. two interceptions and six pass breakups in 1998.

Atlanta Falcons are in one of the tougher divisions in the NFC

That's too good to pass up and grabbing the 'under' seven wins and getting plus 125 in the bargain makes this a must-play future.

This is basically the same Seattle team that finished with just 280 points in 2009 — the franchise's fewest since 1993. Meanwhile, the defense has not performed up to the investment the Seahawks made in terms of draft picks and free agents.

Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, who turns 35 in September, has one year left on his contract and a history on injuries. Yet with a lot of quarterbacks on the offseason market, Seattle opted for Charlie Whitehurst, the San Diego Chargers No. 3 QB who has never attempted a regular-season pass.

The West is arguably the weakest division in the NFC, but the Seahawks shape up as the worst team in the conference. That's right, worse than Detroit and Tampa Bay.

Conversely, the Atlanta Falcons jerseys are in one of the tougher divisions in the NFC. But considering they have averaged 10 wins over the last two seasons, there's no reason to believe they can't reach double-digits again.

Don't be surprised if the New Orleans Saints take a step back with their first-place schedule, leaving the penthouse vacant for the Falcons football jerseys.

The 2009 season was derailed when Michael Turner and Matt Ryan battled injuries. Atlanta averaged 25.3 points in eight games with a healthy Turner and 20.1 in eight games without the elusive running back.

Ryan suffered through a sophomore slump and battled through some rough spots but he finished strong and should emerge as one of the NFL's elite quarterback in his third season in Georgia.

The Falcons offseason was rather quiet, but the addition of free-agent cornerback Dunta Robinson is going to help the defense immensely.

James has appeared in just one game for the Falcons after being selected in the fifth round of the 2008 draft out of Arizona State.

"Robert James of the new Atlanta Falcons jerseys  has been suspended without pay for the team's first four games of the 2010 regular season for violating the NFL policy on performance enhancing substances," the NFL said in a released statement. "James' suspension begins on Saturday, September 4. He will be eligible to return to the Falcons' active roster on Monday, October 4 following the team's October 3 game against the San Francisco 49ers. James is eligible to participate in all preseason practices and games."

Peters a well-versed player for Falcons

Atlanta Falcons rookie Corey Peters is more than just a massive defensive tackle. A graduate of the University of Kentucky with a degree in history, he also knows a thing of two about our country, particularly in his area of interest: the Old South and the U.S. prior to the Civil War.

In fact, long before he began to realize his potential as a football prospect, Peters' dream was to be a teacher, which he says he'll still follow through on after his playing days are over.

During the final day of Organized Team Activities last month in Flowery Branch, Peters, a third-round draft selection by the Falcons jerseys, chatted with Times sports writer Bill Murphy about his first glimpse of life as an NFL player, the sports scene at Kentucky and his plans for life after football.

Question: Has the OTA process been a lot of new things being thrown at you at once?

Answer: Most definitely. I think that's the focus here that you really learn the playbook going into camp. Summer camp really isn't the time you want to be struggling with what you're supposed to be doing.

If anything, we just have to really learn the playbook. Then we have a month off and just have to continue to study it and be 100 percent sure when time comes to come back into camp.

Q: What is your first impression of the new Atlanta Falcons jerseys ?

A: I'm extremely impressed. I think there is great leadership on the team and a lot of guys step up and try to get you going and try to give you positive feedback. They also let you know when you're doing bad, so it's all been positive. I'm expecting big things from the defense.

You know, it's hard to have a measuring stick since I've never played in the NFL, but the offensive line seems pretty good to me, so I'm looking forward to this year and we'll be able to build on last year.

Q: What was it like playing football at the University of Kentucky where basketball is king?

A: In my time at Kentucky, it was very positive. My freshman year, we won eight games, so the support from that kind of carried on throughout my career. If you think back three or four years, the basketball team wasn't doing so well. They really kind of regained their momentum this year, so obviously it's a basketball school, but our success in football gave the fans something to cheer about and really get behind us.

Now the support for football, I doubt that it will ever equal basketball at Kentucky, but the fans are really supportive of the football program too. It was a great place to play football.

Jessica Simpson is dating once more, and again is going out with a football player. The pop singer, who turns 30 on Saturday, has begun seeing former NFL pro Eric Johnson - who played tight end for the San Francisco 49ers and New Orleans Saints from 2001 to 2007 (he's not the unrelated, same-name linebacker who played for the Oakland Raiders, Atlanta Falcons and Arizona Cardinals from 2000 to 2005.)