Summer is heating up and so is NFL football, so FanHouse is at Falcons training camp to get you the rundown on the Birds as they get ready for the '09 season.FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Spirits were high, the defense was buzzing all morning, and everything seemed to be locked into place as training camp kicked off for the Atlanta Falcons on Saturday .
The only thing missing? Pro Bowl wide receiver Roddy White.
White had a career year in 2008, catching 88 passes for 1,382 yards and seven touchdowns. Now he wants a bigger contract; one more similarly structured towards the top wide receivers in the league. Until he gets his contract renegotiated, he'll likely not show up for training camp.
Atlanta head Coach Mike Smith insists White's absence is not a distraction and that, so far, there are no hard feelings: "How can you be angry when it's the first day of training camp and the first day of the 2009 season?"
It might not be a distraction yet, but questions about White's absence are the first asked to anyone who will talk. Smith, Tony Gonzalez and John Abraham all expressed feelings the the Falcons are a better team with White in camp. So did quarterback Matt Ryan.
"Yeah, you'd like everyone to be here and I certainly would," Ryan said after the Falcons' Saturday morning practice. "Roddy's a big part of this team. But, we're hopeful he'll get it done soon and be out here working with us."The only person who might not be missing White is Harry Douglas.
Douglas, who caught 23 passes for 320 yards and a touchdown as a rookie, is third on the Falcons depth chart at wide receiver. But, with White missing, Douglas spent time opposite of Michael Jenkins and was targeted frequently in live action, especially as a deep threat. This is big news as the Falcons watch to see if Douglas is ready to compete with Jenkins for the No. 2 spot this season, or if he still needs a year of solid No. 3 status before he's ready to move up the depth chart.
The longer White holds out waiting for a raise on top of the $2.5 million he's owed this season, the more pressing the questions about Douglas' readiness become.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-01-2009 @ 6:26PM
JT said...
Wow ! Where were you Roddy, for the first three years of this contract? that's right...QUIET, and cashing those checks, they paid you for doing NOTHING! cause you looked like a deer in headlights out there. Now, you finally caught on to how to play football and Presto, like every other Mal-content in Sports, it's PAY UP while I'm Still under contract, or i'll sit out...i hope Mr.Blank has the Hudzpuh to tell him to just sit out. What good are these Contracts anyways? they only serve the player never the ownership. You signed it Roddy, now Honor it like the man you claim you are
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