Second-year wide receiver Harry Douglas was taken off the field with an injury about midway through the Falcons Wednesday afternoon workout.
Head Coach Mike Smith was watching another drill at the time, so could not provide specific details to the media. He did confirm the injury was to Douglas’ knee, adding he expects an update from team physicians on Thursday.
“You can’t speculate,” Smith said. “Anytime you lose any player it’s not the best situation. Harry is an integral part of our team.”
http://video.atlantafalcons.com/video/135963/135963_2009-08-05-162709.flvDouglas played in all 16 games for the Falcons as a rookie, catching 23 passes for 329 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for a touchdown and was the team’s primary punt returner for the second half of the year. The Jonesboro native finished his rookie season with 19 returns for 226 yards and a touchdown.
Before the injury Douglas was getting extensive work with the Falcons offense.
Pro Bowler Roddy White is in the middle of a holdout, leaving Douglas, Michael Jenkins, Brian Finneran and Eric Weems as the only receivers on the roster with Falcons experience.
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29 Comments
It’s obvious now that Roddy White doesn’t care about his teammates or our team.
I blame roddy white and his greedy agent! He is becoming a distraction now! If he does not like his contract situation he can leave for all i care! C’mon Roddy, you’re jeapordizing the team! I thought it was all about winning!
@justin
OMG overeact much. How does roddy hate the team because harry got injured.
Another thing, I respect Michael Jenkins a lot. He was in a contract year, but did he hold out like an over paid cry baby? No, he kept doing what he was under contract to do and it was settled eventually. Roddy have a little faith in the front office and tell your agent to shut up.
Im in the freaking navy, and when our ship’s 6 month deployment got extended to 7, did we all quit doing our jobs? Heck no!! We pressed on and got through it. Some of these athletes need a reality check!
I dont Roddy hates his teammates, but I do think he is letting them and the city of Atlanta down. The Falcons have come along way from last year, and have the chance to do or be something special. But White is more interested in money. I bet if the Falcons had gone 1-15 last year like everyone predicted, Roddy would be in training camp this month. I think its obvious that he doesnt care about winning, he cares about his money first. Very Dissapointing, I’ll never look at Roddy White the same again. I agree with Raymond on one thing, he can leave for all I care too. Maybe Roddy White for Brandon Marshall??? Are you listening Denver???
why would Jenkins hold out? because he DIDNT have a probowl year? or because he DIDNT lead the team in receptions 2 years in a row. Roddy is holding out because if he didnt get his contract re-done he would be making half of what Jenkins would make in 09. He finds that a tad rediculous since he has been the back the backbone of this offense for 2 years, and wants the money hes earned.
Get Roddy or AXE him!! We need fast results……this is a very long process. It’s letting all the fans & falcons team down!! We gotta have someone solid in that position now that Larry’s return is questionable?
Some of you guys are overacting a little too much. It does not make sense Craig, to decide your view of Roddy White has been blemished forever. He has missed some time in training camp, so what. You sound like you are surprized when you make the statement that “he cares about the money first”. What exactly should he care about first? This is his livelyhood first, right? He gets paid according to his skill and production. Anything can happen to these guys and they could end up bound to a wheelchair and could also potentially loose their ability to make money even outside of football. He has to get everything he can while he can. I assume we all do the very same thing for our families, right? If you can make more for doing the same thing you should because you never know what tomorrow brings. Ok, I am done.
@Sam
Harry ..I mean
The Atlanta Journal Constitution wrote “Extra reps never hurt anyone.” I bet they wish they could take those words back. Man! alot can change in 24 hours. Those extra reps seem to have hurt Harry Douglas. Lets not play the blame game though. Roddy White.
ben i dont care, i have faith that our team will take care of him. i know all about the upcoming change in 2010 regarding the salary cap and contract agreement between the player and the owners association. Play out your contract is all im saying!
I’d be more worried, except for two things:
(1) Our coaching staff; and
(2) Tony Gonzalez.
I remember when DE Brady Smith went down a few years ago, and the defense went in the crapper. Wouldn’t have happened under Coach Smith.
Losing Douglas will require more from Gonzalez and Norwood on offense, and maybe Thomas Brown returns punts. They’re all up to the task.
And Roddy will come back eventually, and he’ll pick up where he left off. Does anyone think Lofton’s in trouble because he’s been out with the hamstring? We’ll be all right.
Get well, Harry. The boys will fight for you while you’re out.
You all need to get a grip!! If any of you were in Roddy shoes you would do the same!! He is worth more than $2mil with the last 2yrs he proved that!! Why get hurt in training camp and don’t get a new contract?? The falcons will sign him because he is to good to release. Just wait and see, so stop blaming Roddy he just being smart!!
I hope Dicky Lyons hasnt left atlanta yet, because we might need him.
If I was Roddy White (clearly im not) i wouldnt have waisted my first 2 years club hopping and not training the way he should of been. I would of spent my time in the books and in the weight room trying to get better instead of waisting Atlanta’s time and money! And i was one of the few that stood buy him through those horrible times. If i can live on E-5 pay (military pay for those civilians that dont know) he can surely survive another year on his original contract! i dont have any simpathy for him. But he is still a falcon so i have to support him regardless. All in all i hope this gets resolved in time for preseason! And forget dicky lyons!!! Lol
No Martel, I would not do the same if I were in Roddy’s shoes! Many pro players who have team mentality come to camp & work will the agent does his/her job & works on the contract. I think his agent is giving him bad advice. If Roddy thinks about the team who enabled him to go to the pro bowl & if is as good as the thinks he is, he would be at camp & work on the contract at the same time – many other pros do that!
shoot i hope hes ok….he had a ton of potential!
I hear there is a guy named Marvin Harrison that might be available if Whiny White doesn’t feel like upholding the contract he signed. I think more players should be sued for breach of contract for holding out for a new one. If he feels that strongly about it, he should play out his current contract and hold out at the end of it and watch the bidding wars. I heard Al Davis likes to spend a bunch of money on crybabies…
O BOY this aint goin well at all……..and we traded Laurent robinson huh?
Get well Douglas. Roddy, you’ve dropped tons of balls that hit you in your hands and chest your entire career, just because you have 1 good season doesn’t mean it’s time to shower you wish $$$. Keep up the good work, THEN get your money.
cbssports is reporting that harry douglas will miss the entire season, he has a torn knee ligament. Man that sucks. I dont blame roddy white for trying to get the money that he deserves. I hope they get it worked out soon. Harry make a speedy recovery and c ya next year.
@Justin Parker
I don’t think that
Roddy hates his team, I think his head got a lil too damn big since he FINALLY decides he wanna be a reciever and get his FIRST pro bowl appearance. He fails to realize he aint earned the right to complain about his pay. Hell, he drops ALOT of wide open passes.
does anyone remember the game last year when Roddy White droped the ball in the end zone and two plays later the game was over. We lost by three or four points. I think it was the Denver game. Anyway if we had won that game we would have won the division and we could have skipped the first round of the playoffs. Giving us more time to prepare for the Arizona cardinals. How far could we have gone? Roddy owes us a little something, T.D, pay the man his money and Roddy get on the field and lets go win a superbowl for Harry Douglas!
I’m with MaconFalcon on this. You abide by the contract you signed. Then, decision-tree: whether you consider 2009 a year in which you already bound to do your best, OR whether you assume this is your tryout “portfolio” for the team of your dreams, you show up and play. NFL player don’t want to risk their bodies. With the potential of great reward often comes great risk. Roddy’s made his point to Smitroff, now it is time to “man up” just like he did after the Denver drop. It’s your call, Roddy: want to go play with the Raiders or DHall in DC or do you want to be working with a winner. I’d guess you have about one more night to decide.
dAMN THIS IS GETTING VERY NAST td WILL HAVE TO DO SOMETHING WITHIN A WEEK OR THAT COULD EASILY HURT THE FALCONS(AND IM TLKN ABOUT THE RODDY WHITE SITUATION)aND SINCE dOUGLAS IS GONE 4 THE SEASON WE REALLY NEED aaRON KELLY TO GET SIGNED AND STEP UP
nOW WE GOT lOFTEN ,HUTCHINS,MOORE,TREY LEWIS,AND HARRY DOUGLAS.smitty must be training them super hard
TRADE RODDY, TRADE RODDY, TRADE RODDY- Enough said, now lets get on with the work at hand. I hope you nay sayers and supporters of Roddy will stop and look back to where we were this time last year and look what the coaching staff accomplised. GO FALCONS !!!!!!
@David
@Tailgate
This holdout situation needs to come to a conclusion soon. In my opinion, Roddy White is not worth all this drama and stress. His hands aren’t as strong as Jenkins’ or Finneran’s, and for that reason I know we can get by with them and the new addition of Tony Gonzalez. White should re-evaluate his situation considering he is part of a team that has the potential to do something special this year. I’ll always support the Falcons regardless but this does need to conclude sooner than later for the sake of the rest of the team.
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