J.Mike's Missives

Shameless plug alert…

If you saw my rather ambiguous tweet Sunday night about a “surprise” coming to AF.com, you’re probably wondering why I have to be so secretive and coy.

Simple. Matt Moore will crack a camera on my head if I reveal too many details about his special project.

Sunday night the AF.com team began work on the Motorola Players’ Challenge — a new feature for the 2009 season that, well, challenges players on their knowledge of Falcons teammates.

It’s a season-long tournament, with the first head-to-head matchup airing on AF.com the week of the first regular-season game.

Shameless plug over. Begin Birdseed download…

Roddy White ends holdout, inks new deal with Falcons, USA Today
Big news of the day, Falcons fans. More from Roddy White later on AF.com (for more on contract numbers from ESPN.com, click here)

Blank learning to stay in background, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In any business, it’s important to surround yourself with good people. Now entering my sixth season in the NFL, I can say — without a doubt — some of the smartest people in the game work on the other side of the building scouting for the Falcons and forming a franchise.

Memories stir for Elam at Friday Night Lights, AF.com
Special thanks to John Manasso for helping the AF.com team and running all over Brookwood Community Stadium to get info for this story.

Peterson talks a big game, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mike Peterson. Master of on-the-field chatter.

Falcons, Elam return to Gwinnett, Gwinnett Daily Post
I don’t know who enjoys Friday Night Lights more, fans or Falcons players.

Atlanta Falcons live and under the lights of Friday night, Examiner.com
Yeah, it was a scrimmage but that doesn’t mean nothing was on the line. Players fight for jobs during training camp. Nothing like a little live-action football to show the full body of skills.

Mailbag: Atlanta Falcons edition, ESPN.com
I’ll be sure to catch up with Pat Yasinskas when he makes it to Flowery Branch for another YouTube interview.

Falcons try to work through distractions, The Anderson (S.C.) Independent-Mail
Losing Harry Douglas for the season wasn’t easy. But in the past few days the Falcons responded by getting two veteran receivers.

The 2009 Falcons: A worse record but a better team?, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Now that headline just seems odd and backwards. But, I see the point.

Thomas DeCoud ‘penciled in’ to be the starter for the Atlanta Falcons at safety, Examiner.com
The injury to William Moore, which could keep him off the field for up to a month, makes the starting picture at safety a little clearer. Perhaps.

NFL Photos: Falcons ‘Roam the Dome,’ Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The video boards. The cheerleaders. The fans. Hard not to get ready for some football.

Dimitroff shapes scouting department to his liking, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
See earlier comments about surrounding oneself with smart, hard-working people.

Falcons hold tryouts for punt returner, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
No question the team has players with the appropriate skills to be a punt returner. Just one problem. Catching punts isn’t like working the outfield in church-league softball. It’s an art.

J. Michael Moore Birdseed, training camp AF.com, AJC, Allstate All-Access Weekend, Arthur Blank, Brookwood High School, ESPN.com, Examiner.com, Friday Night Lights, Gwinnett Daily Post, Harry Douglas, Jason Elam, John Manasso, Mike Pterson, Motorola, Pat Yasinskas, Roam the Dome, Roddy White, The Independent-Mail, Thomas DeCoud, William Moore

BLOGGER’S NOTE: For an archive of the live blog from Friday Night Lights, click here.

Some names and faces on the roster have changed, but there’s nothing like a little rematch to get the juices flowing.

The Falcons defense took an early lead in the second Allstate All-Access Friday Night Lights, this time at Brookwood High School, but the offense stormed back to walk away with a 37-34 win.

The team’s defense won the inaugural event, which uses a unique offensive and defensive scoring system 29-28.

Defensive play makers included Brent Grimes, who expanded his group’s lead in the first half by stripping the ball from tight end Justin Peelle, recovering the fumble and racing 35 yards for a touchdown.

Minor scoring continued with points being awarded for defensive stops, three-and-outs and offensive drives into the defense’s half of the field (click here for detail).

The offense turned to the running game to wear the defense down and got three scores — touchdown runs by Jerious Norwood and Thomas Brown and a 20-yard pass to Michael Jenkins from Matt Ryan.

J. Michael Moore News, training camp Brent Grimes, Brookwood High School, Friday Night Lights, highlights, Jerious Norwood, Justin Peelle, Matt Ryan, Michael Jenkins, Russell Falcons Training Camp, Thomas Brown

BLOGGER’S NOTE: I’ll be live blogging the events at Allstate All-Access Friday Night Lights for those who can’t make it out to Brookwood or into the state of Georgia. You can access it at www.atlantafalcons.com/live.

Football in the south is serious business.

Any time I start to doubt this assertion, something comes along to slap me back to reality.

Take a look Falcons fans at the facilities at Brookwood High School.

When Sam Baker gets to the Dave Hunter Sports Complex in a few minutes he’ll surely shake his head in approval when he takes in the locker rooms.

Football in the south is serious business.

The only way an event like Friday Night Lights works is if it’s held at high schools that can handle the masses of an NFL football team and its legions of fans.

Judging from the thousands of fans that were at the gate nearly an hour before opening, the Falcons will be in good shape on both fronts.

J. Michael Moore Feature, training camp Allstate All-Access Weekend, Brookwood High School, Fans, Friday Night Lights, high school football, Sam Baker

The Falcons released dates and times for Russell Falcons Training Camp practices Thursday, so get the calendars ready and start making plans.

A total of 14 practices will be open to the public in Flowery Branch. Two more events — Friday Night Lights and Roam the Dome — will be open to fans on the weekend of August 7.

Both are part of Allstate All-Access Weekend, which will feature a live scrimmage at Brookwood High School (Friday Night Lights) and a practice open to all fans at the Georgia Dome (Roam the Dome).

For anything and everything training camp, click here.

J. Michael Moore News, training camp Brookwood High School, Friday Night Lights, Roam the Dome, Russell Falcons Training Camp