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In a development sure to shake up the Falcons' locker room, the team cut veteran starting nose tackle Grady Jackson on Tuesday. It did not give a reason for the move, but said coach Bobby Petrino would address the situation at today's news conference.
Rookie Trey Lewis, a sixth-round pick from Division II Washburn, will assume the starting job held by Jackson since he was acquired as a free agent before the 2006 season.
DeAngelo Hall plans to give it his all the rest of the season. He wonders if the Atlanta Falcons are making the same commitment.
The Pro Bowl cornerback went off on his team Wednesday -- specifically coach Bobby Petrino and the front office -- after the Falcons (1-6) released defensive tackle Grady Jackson during the bye week.
"I don't know what kind of message is being sent to let Grady go," Hall said. "I'm trying to go (all) out on every single snap. But a lot of guys feel like everyone from the top down is kind of turning it in."
Petrino brushed aside any speculation that the Falcons were going with youth and giving up on this season by releasing the 35-year-old Jackson. Rookie Trey Lewis, a sixth-round pick, takes over as the starter.
"It had nothing to do with anything but football," the coach said. "It was just the way we wanted to go. We felt like for our best opportunity to win games, the next nine games that we play, this was the right move to make, and that's really all there is to it."
"They told me that I didn't fit their system," Jackson told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Wednesday. "That's what they told me and that they wanted to go younger. From my standpoint, why would you do something like that when the season isn't almost over. In other words, for me, I just feel like they are giving up on the season."
Jackson, 35, helped to improve the run defense last season. He said he had a good relationship with new defensive line coach Kevin Wolthausen, who came with Petrino from Louisville.
"I'm still trying to figure out why," Jackson said.
The Falcons play a 4-3 alignment. Jackson was playing nose guard and wasn't sure what part of the scheme he didn't fit any longer.
"You're asking the wrong person," Jackson said. "The only thing I can say is that stats don't lie. The numbers speak for themselves. That's how I look at it. I played ball. There wasn't any question that I played every Sunday."
Coach Petrino, team officials refuse to speak to the media
There was no aftermath to the aftermath at Falcons headquarters Thursday.
Coach Bobby Petrino and team officials refused to speak to the media following the final practice before the bye weekend. Thus, there was no response to inflammatory comments from cornerback DeAngelo Hall and other players who questioned the direction of the team, the release of defensive tackle Grady Jackson and the commitment of the coaching staff.
Pouya Dianat / AJC
(ENLARGE)
Atlanta cornerback DeAngelo Hall (21) has been outspoken about the team's direction.
Hall, who practiced, was not available. Defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer also did not want to talk, according to the Falcons media-relations staff. Players are off until next week. Atlanta plays host to San Francisco on Nov. 4.
Hall was the most vocal and critical, but it is not known if he will be disciplined for his comments. He was fined $100,000 and benched for a quarter in a game against Houston after a sideline blowup the week before against Carolina.
uga_dawgs24 wrote:Blank is about to have a situation on his hands. Either cut or trade his top players who are now pissed at the release of Grady, or get rid of the coach. I hope he gets rid of Petrino instead of Hall and whoever else may be pissed.
