Hutchins lost for the season

The AJC reports that Falcons cornerback Von Hutchins is lost for the season after undergoing surgery today to repair his broken foot. Hutchins was initially diagnosed with a sprain after injuring himself in the team's first practice on Saturday morning. But upon getting a second opinion received a more grievous prognosis that it was a Lisfranc fracture and he will be out 4-6 months.

Hutchins will be placed on the injured reserve and will miss the entire season. With him out the lineup, rookie Chevis Jackson likely is viewed as the front-runner to win the nickel cornerback role behind starters Chris Houston and Brent Grimes.

Grady returns

The AJC reports that the Falcons have re-signed defensive tackle Grady Jackson. They agreed on a one-year contract. Jackson rejoins the team after an abrupt dismissal last October.

The team had been in discussions with Jackson over the weekend about bringing him back. It has not known if Jackson will immediately resume his role as starting nose tackle, although he certainly will get the opportunity. The Green Bay Packers, Oakland Raiders, Jacksonville Jaguars, and New England Patriots were also interested in Jackson.

Lehman opts for Lions over Falcons

Nicholas J. Cotsonika of the Detroit Free Press reports that free agent linebacker Teddy Lehman was set to work out for the Falcons Saturday morning. Lehman was released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers earlier this week. But after arriving in Atlanta at 5 am on Saturday, he received a call from his former team the Detroit Lions and opted to return there.

Lehman was a prolific linebacker at Oklahoma, winning the Chuck Bednarik and Dick Butkus Awards as a senior. He was drafted in the second round by the Lions in 2004. He started 16 games as a rookie, but injuries and disappointing play made him a backup the following three seasons. He signed with the Bucs this off-season.

The Falcons recently signed linebacker Coy Wire. Their interest in both players indicates some concern over their depth at linebacker.

Weiner cleared to play

The AJC's D. Orlando Ledbetter reports that Falcons offensive tackle Todd Weiner has been medically cleared to practice. Weiner has been recovering from surgery on both knees after suffering injuries last season. The team was hopeful that Weiner would be able to join them at the start of training camp and he will be. However head coach Mike Smith told the media today that they will work Weiner back onto the field slowly.

In contrast, rookie tackle Sam Baker was not able to practice per the AJC because his rookie contract that he agreed to last night was not approved by the NFL yet.

Baker signs among other roster moves

The Falcons made a multitude of roster moves on the eve of camp. Not only did the team agree to terms with the last of its unsigned draft picks in offensive tackle Sam Baker, but also signed three others: offensive tackle Mike Butterworth, cornerback Blue Adams, and linebacker Coy Wire. To make room for the additions the team waived cornerback Glenn Sharpe, reached an injury settlement with linebacker Travis Williams, and waived/injured offensive lineman Pat McCoy. The team also placed defensive tackle Trey Lewis on the active/non-football injury list and offensive tackle Renardo Foster on the active/physically-unable-to-perform list.

Baker was the second of the team's two first round draft picks, and there was some worry about whether he would be signed on time before the start of practices on Saturday morning. Baker is expected to compete for the starting left tackle position against Quinn Ojinnaka.

Butterworth rejoins the team after being cut in June to make room for Harry Douglas. He is an undrafted free agent out of Slippery Rock. Adams was recently dumped by the Cincinnati Bengals. He has spent most of his four seasons in the NFL as a reserve corner contributing on special teams. Last year for the Bengals, he recorded 9 stops on special teams in 13 games. Wire was an unsigned free agent this past off-season after spending six seasons with the Buffalo Bills. In that span, he mostly produced on special teams. His most productive year came as a rookie in 2002, where he started 15 games at strong safety and recorded 92 tackles and 3 sacks. He was moved to linebacker late in 2006, which was the position he played at Stanford.

Sharpe was an undrafted rookie out of Miami signed by the team this past spring. By reaching an injury settlement with Williams, it affords the Falcons an opportunity to re-sign him later in the season but also gives Williams a chance to explore other opportunities with other teams. If McCoy clears waivers, he will be placed on the Falcons injured reserve list.

Lewis and Foster essentially are unable to practice due to injury, and if or when they are able to pass a physical, will be free to join the Falcons active roster this summer. Both players suffered torn ACLs last season. Lewis had a setback in the off-season as he was already in the midst of rehab and require more surgery on his injured knee. Foster suffered his second career ACL tear last October and isn't completely healed.

Lofton won't be a holdout

With less than a day before the Falcons kick off training camp on Saturday with an 8:30 am et practice, the Falcons were able to get one of their two remaining unsigned draft picks under contract when they signed linebacker Curtis Lofton to a four-year deal per the AJC.

Lofton is expected to be the team's starting middle linebacker, but his ability to compete for that role could have been impacted based on when he arrived to camp. First round pick Sam Baker remains the only unsigned rookie. All players on the teams' roster are expected to report today at Flowery Branch for camp.

Quarterback is open competition

The AJC's Steve Wyche cites Falcons head coach Mike Smith as indicating that the team's starting quarterback position is up for grabs.

"We want them all to compete as if they'll be starters...It's going to be an open competition."

-- Mike Smith

From most indications, Chris Redman is the incumbent and enters camp atop the depth chart, but all four passers the team has in camp will have the opportunity to win the job. Redman finished last season strongly with four starts, passing for 1079 yards, 10 touchdowns, and a 90.4 passer rating. But the team drafted Matt Ryan with the third overall pick this past April, and he's definitely slated to be the quarterback of the future. But Ryan will have the opportunity to be the quarterback of today as well if he performs well in camp. Also on the roster are Joey Harrington who started 10 games last year and D.J. Shockley who was a seventh round pick two years ago.

Falcons talking to Grady Jackson

The AJC reports that the Falcons were in discussions with free agent defensive tackle Grady Jackson on Friday morning about a potential reunion between the two parties. Per the report, the team and Jackson are currently working on terms of the deal and he also took a physical.

Jackson was cut by the Falcons last October after starting the first seven games of the season, recording 20 tackles and 1 sack. He finished the year as a reserve with the Jacksonville Jaguars where he worked with current Falcons head coach Mike Smith and defensive line coach Ray Hamilton. Early speculation in the off-season indicated that it was possible the Falcons were willing to re-sign Jackson, although nothing came of it in the following months in free agency.

Jackson could replace current starting nose tackle Montavious Stanley in the lineup, who is filling in for the injured Trey Lewis.

Horn expected at camp

The AJC's Steve Wyche reports that disgruntled Falcons wide receiver Joe Horn is expected to report to training camp on Friday. Horn previously has expressed a desire to be traded. Reports surfaced a few weeks ago about a potential trade to the Dallas Cowboys, but there was little substance behind those reports and nothing new has developed since.

According to Wyche, Horn's agent Ralph Vitolo has indicated that they are willing to restructure Horn's contract in order to make a trade likelier. Horn's $2.5 million base salary is guaranteed and he carries a cap hit of $3.4 million this season.

Falcons on list to acquire Favre

Jason Wilde of the Wisconsin State Journal reports that the Falcons are among eight teams according to a league source that the Green Bay Packers are willing to trade Brett Favre to. Wilde cites that the source indicates that the Packers are in their due diligence stage of listing potential trade partners. Wilde's report does not indicate that the Falcons have contacted the Packers about acquiring Favre, only that the Packers have listed the Falcons as a possible destination for Favre. Also on that list are Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers, Houston Texans, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Washington Redskins.

Whether the Falcons have interest in Favre remains to be seen. The Falcons certainly have a quarterback of the future, signing Matt Ryan to a $72 million contract in May. Favre will receive $12.7 million in salary this year, making him a hefty acquisition for any team. Peter King of SI.com did not list the Falcons as one of ten teams that have the cap space to acquire Favre.

Force coach Plank joins Falcons

The AJC reports that Georgia Force head coach Doug Plank will join the Falcons as an assistant coach. Falcons owner Arthur Blank also owns the Force, an Arena League team.

The AJC cites teams spokesman Reggie Roberts as indicating Plan will serve as a coaching assistant and work on special projects for the team. The paper also indicates Plank may work with the team's safeties as well, although Emmitt Thomas and Alvin Reynolds currently fill the capacity as secondary coaches.

Plank compiled a 47-25 record in four seasons as the head coach of the Force, making the playoffs in all four years. He earned AFL Coach of the Year honors in 2005 and 2007. Prior to joining the Force, he was the defensive coordinator to the Arizona Rattlers for three seasons. Prior to that he worked as an analyst on television and radio for seven years. Plank was a top player at Ohio State before he entered in hte NFL in 1975 as a twelfth round pick for the Chicago Bears. He played safety for the Bears from 1975-82, appearing in 101 games, starting 83 of them, and recording 15 interceptions and 14 fumble recoveries. His number 46 was the inspiration for the name of the famous Buddy Ryan defense in Chicago.

Tony Gonzalez cut

The Falcons announced today that they released wide receiver Tony Gonzalez. Gonzalez, a first-year player was signed by the team in May. Gonzalez was a favorite receiver of Matt Ryan during their shared days at Boston College. Gonzalez left BC after the 2006-07 season but was unsigned as an undrafted rookie free agent. He worked out with the Falcons during their May mini-camps, and performed well enough that he was signed by the team.

Falcons in Favre Sweepstakes?

In a report by David Elfin of the Washington Times about the Washington Redskins' chances of acquiring disgruntled quarterback Brett Favre from the Green Bay Packers, Elfin cites a league observer indicating that the Packers would like to see a bidding war commence between Redskins owner Daniel Snyder and Falcons owner Arthur Blank over the rights to Favre.

Favre, 39, began his career in Atlanta in 1991, as a second round pick. But was traded after the season to the Packers, where he played the next sixteen seasons, setting numerous passing records and going to nine Pro Bowls in that span. Favre is the all-time leader in passing attempts, completions, yards, touchdowns, and interceptions.

There has been no indication that the Falcons are actually interested in Favre. Nor have the Packers officially indicated that they are going to or willing to trade Favre. Favre has a salary of $12 million this season, which any team acquiring him will have to absorb to their 2008 salary cap barring him restructuring his contract.

Falcons sign James

Scout.com's Adam Caplan reports that the Falcons have signed fifth round linebacker Robert James to a four-year contract on Monday night. According to Caplan, James signed a deal worth about $1.904 million including a $199,000 signing bonus.

James is expected to add depth at outside linebacker behind Keith Brooking as well as help out on special teams this season. He had his best year at Arizona State as a senior, recording 106 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and 4 interceptions, earning 1st team All-Pac 10 honors.

James's signing leaves the Falcons with first round pick Sam Baker and second round pick Curtis Lofton as the team's only unsigned rookie draft picks. Players will report for training camp on July 25 and the team will work on getting both rookies signed before then.

Summer schedule set

The Falcons announced their training camp schedule on Tuesday. All players will report Friday, July 25. Their first practice will take place the next morning at 8:30 am. In total, they will have 30 practices including 13 sets of two-a-days.

The Falcons will also hold an open to the public night scrimmage on Friday August 1 at Mill Creek High in Hoschton, GA. The following day, they will hold another open practice, which will be a mock game at the Georgia Dome around noon.

The team will have a total of 16 practices open to the public during the first two weeks of camp leading up to their first preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on August 9. They will wrap up their training camp the following week with eight closed practices, breaking camp on August 15, a day before their preseason home debut against the Indianapolis Colts. The Falcons will face the Tennessee Titans at home in their third preseason game on August 22. The team will then be forced to cut down its roster from 80 to 75 players by August 26. The Falcons will wrap up their exhibition schedule against the Baltimore Ravens on August 28 in Baltimore. Rosters will then be finalized on August 30, down to the 53-man limit.

The Falcons then open the regular season at home against the Detroit Lions on September 7.

Stone on shaky ground

Pro Football Weekly reports that the Falcons may release safety Daren Stone if he's convicted of DUI, stemming from a June arrest. According to the report, the Falcons organization has become hypersensitive in the wake of Michael Vick's legal troubles from a year ago about its players getting involved in on the wrong side of the law. Per an AJC report, Falcons head coach Mike Smith had this to say about Stone's arrest back in June:

"There isn't really anything I can say other than I'm disappointed, that is obvious. We're disappointed as an organization. I spoke with Daren and again, any of those conversations I would like to keep private."

The PFW report also indicates another reason which may prompt Stone's untimely dismissal is the development of rookie Thomas DeCoud, who has gotten some limited work with the team's first team defense at safety. Following the team's decision to release safety Jimmy Williams last month, the team also signed veteran Deke Cooper, who started 15 games for the Carolina Panthers last season, which also prevents a glaring loss of depth if Stone is released.

Despite the team's reported hypersensitivity, there is no indication that Michael Boley will lose his roster spot over his May arrest on battery against his wife.