Horn allowed to seek trade

According to the AJC's Steve Wyche, Falcons receiver Joe Horn and his agent have been given clearance to gauge interest of other NFL teams in a prospective trade. Horn told the Wyche in May that he wanted to be traded by the Falcons mainly due to decreased playing time. However per Wyche, Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff has indicated that there has been no activity on the trade front involving Horn. Per Wyche, Horn's agent has talked to the Dallas Cowboys about a deal, but there has been no discussions between the Cowboys and Falcons. Earlier this week, reports surfaced that the Cowboys were interested in acquiring Horn. However on Friday, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones denied interest.

Horn to Cowboys?

NFL.com's Adam Schefter reports that the Dallas Cowboys perhaps will have interest in acquiring Falcons wide receiver Joe Horn to shore up their wide receiver depth. The Cowboys are currently embroiled in a dispute with disgruntled reserve receiver Terry Glenn over an injury waiver. Horn has been linked to possibly being a candidate to be released by the Falcons since the spring, and even reportedly requested a trade from the team in May.

Horn's value to the Falcons was lessened when the team drafted Louisville receiver Harry Douglas in the third round this past April. Horn is not expected to start this season, losing his job to second-year player Laurent Robinson. Horn caught 27 passes in 12 games last season for the Falcons, but only averaged 9 yards per catch and scored 1 touchdown, less production than expected when the team signed him to a four-year $19 million contract in March 2007. As part of that deal, Horn's 2008 base salary of $2.5 million is fully guaranteed.

So far, the Falcons have indicated that they have no plans on parting ways with Horn. It remains to be seen if that will be the case as the summer progresses.

UPDATE: ESPN's Ed Werder cites a team source that confirms Schefter's report that the Cowboys have initiated internal discussion about acquiring Horn. However, Dallas Morning News columnist Brian Davis reports that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones denied interest in Horn to ESPN during an Arena Football game on Friday night.

Horn wants trade

Steve Wyche of the AJC reports that Falcons wide receiver Joe Horn desires the team to trade him. According to Wyche, Horn wants to be moved due to his desire for increased playing time.

"I want to win a Super Bowl and I want to win a Super Bowl here in Atlanta, but I don't think I can help this team win a Super Bowl sitting on the bench, waiting for third down... They're going with the younger guys and I don't have a problem with that, if that's the course they've chosen. I want to have an opportunity to play with a team that needs a veteran to play and contribute and who helps the young guys... When I came here last year I was promised I'd be on the field and it turned out I was a just-in-case guy with the situation that went on. So far this year, it seems like that's the case again."

-- Joe Horn

Per Wyche, Horn indicated he would remain professional as long as he remained with the Falcons, but would prefer a more expansive role than that as a mentor to the young guys. Horn signed with the Falcons last off-season to a four-year contract. He is slated to earn a base salary of $2.5 million this year. Previous reports have indicated that Horn was already possibly on the bubble as far as the roster goes. It is unknown if this new revelation changes his status with the team. Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff indicated however that the team forsees a future for Horn on the team.

Earlier this off-season, the Falcons traded disgruntled cornerback DeAngelo Hall after public comments indicating he no longer wanted to play for the team. The team also released running back Warrick Dunn after he asked for it as well.

Horn on the bubble

Pro Football Weekly writes that a second round of cuts could be coming for the Falcons in early April. Then, the Falcons will hold a mini-camp in which new head coach Mike Smith will get to see many of the team's current players and newly added free agents in action for the first time.

PFW specifically mentions veteran wide receiver Joe Horn as being on the bubble, and may have to prove he is worth keeping around in this mini-camp. Horn's status is questionable due to the presences of Roddy White, Michael Jenkins, and Laurent Robinson at wide receiver. Horn was one of the team's higher-profiled free agent additions in 2007, but finished seventh on the team in receptions last year with 27 and 1 touchdown in 12 games. Horn, 36, has a base salary of $2.5 million in 2008, which may or may not be guaranteed. The mini-camp will be voluntary, but Horn is expected to be in attendance for obvious reasons.

Roster could see lots of turnover

The AJC's Steve Wyche reports that several Falcons veterans may not be back in 2008. Among players named by Wyche, who cites NFL officials and player agents, are safeties Lawyer Milloy and Chris Crocker, along with offensive linemen Wayne Gandy, Kynan Forney, and Todd Weiner, wide receivers Brian Finneran and Joe Horn, running back Warrick Dunn, quarterbacks Joey Harrington and Byron Leftwich, and linebacker Keith Brooking. Wyche reports that many of these players could be released as soon as Friday, February 15.

Wyche indicates that one player that could be potentially safe is tight end Alge Crumpler, who is coming off a down year. But Crumpler may be retained since it's doubtful the Falcons could add someone in the draft or free agency that could adequately replace him.

Crocker is an unrestricted free agent, and is not expected to be re-signed. The remaining players represent 10 of the team's top 15 highest-paid players based on 2008 base salary. The Falcons currently have around $6 million in cap space for the 2008 season. Dunn, Gandy, Milloy, Forney, Harrington, and Leftwich are all entering the final years on their contracts. Brooking and Finneran have two years left on their deals, while Horn and Weiner have three and four, respectively. Among them, Brooking ($4.9 million), Dunn ($4 million), Gandy ($3.5 million), and Forney ($2.95 million) have the highest 2008 base salaries.

Horn and 3 others doubtful vs. Cards

The Falcons have a few injuries this week as they prepare to face the Arizona Cardinals on the road. The team listed three players on their Friday injury report as doubtful, along with one questionable, and three probables.

The biggest name among those listed as doubtful is wide receiver Joe Horn. Horn was only able to participate in a limited fashion on Thursday of this week, missing both Wednesday and Friday practices due to the flu. Both tight end Alge Crumpler and quarterback Joey Harrington missed some practice time this week due to the flu, but neither player is listed on the injury report, and thus is expected to play on Sunday.

Also doubtful were defensive tackle Tim Anderson and defensive back Antoine Harris, both out with knee injuries. Harris has missed the last two games due to a bone bruise on his knee. If Anderson does not play, it's possible that Jesse Mahelona will get his first action of the season for the Falcons.

Cornerback Chris Houston was the only player listed as questionable, as he's suffering from a knee injury as well. The team is already without cornerback Lewis Sanders and coupled with Harris's injury it likely will put more of the onus on reserve David Irons and the newly added Brent Grimes to step up. Irons has served primarily on special teams this season. He currently leads the team with 12 special teams tackles, but has yet to record a regular defensive stop all year long.

The three probable players are defensive end John Abraham (knee), quarterback Byron Leftwich (ankle), and center Todd McClure (illness). Both Leftwich and McClure missed Friday practice, while Abraham was limited all week and did not practice on Wednesday. But all are expected to play on Sunday.

For the Arizona Cardinals, their most prominent injuries are that both starting receivers: Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin are listed as questionable for Sunday's game with groin and toe injuries, respectively.

Harrington to start vs. Colts

The Falcons have made a short-term decision on who will be the starting quarterback at least for tomorrow night's matchup against the Indianapolis Colts. Joey Harrington will replace an injured Byron Leftwich in the starting lineup. Leftwich is listed among several Falcons as doubtful the Thanksgiving Night matchup against the Colts. Leftwich suffered an injured tailbone in last week's loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Head coach Bobby Petrino was noncommittal on whether Harrington or Leftwich would get the start afterwards during this week's press conference: "Since this is such a short week, we are worrying about the Indianapolis game right now. We’ll have a little break after that and we’ll see how everything goes.”

In other injury news, the Falcons listed tight end Dwayne Blakley (concussion), wide receiver Joe Horn (hamstring/foot), and offensive tackle Todd Weiner (knee) also as doubtful. Blakley is expected to be replaced by Courtney Anderson, a free agent pickup from a week ago. Rookie Laurent Robinson has filled in for Horn the past two weeks and will likely do again for a third consecutive week. Weiner was replaced by Quinn Ojinnaka at left tackle during last week's game when he went out with injury. Ojinnaka is expected to do so again, although there might be a chance that Terrance Pennington may be given some reps on Thursday at left tackle.

Also on the injury report was tight end Alge Crumpler who was listed as probable with a foot injury.

Crumpler and Sanders on injury report

The Falcons released their Friday injury report and there weren't any significant changes from a week ago. For the second straight week, tackle Todd Weiner (knee) and linebacker Stephen Nicholas (ankle) are both listed as out for this Sunday's matchup against the New Orleans Saints. The notable changes occurred with tight end Alge Crumpler listed as doubtful due to a knee and ankle injury. Fullback Corey McIntyre, the team's special teams captain is also doubtful with a hamstring injury. Cornerback Lewis Sanders (shoulder) is questionable.

Weiner will be replaced for the second straight week with Tyson Clabo at right tackle. If Crumpler does not play, then Dwayne Blakley is expected to make the start. Whether Sanders is healthy enough to play on Sunday may not determine if he starts or not since it is believed that rookie Chris Houston may already be very close to passing him on the depth chart.

Also on the injury report listed as probable are defensive tackles Jonathan Babineaux and Rod Coleman, quarterback Joey Harrington, and wide receiver Joe Horn. Babineaux and Coleman were limited in practices on both Thursday and Friday, but still should play. Harrington had limited participation in practice all week, but with his recent demotion, his health is less of an issue. Horn's injury probably won't threaten his chance to play due to his eagerness to play against his former team.

Falcons come to terms with Horn

It's official, the Falcons have agreed to a deal with free agent receiver Joe Horn, according to AJC writer Steve Wyche. It was reported earlier Wednesday afternoon by ESPN, but denied by Falcons officials.

Terms of Horn's contract are not yet known, although Wyche reports it is believed to be at least three years long with guarantees worth around $2 million. That would mean the deal could be similar in size and structure to the two-year deal the 49ers gave former Falcons wideout Ashley Lelie. Lelie signed a two-year contract worth $4.3 million, including a $2 million signing bonus.

It could be considered a bargain, considering Horn is a four-time Pro Bowler that still has been productive even at age 35. However, Horn's production has tailed off the past two seasons, partially due to injuries. The past two seasons, Horn has missed a combined 9 games, but still managed to catch 86 passes for 1333 yards and 5 touchdowns. In his previous five seasons with the Saints, Horn averaged 87 catches for 1258 yards and 9 touchdowns per year.

Falcons close to signing Horn

ESPN's Michael Smith reported that New Orleans Saints wide receiver Joe Horn had reached an agreement with the Falcons. However, team spokesman Reggie Roberts indicated no agreement had been reached, and Horn remains unsigned at this point. But they are close.

Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported that Horn was planning to visit the Green Bay Packers at some point later this week. If this will complicate matters is unknown at this point.

Horn first arrived in Atlanta on Monday to talk to team officials and take a physical. Horn has a chance to contribute immediately as a starter. Ashley Lelie, who started ten games last season at wide receiver, signed with the 49ers over the weekend.

Falcons interested in Horn

The New Orleans Saints released four-time Pro Bowl receiver Joe Horn on Thursday, making him a free agent. According to the Fayetteville Observer, the Falcons are one of four teams that have expressed interest in Horn, per his agent Ralph Vitolo.

A groin injury limited Horn to only ten games and nine starts. His absence allowed the emergence of seventh round pick Marques Colston. Horn still managed 37 catches and 4 touchdowns last year.

Colston's emergence, coupled with Horn's age (35) and 2007 base salary ($4.45 million) caused the Saints to look in a new direction at that position.

The Falcons wide receiver woes are no secret, and a veteran of Horn's would not only add a set of reliable hands, but also add a solid veteran presence to help tutor young wideouts such as Michael Jenkins and Roddy White. Despite missing about half the season, Horn was still nearly as productive as the Falcons leading wideout Jenkins who caught 39 passes and 7 touchdowns.

The other teams mentioned by his agent as being interested are the Cleveland Browns, Miami Dolphins, and Green Bay Packers. The Falcons could have an advantage in landing Horn over those teams as it would allow him to face the Saints twice per year, and is much closer to his homes in Louisiana and North Carolina.