Falcons lock up Edwards, Clabo; Anderson, Jenkins cut

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- The Atlanta Falcons are still ticked off about their last game.

It's time to start making up for that ugly playoff loss.

With the NFL lockout settled, the Falcons opened training camp Friday amid a flurry of moves designed to set up another run at the team's first Super Bowl title.

In the span of 24 hours, the Falcons lured free-agent defensive end Ray Edwards away from the Minnesota Vikings, agreed to a new deal with Pro Bowl offensive tackle Tyson Clabo and locked up their entire draft class, including top pick Julio Jones.

The NFL free agency cycle is in full effect, with teams and players agreeing to terms fast as training camps open. Get the latest on all the news right here.

Last season, Atlanta won the NFC South title and claimed the top seed in the conference playoffs. But the Falcons were blown out at home in their first postseason game, losing 48-21 to the eventual Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers.

"I don't know how many times I got asked in the offseason, 'Hey, what happened in that game? Why didn't y'all make it further?"' center Todd McClure said. "I got tired of answering those questions."

The defense certainly has something to prove after getting shredded by Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. Green Bay never even had to punt in its playoff romp.

"As a defense, we played a lot better (last season) than we had in the previous three years," linebacker Sean Weatherspoon said. "But that last game leaves a sour taste in your mouth."

The Falcons made a major move to shore up the defense Friday, agreeing to terms with Edwards. He had 16.5 sacks the last two seasons in Minnesota and gives his new team a much-needed pass-rushing threat to complement John Abraham.

Atlanta also agreed to a five-year, $25-million deal with Clabo, the cornerstone of the offensive line. The contract includes about $11.5 million in guaranteed money.

Finally, the Falcons locked up their entire draft class, including a four-year, $16.2-million deal for Jones, the No. 6 overall pick.

The deals were made possible when Atlanta released two former first-round picks, receiver Michael Jenkins and defensive end Jamaal Anderson, clearing $7.8 million under the salary cap.

Addressing needs on both sides of the line, the Falcons made it clear they still intend to be a major factor in the NFC, even though the schedule -- especially in the first five weeks -- is much tougher than a year ago.

"If we can stay healthy and go out and play the type of ball we've been playing, we've got a shot," McClure said. "Obviously, you play 'em one game at a time, but with that end goal in mind."

Not everything went Atlanta's way during the hectic free-agent signing period, condensed into just a few days after the players approved a 10-year labor agreement that ended the 4-month-long lockout.

Another of the team's stalwart linemen, offensive guard Harvey Dahl, reportedly agreed to terms with the St. Louis Rams. The other starting guard from a year ago, Justin Blalock, is also a free agent.

Quarterback Matt Ryan is admittedly concerned about breaking in two new linemen.

"They've been kind of a staple of what we've done," Ryan said. "But we have to understand it's a business and different things are going to happen. ... We'll make the most of whoever is here."

The Rams also were talking with running back Jason Snelling, who had been Atlanta's main backup. He became expendable after the Falcons drafted diminutive Oregon running back Jacquizz Rodgers in the fifth round to provide a speedy replacement when 1,371-yard rusher Michael Turner needs a break.

Running back Jerious Norwood was also released. His agent, Bus Cook, tells The Clarion-Ledger that he expects Norwood to sign with another team. Cook says the Falcons wanted to go in a different direction with younger players.

A third-round pick out of MSU in 2006, the 28-year-old Norwood played in just 57 of 80 regular-season games over the last five years with the Falcons while dealing with injuries ranging from a concussion to a hip flexor to a torn knee ligament.

In addition, Atlanta lost punter Michael Koenen, who agreed to terms with division rival Tampa Bay. Matt Bosher, a sixth-round pick from Miami, appears the likely replacement, though the Falcons have two other punters in camp.

None of the losses dampened the mood at Falcons camp. Under general manager Thomas Dimitroff and coach Mike Smith, the team has put together three straight winning seasons and two trips to the playoffs.

Not bad for a franchise that had never even managed consecutive seasons above .500 before they arrived.

"Our expectations," Smith said, "are really high."

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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Texans sign ex-Bears DE Anderson, waive DE Denney

HOUSTON -- The Texans signed defensive end Mark Anderson and waived defensive end Ryan Denney on Thursday.

Terms of the deal with Anderson weren't disclosed.

Anderson was cut by the Chicago Bears on Tuesday. The 6-foot-4, 255-pound lineman had 12 sacks as a rookie in 2006, helping the Bears reach the Super Bowl. But he posted just nine sacks over the next three seasons and has none this year.

The Texans signed Denney as a free agent after backup defensive end Connor Barwin broke his ankle during the season opener. Denney was inactive for last Sunday's game against the Oakland Raiders.

Houston has been looking for a defensive end to complement All-Pro Mario Williams, who has five of the team's nine sacks this season.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Cardinals to start rookie QB Hall vs. Saints, bench Anderson

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt has put his team's struggling offense into undrafted rookie quarterback Max Hall's hands.

Whisenhunt announced after Wednesday's practice that the former BYU standout would make his first NFL start Sunday when the Cardinals play host to the Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints.

Hall is Arizona's third starting quarterback since training camp opened, replacing the erratic Derek Anderson, who took over for Matt Leinart. That led to Leinart's release and left Hall as Anderson's backup.

The strong-armed Anderson, signed by the Cardinals as a free agent after he was released by the Cleveland Browns, was benched after throwing two first-half interceptions in last Sunday's 41-10 loss at San Diego. Hall came on to complete 8 of 14 passes for 82 yards without an interception, but he was sacked six times.

"I think Max certainly feels he's ready for it," Whisenhunt said. "I mean, he's a confident young man. He's been that way since he's been here. He's made progress. He believes in himself and carries himself with that confidence. I know that he wanted to play. I don't think that's ever been a question."

The Cardinals are tied for the NFC West lead at 2-2, but they have been outscored 82-17 in their two losses.

"Hopefully we'll make some more plays, be a little more efficient offensively," Whisenhunt said. "I think that one of the areas we need to improve in is just making the plays that are there. That's what we've missed on."

Hall said he's not looking at this as a one-week audition for the job.

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"I'm just going forward like it's mine," he said. "That's the mindset that you have to have. They're putting everything into me. The game plan and everything is going toward my strengths, so I'm moving forward like it's mine."

The 6-foot-1 Hall is a hometown favorite, having grown up in nearby Mesa. He initially enrolled at Arizona State, but he never played for the Sun Devils.

After two years on a Mormon mission, Hall started all 39 games in his three seasons with BYU. He completed 65 percent of his passes for 11,365 yards and 82 touchdowns while with the Cougars. In the process, he broke Ty Detmer's school record for victories as a quarterback with 32.

"We do feel good about his ability to get in there and run our offense, and that's because of the way he's handled himself since the day he got here," Whisenhunt said. "That's a little bit unusual for rookies, to have that confidence, to have that ability to handle the huddle, make some plays. Once again, it doesn't really mean anything until you see it on game day, and we're certainly expecting to have some success with that."

Hall wasn't among the 15 quarterbacks chosen by NFL teams in the April draft, but he quickly found a home with the Cardinals.

"You don't get drafted, you wonder what's going to happen," he said. "I was excited to be part of this organization. Coach Whisenhunt was always good and fair with me in everything that we did. We have a good relationship. It's an exciting thing for me to have the opportunity that's ahead of me to start for this team. I'm just going to give it my best."

Anderson was dogged by the same accuracy issues that plagued him with the Browns. He has completed 52 percent of his passes (58 for 112) for three touchdowns with five interceptions this season. His passer rating of 59.5 ranks 30th in the NFL, and his 644 passing yards are 23rd.

Whisenhunt said Anderson labored to escape the formidable shadow left by Kurt Warner, who retired after last season.

"I think what happened with Derek is he was pressing. He was trying to be perfect," Whisenhunt said. "A lot of that is because of the standard that's been set at that position around here, and I understand that. I think that's a tough way to try to play that position. That was part of the reasoning as to why we made this switch."

Anderson wasn't in the locker room after practice, but Whisenhunt said the quarterback handled the demotion "like a professional and with a lot of class."

While Cardinals players praised Hall's enthusiasm and ability to lead the team, running back Tim Hightower offered a reality check.

"He has his hands full. He's got a plate full in front of him, I'm not going to lie," Hightower said. "They kind of threw him in there, but it comes back to us making his transition a lot easier. We've got to establish the running game. We've got to be physical. We've got to make plays, and we've got to take the pressure off him."

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Bears release one-time sensation Anderson, sign DE Grant

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- The Chicago Bears have terminated the contract of defensive end Mark Anderson, who four years ago made a rookie team-record 12 sacks.

Mike Martz's offense is creative and gains yards in big chunks given one key aspect: pass protection.
The Bears aren't providing it to Jay Cutler, who is feeling the pain. More ...

The Bears on Tuesday signed veteran defensive end Charles Grant, who was cut by the New Orleans Saints in March and released by the Miami Dolphins last month before playing in two games with Omaha of the United Football League.

Grant, who signed a one-year deal with the Bears, started 16 games for the Saints last season before an arm injury forced him to miss the playoffs.

Anderson, a fifth-round draft pick in 2006, was a pass-rushing sensation in his first season, but he never developed into the player the Bears expected after that fast beginning.

Grant originally was selected by the Saints in the first round of the 2002 NFL Draft. He has 47 sacks in 118 career games, including 106 starts.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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