You may have thought that the Falcons had set their cornerback corps after trading Chris Houston. You would have thought wrong.
The Falcons clearly weren't happy with the minimal progress Tye Hill made over the course of last season, because they straight up canned him Tuesday, according to D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta-Journal Constitution. While he's always had the physical tools to be a difference-maker, Hill never really did anything with him, and the team wasn't about to give him another season on the roster to see if he'd transform, as buried on the depth chart as he was likely to be. An interception return for a touchdown alone does not a Falcon make, I guess, and I can't say I'm sobbing hysterically now that he's gone.
The move leaves the Falcons with five cornerbacks and may signal that the team will target another corner in the middle-to-late rounds in the NFL Draft, as Mike Smith clearly likes to have a ton of depth at the position. In a group made up of Dunta Robinson, Brent Grimes, Chris Owens, Brian Williams and Chevis Jackson, there's a pretty decent amount of talent, so I don't expect any of them to be released before the season begins. We'll see what the team does now.
In other news, the Falcons brought aboard special teamer and safety Matt Giordano, a former Colt and Packer. Giordano, a willing tackler, will immediately assume the Antoine Harris Memorial role as a backup safety who can do a little bit of everything, but if he's starting it means we're flat out screwed. Keep that in mind.
What are your thoughts on Hill's release?