The Atlanta Falcons And Final Cuts: The Aftermath

You might recall that back at the beginning of the off-season, when emotions were running high and the Giants loss was more of a sucking chest wound than an itchy scar, that Mike Smith said the Atlanta Falcons would brook no sacred cows this year.

At the time, it sounded a little hollow, to say the least. The Falcons as we knew them were big on continuity amongst starters and backups, and there were many familiar faces from year to year during Smith's first four years. Why, we wondered, should that suddenly change?

It would be unfair to suggest that Friday's cuts blew us away. The Falcons didn't cut any starters, after all, and they were never all that likely to. Yet it's still surprising to see guys drafted and nurtured by this particular general manager and head coach duo hitting the curb, and it does signal to me that there was some truth behind what Smitty said.

The Falcons are now rolling with someone else's Mr. Irrelevant as their fifth receiver and possible punt returner, one of last year's UDFAs as their likely third receiver, a Panthers' seventh-rounder as their fifth cornerback and one of this year's UDFAs as a backup offensive lineman. They're placing an enormous amount of faith in these guys based solely on the talent and potential they see there, not draft position or time with the team or anything like that. I honestly find that encouraging.

If the result is a leaner, meaner football team with young players hungry to make their case...well, I don't think that's a bad thing. These are your new Atlanta Falcons.

After the jump, the new-look roster.

QB Matt Ryan
QB Luke McCown
QB Dominique Davis
RB Michael Turner
RB Jacquizz Rodgers
RB Jason Snelling
RB Antone Smith
FB Lousaka Polite
WR Roddy White
WR Julio Jones
WR Harry Douglas
WR Kevin Cone
WR Tim Toone
TE Tony Gonzalez
TE Michael Palmer
TE Tommy Gallarda
T Sam Baker
T Tyson Clabo
T Lamar Holmes
T/G Phillipkeith Manley
T/G Mike Johnson
G Justin Blalock
G Garrett Reynolds
G Joe Hawley
G/C Peter Konz
C Todd McClure
DE John Abraham
DE Ray Edwards
DE Kroy Biermann
DE Lawrence Sidbury
DE Cliff Matthews
DE Jonathan Massaquoi
DT Jon Babineaux
DT Peria Jerry
DT Vance Walker
DT Travian Robertson
OLB Stephen Nicholas
OLB Sean Weatherspoon
OLB/MLB Mike Peterson
MLB Akeem Dent
MLB Robert James
CB Brent Grimes
CB Asante Samuel
CB Dunta Robinson
CB Chris Owens
CB Robert McClain
FS Thomas DeCoud
FS Chris Hope
SS William Moore
SS Charles Mitchell
K Matt Bryant
P Matt Bosher
LS Josh Harris