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If you're a fan of Falcons legends Brad Beckman, Tony Jones or Ricky Sanders, this article is likely to annoy you as this sentence is the last time you'll hear of them from me. Instead, we'll take a look at a few of the notable players who have worn #83 over the years for the Falcons.
Tim Dwight
From 1998 to 2000, the lightning bolt Tim Dwight wore the number 83 as a wide receiver and punt/kick returner. The fourth round pick of the Falcons in the 1998 draft was a 2x All American in his time at Iowa and made some dazzling plays in his time with the Falcons. In the Super Bowl, Dwight returned a kick off for 94 yards and a touchdown and also set a Super Bowl record with an average of 42 yards per punt return. Dwight's most notable contribution was that he was part of the trade that eventually landed Michael Vick in Atlanta.
Harry Douglas
The most recent Falcon to wear the number 83, Douglas donned the number in 2008 until his release this off-season. After a promising rookie season as a slot WR, Douglas was sidelined for the 2009 season with an ACL tear. His 2010 season was a bit of a letdown as his knee injury seemed to steal away some of the quickness he displayed early on. In 2013, Harry would have his best season with the Falcons due to the loss of Julio and Roddy for large portions of the season and would amass 1067 yards and 2TDs. While Harry never quite lived up to the potential most fans saw early on, he was heavily involved in the community and is still close friends with many of the existing players on the roster, including Matt, Roddy and Julio.
Alge Crumpler
In the 2nd round of the 2001 NFL draft, the Falcons would draft a tight end out of North Carolina. Alge Crumpler would go on to play with the Falcons for 7 seasons, starting 93 games. He would collect 316 receptions, 4212 yards and 35 TDs in his time with the Falcons. He would make four straight Pro-Bowls for the Falcons, from 2003 to 2006. He was a steady and reliable target for the team and though his release came in a very difficult time for the franchise, he's still remembered fondly by most fans. Though he would later be overshadowed by one of the greatest tight ends to have ever played, Crumpler is clearly one of the best to have ever played the position for the Falcons. It's also why he's the best player to have ever worn the number 83 for the team.