(Would look good in a JETS UNI IMO)
Updated: 2:13 p.m. August 19, 2008
Falcons release veteran WR Horn
By STEVE WYCHE
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Flowery Branch - The Falcons ended the standoff with disgruntled wide receiver Joe Horn and released him Tuesday afternoon, Horn and his agent, Ralph Vitolo, told the Journal-Constitution.
“They saw I was disgruntled, they saw that me sitting to the side and watching and we know it wasn’t going to work out well for either of us,” Horn told the AJC. “We made the right decision. They allowed me to go and I’m just happy to know that I’m leaving with good character.
“I talked to Smitty [coach Mike Smith] and I talked to [general manager] Thomas Dimitroff. We shook hands and we wished each other the best.”
The Falcons notified Horn of his release around noon and he quickly cleaned out his locker before leaving the team facility. Vitolo said that he would waste no time trying to find Horn a job with a new team. Horn has stated publicly that he would like to play for the Dallas Cowboys or Philadelphia Eagles.
Horn, 36, said last May that he would like to be traded or released because he felt the Falcons were going through a rebuilding phase with younger players and that he didn’t feel part of the plan. Management consistently said that Horn had a place in the lineup, but that never materialized.
Horn skipped all voluntary workouts, conditioning and other team functions in the offseason. Shortly after reporting to training camp July 25, Horn was behind because he said he did not study his playbook. He then suffered a hamstring injury that he said was minor, but it was problematic enough for him to not play in either of the Falcons’ two preseason games.
“It’s a business so I understand how things were handled,” Horn said. “What if some of their receivers went down? They would have had me around to help. I knew that and understood.
“If I couldn’t play I would retire but I know I can still play.”
In cutting Horn, the Falcons have to eat his guaranteed $2.5 base million salary for 2008. It is the final portion of $7.5 million in salary and bonus money Horn was paid after signing a four-year, $14.5 million free agent contract last season after a seven-year career with the New Orleans Saints.
Horn left at the bottom of the Falcons’ wide receiver depth chart. The top four wideouts include Roddy White, Michael Jenkins, Laurent Robinson and Harry Douglas. Brian Finneran, Adam Jennings, Eric Weems and Chandler Williams are battling for the fifth spot - if Atlanta keeps five wideouts. The Falcons also could sign a free agent at the position.
Horn’s release trims Atlanta’s roster to 79 — they actually have 80 because of an international practice squad player exemption - meaning it only has to cut four players after Friday’s preseason game against visiting the Tennessee Titans to meet the NFL standards
Updated: 2:13 p.m. August 19, 2008
Falcons release veteran WR Horn
By STEVE WYCHE
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Flowery Branch - The Falcons ended the standoff with disgruntled wide receiver Joe Horn and released him Tuesday afternoon, Horn and his agent, Ralph Vitolo, told the Journal-Constitution.
“They saw I was disgruntled, they saw that me sitting to the side and watching and we know it wasn’t going to work out well for either of us,” Horn told the AJC. “We made the right decision. They allowed me to go and I’m just happy to know that I’m leaving with good character.
“I talked to Smitty [coach Mike Smith] and I talked to [general manager] Thomas Dimitroff. We shook hands and we wished each other the best.”
The Falcons notified Horn of his release around noon and he quickly cleaned out his locker before leaving the team facility. Vitolo said that he would waste no time trying to find Horn a job with a new team. Horn has stated publicly that he would like to play for the Dallas Cowboys or Philadelphia Eagles.
Horn, 36, said last May that he would like to be traded or released because he felt the Falcons were going through a rebuilding phase with younger players and that he didn’t feel part of the plan. Management consistently said that Horn had a place in the lineup, but that never materialized.
Horn skipped all voluntary workouts, conditioning and other team functions in the offseason. Shortly after reporting to training camp July 25, Horn was behind because he said he did not study his playbook. He then suffered a hamstring injury that he said was minor, but it was problematic enough for him to not play in either of the Falcons’ two preseason games.
“It’s a business so I understand how things were handled,” Horn said. “What if some of their receivers went down? They would have had me around to help. I knew that and understood.
“If I couldn’t play I would retire but I know I can still play.”
In cutting Horn, the Falcons have to eat his guaranteed $2.5 base million salary for 2008. It is the final portion of $7.5 million in salary and bonus money Horn was paid after signing a four-year, $14.5 million free agent contract last season after a seven-year career with the New Orleans Saints.
Horn left at the bottom of the Falcons’ wide receiver depth chart. The top four wideouts include Roddy White, Michael Jenkins, Laurent Robinson and Harry Douglas. Brian Finneran, Adam Jennings, Eric Weems and Chandler Williams are battling for the fifth spot - if Atlanta keeps five wideouts. The Falcons also could sign a free agent at the position.
Horn’s release trims Atlanta’s roster to 79 — they actually have 80 because of an international practice squad player exemption - meaning it only has to cut four players after Friday’s preseason game against visiting the Tennessee Titans to meet the NFL standards
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