FLOWERY BRANCH - The Atlanta Falcons, coming off a 3-1 preseason, opened their game-week schedule today for Sunday's season-opening game at Minnesota.
Joey Harrington will start at quarterback when Atlanta opens its first season under coach Bobby Petrino. Chris Redman, who hasn't played in an NFL game since 2003, is Harrington's backup, but the team needs a third-stringer to serve as the emergency backup against the Vikings.
The Falcons Monday signed DT Remi Ayodele, OL D'Anthony Batiste and RB Artose Pinner in addition to waiving LB Jordan Beck and RB Jason Snelling. Atlanta also established a seven-player practice squad consisting of QB Casey Bramlet, DB Brent Grimes, WR Eric Weems, OL Kurt Quarterman, LB Travis Williams, WR Todd Watkins, and former Georgia Tech tight end George Cooper.
Ayodele, 6-2, 300 pounds, was signed to the Dallas Cowboys practice squad last season and was then allocated to the Frankfurt Galaxy of NFL Europa for the 2007 campaign. He recorded 15 tackles, one sack and one pass defensed with the Galaxy. Ayodele was originally signed as an undrafted rookie free agent by the New England Patriots in 2006.
Batiste, 6-4, 318 pounds, was inactive for nine games last season with the Carolina Panthers. He began the 2006 season with the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League and also competed with the Bossier City Battlewings of the af2 in 2004.
Pinner, 5-10, 232 pounds, logged 43 carries totaling 190 yards and three touchdowns last season with the Minnesota Vikings. He spent the 2003-2005 seasons with Detroit after being selected by the Lions in the fourth-round (99th overall) of the 2003 NFL Draft.
Beck spent two seasons with the Falcons after being selected in the third round of the 2005 NFL Draft. Following a season on the injured reserve list, Beck finished second on the team with 13 special teams tackles last year.
Friday
April 25th, 2025
1:02AM
