Falcons cut Crumpler + more...

[packers11]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3247718

Falcons release seven players, including Crumpler

Updated: February 15, 2008, 1:49 PM ET

The Atlanta Falcons continued their franchise makeover in earnest on Friday, releasing tight eend Alge Crumpler, quarterback quarterback Byron Leftwich, offensive tackle Wayne Gandy and four other players.

Teh team also announced it had released cornerback Lewis Sanders, wide receiver Jamin Elliott, linebacker Marcus Wilkins and defensive tackle Rod Coleman.

"This is a difficult day for the entire organization," Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff said in a statement from the team. "A number of these players have contributed to this organization on and off the field at a high level and we greatly appreciate their efforts. These decisions weren't easy, but we felt they were necessary to build a team in the long-term best interest of the Falcons and its fans."

Crumpler, who just completed his seventh season, all with Atlanta, has 316 career catches for 4,212 yards and 35 touchdowns. He had been with the team since 2001 and was selected to five Pro Bowls.

Leftwich, formerly a starter for the Jacksonville Jaguars, was acquired by the Falcons during the season, was acquired by the Falcons after the Jaguars released him in order to go with David Garrard. He alternated with Joey Harrington as the Falcons' starter last season.

[MTPackerfan]

Crumpler might be a nice pick up at TE. Seems to be a good receiver.

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

Wounder why Colemen got cut. I always thought he was one of their best players.

[packers11]

Wounder why Colemen got cut. I always thought he was one of their best players.

reminds me of the packers in 2005... they have a lot of rebuilding to do... it will take 3-4 years before this team will be a competitor again...

[RashanGary]

Crumpler might be a guy who's underrated after playing with subpar QB's. If Crumpler passed a physical I'd have to think he's better than Bubba.

[MadtownPacker]

Crumpler might be a guy who's underrated after playing with subpar QB's. If Crumpler passed a physical I'd have to think he's better than Bubba.

Why not just keep all 3?

[KYPack]

Crunpler made 3 mil last year, 5.7 mil in '06. He's 31. It's a bad time to be +30 and making money on the Falcons.

Wonder where ATL is vs the cap after this purge?

[GoPackGo]

Crumpler would be a great pickup. No way in hell that he would ever come to Green bay though.

[PackerBlues]

Wounder why Colemen got cut. I always thought he was one of their best players.

reminds me of the packers in 2005... they have a lot of rebuilding to do... it will take 3-4 years before this team will be a competitor again...

I never really thought about it at the time, but fans of teams that had cap room in 2005 must have really been licking their chops when thinking about the cuts the Packers had to make..........Rivera, Wahle, Sharper, Longwell.

[BallHawk]

Jesus Christ, does anybody at ESPN proofread major stories they're publishing?

I mean, c'mon, Bulldog types better than that.

[BallHawk]

Read the comments about the article, they're actually pretty funny. Dude's getting ripped.

[BallHawk]

Yay, ESPN finally fixed the article an hour after it was posted.

ESPN, the world-wide leader in professionalism.

[KYPack]

I like it when somebody other than me spells THE, "TEH".

Yes that was a Bulldogian effort by the ESPN hack.

[twoseven]

Crumpler, nice. Wonder if I can daydream about TT giving him a look without being told how stupid picking him up would be. I remember when we traded for Keith Jackson in 95', it took him a year to learn our system, but the year after he was a major weapon.

[b bulldog]

Stop the nagging about my typing