Jason Elam News

In 2009, the Atlanta falcons and their special teams unit set a new NFL record for least amount of punt return yards against them in a single season, with 49 yards.

Falcons special-teams coordinator Keith Armstrong likes what he sees as the team is set to conclude organized team activities today.

His unexpected yet incredible talent let the Falcons finally forget about their mess and propelled Atlanta from a terrible season to an 11-5 record and a playoff berth.

"We are in the dog days of OTAs," Falcons coach Mike Smith said. "The guys are getting tired of working against each other." In the first rumble, offensive lineman Jose Valdez went after defensive lineman Thomas Johnson.

It's not too early to start thinking about your fantasy draft. About 22.5 million Americans play fantasy football, according to the Fantasy Sports Trade Association, and many already are doing their homework.

Falcons running back Thomas Brown never was mistaken for a contortionist. His trademark at Tucker High School and the University of Georgia was being the strongest pound-for-pound back in the program, but in the Falcons' final exhibition game last season, Brown's body was pulled, twisted and yanked into a position he had never seen before.

Rookie cornerback William Middleton, a fifth-round draft pick from Furman, suffered a hamstring injury in practice on Wednesday.

The Atlanta Falcons haven't had a lot of great teams in their 40-plus year history.

With a mini-camp under his belt, Falcons weakside linebacker Mike Peterson is starting to feel more at home.

The Falcons opened their organized team activities with a couple of key veterans and a draft pick missing Wednesday.

Top draft pick Peria Jerry suffered an injury during recent Falcons' mini-camp. The rumblings about Falcons PRE-preseason injuries have already started - where else? - in the Falcons Vent.

Not too much new from the afternoon practice of the Falcons' minicamp. Veteran Tony Gonzalez went fully in the morning, but had a light afternoon session in which he caught passes on the sidelines.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is reporting that defensive end John Abraham and kicker Jason Elam were held out of practice Friday to start the Falcons' first minicamp.

Jason Elam is coming back to kick at Brookwood High School, and he's bringing the rest of the Falcons with him.

Tom Dempsey was a journeyman kicker throughout the 1970s, but his place in NFL and New Orleans Saints lore is secure.

When Scott Blair prepared for practices this spring, he always made sure to grab his camera bag before sneaking off to an obscure corner of Georgia Tech's Rose Bowl Fields.

The hometown kid came back and felled Goliath. He also killed, from a purely Atlanta perspective, the 2009 ACC tournament.

Here's how you know this economic recession is serious: The NFL is feeling its impact.

The hang time on Michael Koenen's punts allowed the coverage unit set a new league mark for fewest punt return yards allowed with 49.

Tough to believe the season we love is coming to an end. The book will shortly close on NFL 2008, but before we turn our attention to Spring Training, March Madness and The Masters wea ll look back on the best ...