theProf Posted August 16, 2011 Share Posted August 16, 2011 1 minute ago - by Knox Bardeen - Falcons sign TE Kelly, cut GoreThe Falcons agreed to terms with TE Reggie Kelly and waived WR P.J. Gore Tuesday. Kelly was originally a second-round pick of the Falcons in 1999 and played four seasons in Atlanta. TE Justin Peelle injured his knee in the team’s first preseason game and Kelly will fit in as a blocker while Peelle recovers. Falcons RapidReportshttp://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/team/ATL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Falcon Jedi Knight Posted August 16, 2011 Share Posted August 16, 2011 We signed a guy that used to play when Dan Reeves was still coach and Jamal Anderson was our RB. wow factor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck The Falcon Posted August 16, 2011 Share Posted August 16, 2011 I'm curious as to what happens w/ this. Nice to know we have one more TE with more notches on his belt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theProf Posted August 16, 2011 Author Share Posted August 16, 2011 We signed a guy that used to play when Dan Reeves was still coach and Jamal Anderson was our RB. wow factorDan Reeves loved his TEs. He traded-up in 1999, to select Kelly in the second-round at #42. Reeves traded away a first-round pick in 2000 to get Kelly. The Falcons had just gone to the Super Bowl the previous season, and Reeves probably figured that the pick traded would be late in the first round. However, the 1999 season turned out bad, and the traded 2000 first-round pick turned out to be relatively early in that draft. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Birds and Elephants Posted August 16, 2011 Share Posted August 16, 2011 Good grief. We are scraping the bottom of the barrel with this pick up. There HAD to be better options out there than this guy didn't there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Butudontseeme™ Posted August 16, 2011 Share Posted August 16, 2011 My god. Now we got 3 thirty something TEs on the roster. This doesn't make much sense to me. I don't see how this guy is Better than giving Palmer some playing time. Must not be planning on winterswyk making the team or PS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theProf Posted August 16, 2011 Author Share Posted August 16, 2011 I'm curious as to what happens w/ this. Nice to know we have one more TE with more notches on his belt."Drafted out of Mississippi State in the second round of the 1999 NFL Draft by Atlanta, Kelly will be returning to the Falcons, backing up future Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez. Kelly has quietly made a solid NFL career for himself. He was picked up by Cincinnati in free agency back in 2003 during head coach Marvin Lewis' inagural season and stuck with the team for eight years. It was a little surprising that the team re-signed Kelly to a one-year deal following a major achilles injury in 2009, months after the team drafted Jermaine Gresham in the first round. But, it was Kelly's professionalism, character and steady play that made him a favorite in the Bengals' locker room. In watching HBO's Hard Knocks a couple of years ago, one could tell how much that the team relied on Kelly to mentor his teammates, as well as how much his coaches and teammates admired him.Recently, Kelly had a workout with the Pittsburgh Steelers. It was reported that he was offered a contract for the veteran minimum from the team, but he subsequently declined the offer (thankfully). Rumors began to float around that he was contemplating retirement, but Kelly also denied that claim via Twitter. It didn't seem that there was much interest in the tight end outside of the Steelers until the Falcons came calling.Kelly wasn't just a favorite amongst the Bengals internally, he was a cult fan favorite as well. Though he never made spectacular plays for the offense, the team relied on him to protect Carson Palmer, as well as an outlet receiver when plays broke down. Palmer continually praised Kelly's work ethic and value to the team, which we feel was just echoing the locker room as whole.So, we at Cincy Jungle congratulate Reggie Kelly. It's great to see such a quality guy land on his feet and get another chance. Atlanta is considered a contending team this year, so if the Bengals are unable to win the Super Bowl this season, it'd be nice to see the Falcons win one so Reggie can ride off into the sunset and call it a solid NFL career."http://www.cincyjungle.com/2011/8/16/2366725/reggie-kelly-signs-with-the-atlanta-falcons Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOKER2 Posted August 16, 2011 Share Posted August 16, 2011 WOW. It's not like we can say welcome back because he knows the system because I don't believe there is anyone left from 99-03, not to mention entirely different coaches, offense and defense! But hey, if it makes the team better somehow, I'm all for it. Maybe the FO sees somethin in him we don't?Dan Reeves did trade the 2000 first rounder to get him in the 2nd round in 1999. The Falcons figured we'd be one of the top teams in the NFC and be picking in the 27-31 range again, that all changed in week 2 when Jamal Anderson went down.We would have picked #5 and Baltimore who we traded with got Jamal Lewis. We could have had him, because Jamal Anderson went down again in 2001 and was done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theProf Posted August 16, 2011 Author Share Posted August 16, 2011 WOW. It's not like we can say welcome back because he knows the system because I don't believe there is anyone left from 99-03, not to mention entirely different coaches, offense and defense! But hey, if it makes the team better somehow, I'm all for it. Maybe the FO sees somethin in him we don't?From a Ledbetter article:"He will be reunited with Bob Bratkowski, the Falcons quarterbacks coach, who was Cincinnatis offensive coordinator during Kellys tenure with the Bengals"Dan Reeves did trade the 2000 first rounder to get him in the 2nd round in 1999. The Falcons figured we'd be one of the top teams in the NFC and be picking in the 27-31 range again, that all changed in week 2 when Jamal Anderson went down.We would have picked #5 and Baltimore who we traded with got Jamal Lewis. We could have had him, because Jamal Anderson went down again in 2001 and was done.Thanks for the added info. I posted earlier that Atlanta traded away a first-round pick in 2000 to get Kelly in the second-round of the 1999 draft. I knew it turned out to be an early pick in 2000, I just didn't recall that it was the #5 pick in 2000. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sun Tzu 7 Posted August 16, 2011 Share Posted August 16, 2011 "WOW. It's not like we can say welcome back because he knows the system because I don't believe there is anyone left from 99-03, not to mention entirely different coaches, offense and defense! But hey, if it makes the team better somehow, I'm all for it. Maybe the FO sees somethin in him we don't?"There's one guy.McClure Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old fan Posted August 16, 2011 Share Posted August 16, 2011 Mike Ditka and Dave Casper weren't interested... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironhead1970 Posted August 16, 2011 Share Posted August 16, 2011 Mike Ditka and Dave Casper weren't interested...I heard that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JRid Posted August 17, 2011 Share Posted August 17, 2011 I'm trying to remember what was said about Peele's injury. Is it possible they will cut him now? I doubt that Kelly would want to sign if he knew there was a good chance he would not be here long. It didn't sound like he was desperate because he turned the Steelers down. I guess the idea of playing for the Falcons again and with Bratkowski was a big draw, but if they aren't planning on cutting Peele he has to know he doesn't have much of a chance of being here long.He is a very good blocking TE and a hard worker. He is also a very good mentor for the younger guys. I'm good with this signing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KeepItCrispy Posted August 17, 2011 Share Posted August 17, 2011 We need some fullback depth...What's Bob Christian doing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Butudontseeme™ Posted August 17, 2011 Share Posted August 17, 2011 I'm trying to remember what was said about Peele's injury. Is it possible they will cut him now? I doubt that Kelly would want to sign if he knew there was a good chance he would not be here long. It didn't sound like he was desperate because he turned the Steelers down. I guess the idea of playing for the Falcons again and with Bratkowski was a big draw, but if they aren't planning on cutting Peele he has to know he doesn't have much of a chance of being here long.He is a very good blocking TE and a hard worker. He is also a very good mentor for the younger guys. I'm good with this signing.Maybe he thinks were closer to a ring that Pitt. GO FALCONS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Falcon Jedi Knight Posted August 17, 2011 Share Posted August 17, 2011 I dont ever remember Reggie Kelly being a bad TE. But how old is he now? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KeepItCrispy Posted August 17, 2011 Share Posted August 17, 2011 I dont ever remember Reggie Kelly being a bad TE. But how old is he now?34 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romfal Posted August 17, 2011 Share Posted August 17, 2011 An over the hill TE? Not sure what he can bring that we dont already have with Palmer...and he could use the playing time to grow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaMeatTroughsEgo Posted August 17, 2011 Share Posted August 17, 2011 You guys do realize he will be the number 3 TE and barring an injury, will not play in most packages. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaMeatTroughsEgo Posted August 17, 2011 Share Posted August 17, 2011 Also, Gore being released is simply a result of global warming. Action must be taken NOW. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Falcon Posted August 17, 2011 Share Posted August 17, 2011 I love this! I've met Reggie Kelly several times and he defines what it is to be a good guy. Couldn't be happier about this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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