birdz4i Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) - Atlanta Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff said Friday he believes Missouri defensive end Shane Ray, whose toe injury kept him from participating in the NFL combine, will be ready for the start of the 2015 season.The Falcons, who need pass-rush help, could consider Ray with their No. 8 overall pick in next week's NFL draft.Ray's draft status could be hurt by speculation that he might need surgery.''We deal with not only our medical people but the medical people at the respective schools,'' Dimitroff said. ''In our opinion right now, a guy like Shane and ... other people who have issues like that, it's our belief that they will be ready to play at the beginning of the season. Obviously that has a lot to do with where a player like that ends up on your board.''Clemson's Vic Beasley, Florida's Dante Fowler, Kentucky's Bud Dupree and Nebraska's Randy Gregory join Ray as the draft's top-rated edge rushers.Dimitroff said he's been told Georgia tailback Todd Gurley, recovering from knee surgery that ended his 2014 season, should play ''at some time in the early parts'' of the 2015 season.Running back and edge rusher are two top needs for Atlanta.The Falcons haven't drafted a running back in the first round since taking Michigan State's T.J. Duckett with the No. 18 overall pick in 2002.Atlanta released running back Steven Jackson. Free agent Jacquizz Rodgers, who was Jackson's top backup, signed with the Bears.Devonta Freeman returns after rushing for 248 yards with one touchdown as a rookie last season. The team re-signed backup running back and special teams standout Antone Smith.The Falcons' running game has struggled in recent seasons. Dimitroff and first-year coach Dan Quinn could seek help at the position later in the draft. Quinn has the final say on personnel matters, including draft picks, in the Falcons' new hierarchy.Gurley could be an enticing option in the first round, especially if the top edge rushers on the Falcons' draft board already have been taken.''Man is he tough,'' said Quinn, the former Seattle defensive coordinator, who said he became a fan watching Gurley ''and the attitude and the style he plays with.''''He's one of those guys that we in the NFL turn on CBS on Saturday afternoon in the hotel and watch guys compete and battle and there are certain guys that jump off the tape, and he's certainly one for me over the last few years,'' Quinn said.Gurley (6-foot-1, 236 pounds) ran for 911 yards and nine touchdowns in six games in 2014. His season was shortened by a four-game NCAA suspension for taking $3,000 for autographed memorabilia. In his first game off the suspension, Gurley tore his anterior cruciate ligament, ending his season.Gurley's ranks behind only Herschel Walker in Georgia career records with 3,354 yards rushing and 44 total touchdowns.''He's going to have an interesting influence on this draft given his talent along with the concerns for if he will (play) early or not,'' Dimitroff said. ''He runs with all that passion and all that anger and urgency that teams are looking for.''Gurley and Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon are considered the top running backs in the draft.The Falcons have drafted only three skill position players in the first round in the last 10 years: wide receiver Julio Jones in 2011, quarterback Matt Ryan in 2008 and wide receiver Roddy White in 2005.http://sports.yahoo.com/news/falcons-dimitroff-good-medical-reports-ray-gurley-192021750--nfl.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nbostp Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 I don't careif the reports say Gurley's knee is 100% or not. I don't want the Falcons taking him at 8. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sponge Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 Either way, I'd trade back for both. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
insight Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 I'm not sure this article is entirely accurate. Pioli runs the draft board in the new hierarchy. The article did not even mention his name. Then it mentions Quinn has final say over draft picks as well. The Falcons' running game has struggled in recent seasons. Dimitroff and first-year coach Dan Quinn could seek help at the position later in the draft. Quinn has the final say on personnel matters, including draft picks, in the Falcons' new hierarchy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwifalcon Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 Sign Gurley up get him in here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KRUNKuno Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 Now you all want to trust TD on injury reports? Since when has that ever been accurate? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JayOzOne Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 Believe nothing that comes from a GM's mouth this week. If they say anything positive about a particular player, he's not likely to draft him. And if they knock somebody, there's a great chance that he's likely interested. It's silly season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KRUNKuno Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 Believe nothing that comes from a GM's mouth this week. If they say anything positive about a particular player, he's not likely to draft him. And if they knock somebody, there's a great chance that he's likely interested. It's silly season.Thank you.Falcons have to say positive things about everybody. We have to make it seem like anybody is able to be picked at 8. This lures other teams into thinking we're interested in the guy they want, thus making trade value rise.Giving a week 1 injury prognosis in april though....really? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
birdman71 Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 Sounds like Quinn really likes Gurley and Ray. He his going to toss and turn in his sleep before the draft. Its like choosing between Paula Patton and Beyonce. Which one do you want to take home? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bawse Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 Quinnie Evaluatie Gurlie. Interest begins to peakie.I got tissues on deck for those who want pass rush in the 1st.#gurlie2atlantie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RHEC Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 Sounds like Quinn really likes Gurley and Ray. He his going to toss and turn in his sleep before the draft. Its like choosing between Paula Patton and Beyonce. Which one do you want to take home?Quinn may see it that he has potential pass rushers from fa, so gurley may be the pick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PK Manley Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 Believe nothing that comes from a GM's mouth this week. If they say anything positive about a particular player, he's not likely to draft him. And if they knock somebody, there's a great chance that he's likely interested. It's silly season.True, but it goes both ways. If you become known as always lying about your intentions, people will never believe what you're saying. Gotta mix in the truth sometimes to keep people guessing.There was a report about a week before the 2013 draft that the Falcons were looking to trade up to draft a corner. If you had assumed it was just a smokescreen, you would have been wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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