New stadium could land another Super Bowl for Atlanta (National Football Post)
(Wed, 23 May 2012 07:46:12 PDT)
But Goodell says competition for big game serious

NFL making thigh and knee pads mandatory in '13 (The Associated Press)
(Wed, 23 May 2012 03:09:07 PDT)
ATLANTA (AP) The NFL's move to make thigh and knee pads mandatory equipment for the 2013 season already has drawn criticism from the guys who will have to wear them.

NFL seeks to add excitement, maintain integrity with later trade deadline
(Tue, 22 May 2012 17:29:24 PDT)
Supporters are for contenders making moves as long as it's not at the expense of struggling teams dumping their rosters.

NFL passes new pad rules for players (The Associated Press)
(Tue, 22 May 2012 15:49:01 PDT)
ATLANTA (AP) The NFL made thigh and knee pads mandatory equipment for the 2013 season, something the players' union was not pleased with.

Goodell discusses Pro Bowl, bounties and health (Pro Football Weekly)
(Tue, 22 May 2012 15:27:42 PDT)
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell spoke to reporters on Tuesday following the NFL’s owners meeting in Atlanta, discussing several topics, including the Saints' bounty scandal and the future of the Pro Bowl.

Thigh/knee pad rules stirs debate among players (The SportsXchange)
(Tue, 22 May 2012 12:59:57 PDT)
Players will be required to wear thigh and knee pads beginning with the 2013 season, the NFL announced Tuesday.

NFL to mandate knee and thigh pads for players (Shutdown Corner)
(Tue, 22 May 2012 12:30:53 PDT)
If the NFL has its way, players will be forced to wear knee and thigh pads beginning in 2013. The NFL might not get its way. The competition committee will discuss the impending rule with the NFL Players Association and there is some expected backlash from players who may believe the additional padding will affect their mobility. The pad rule wouldn't go into effect until 2013 so equipment manufacturers can refine the design for speed and comfort. [Related: Tom Brady's dad would think twice about letting son play in concussion era ] Rich McKay, the Atlanta Falcons president who chairs the NFL's competition committee, explained the rule change at an owners meeting: "There's no downside, they have to add some sort of protection," he said. "In our football system, everyone wears them up to our game. Common sense tells you it has to be safer for (protection against) thigh injuries and knee bruises. If players have worn it in Pop Warner, high school and college ... from a safety standpoint it is time to put it back in." There are valid arguments for the adoption of new leg padding. McKay hits on none of them. Instead, he cites "common sense" instead of actual data and breaks out the "but high schools and colleges do it" argument, as if the NFL is usually in the habit of following the lead of the Iowa High School Athletic Association. McKay also suggests there's no downside, a claim that's both wrong and frivolous. Of course there's a downside; they can make players run slower. The benefits may outweigh the drawbacks, the same way wearing a seatbelt and being slightly uncomfortable is better than not wearing a seatbelt and going through your windshield. But "no downside"? That's Rich. Former Philadelphia Eagles safety Troy Vincent, now an NFL vice president, was equally confusing in his support of the new rule. "It's psychological," he said, according to the Associated Press. "Less pads you are faster, skinnier, that's just the way I was introduced to the game. It's a culture shift. They will adjust." So it is psychological or do less pads make you faster? More NFL news from the Yahoo! Sports Minute: Other popular content on the Yahoo! network: • Peyton Manning shows some zip in first OTA with Denver Broncos • Company gets death threats over Oklahoma City Thunder T-shirts • omg!: Bruce Jenner named 'Father of the Year'

Player safety on owners' agenda (The Associated Press)
(Mon, 21 May 2012 18:04:00 PDT)
With the Saints bounty case moving to grievance hearings and court, NFL owners will talk about player safety when they meet on Tuesday.

Tampa Bay Inks Deal with Kicker Connor Barth: Fan's Look (Yahoo! Contributor Network)
(Sun, 20 May 2012 21:38:00 PDT)
Ignoring criticism of their recent special teams' transactions, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers came to terms on Thursday, May 17, with place kicker Connor Barth on a 4 year, $13.2 million contract.

Mughelli visiting Dolphins (National Football Post)
(Wed, 16 May 2012 11:46:06 PDT)
Fullback expected to meet with team on Thursday.

Falcons sign OT Lamar Holmes to 4-year deal (The Associated Press)
(Tue, 15 May 2012 16:16:20 PDT)
ATLANTA (AP) The Atlanta Falcons have signed third-round draft pick Lamar Holmes, an offensive tackle from Southern Mississippi, to a four-year contract.

NFL roundup: Patriots' Welker signs franchise tender (The SportsXchange)
(Tue, 15 May 2012 16:10:06 PDT)
New England Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker signed his $9.5 million franchise tender Tuesday, he announced on his Twitter feed.

Falcons sign OT Holmes (The SportsXchange)
(Tue, 15 May 2012 15:40:42 PDT)
Offensive tackle Lamar Holmes, a third-round pick by Atlanta out of Southern Miss, signed with the Falcons. Terms were not disclosed.

Not-ready-for-prime-time gems (Pro Football Weekly)
(Tue, 15 May 2012 08:47:11 PDT)
If you think there’s no time like “prime time” in the NFL, then you’re sadly mistaken.

NFL roundup: Union grievance to be heard Wednesday (The SportsXchange)
(Mon, 14 May 2012 16:30:26 PDT)
The players union is scheduled to have its grievance against the NFL and Commissioner Roger Goodell heard Wednesday, with the NFLPA questioning the league's authority to punish players for participating in an alleged bounty program with the Saints.

Falcons sign top pick Konz (The SportsXchange)
(Mon, 14 May 2012 09:20:16 PDT)
Rookie right guard Peter Konz signed a four-year deal with the Falcons on Monday, leaving Atlanta with only two rookie draft choices to sign.

Falcons sign 2nd-round draft pick Konz (The Associated Press)
(Sun, 13 May 2012 14:19:43 PDT)
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) The Atlanta Falcons have signed rookie offensive lineman Peter Konz and three other draft picks to multiyear contracts.

NFP Sunday Blitz: Best NFL candidates for turnaround seasons (National Football Post)
(Sun, 13 May 2012 03:00:19 PDT)
Newcomers that are primed to make the playoffs, Browns' QB search, plus all the latest post-draft scuttlebutt.

Falcons' Smith likes leaner version of Massaquoi (The Associated Press)
(Sat, 12 May 2012 16:55:40 PDT)
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) In his 2010 season at Troy, Jonathan Massaquoi weighed about 260 pounds when he led the Sun Belt Conference with 13½ sacks.

NFL star Junior Seau celebrated at stadium memorial
(Fri, 11 May 2012 22:57:36 PDT)
SAN DIEGO (Reuters) - A crowd of 15,000 fans celebrated the life of former football star Junior Seau in a memorial on Friday at a San Diego stadium, as they cheered on his grieving family and listened to speakers describe his generosity and sense of humor. Seau, regarded as one of the best defensive NFL players of his generation, died on May 2 at his home in Oceanside, just north of San Diego, from a self-inflicted gunshot to the chest, according to police. He left no suicide note. ...

Konz impresses on 1st day of Atlanta rookie camp (The Associated Press)
(Fri, 11 May 2012 16:56:57 PDT)
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) Coach Mike Smith likes what he's seen from one of the Atlanta Falcons' two high-profile rookie offensive linemen.

Falcons QB Ryan has O-line's back; Will it have his? (Pro Football Weekly)
(Fri, 11 May 2012 13:08:50 PDT)
After QB Matt Ryan was sacked a career-high 26 times last season, the Falcons made the offensive line their focus in the draft. They plan to hold an open competition for starting spots up front and the club is hoping new O-line coach Pat Hill can get more out of a unit that struggled in 2011.

AP source: Jets turn down 'Hard Knocks' sequel (The Associated Press)
(Fri, 11 May 2012 11:00:47 PDT)
NEW YORK (AP) There will be no summer sequel for the Jets on ''Hard Knocks'' this season.

Huge crowd expected at Seau's memorial in San Diego
(Fri, 11 May 2012 10:14:04 PDT)
OCEANSIDE, California (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of fans are expected to attend Junior Seau's public memorial in a San Diego stadium on Friday, more than a week after the former National Football League star killed himself in his beachfront home. Seau died on May 2 in a bedroom of his home in Oceanside, just north of San Diego, from a self-inflicted gunshot to the chest, according to police. The 43-year-old former linebacker left no suicide note. ...

Report squashes rumor of Jets on 'Hard Knocks' (National Football Post)
(Fri, 11 May 2012 08:06:05 PDT)
Team won't reprise its appearance from 2010.

Bears sign three defensive linemen (National Football Post)
(Fri, 11 May 2012 06:00:16 PDT)
Chicago will give John McCargo a shot