The Atlanta Falcons today announced that they have waived linebacker Spencer Adkins, linebacker Rico Council, wide receiver Drew Davis, cornerback Dominique Franks, tackle Bryce Harris, linebacker Jerrell Harris, center Tyler Horn, wide receiver Marcus Jackson, cornerback Marty Markett, running back Dimitri Nance, defensive tackle Conrad Obi, defensive tackle Micanor Regis, wide receiver James Rodgers, linebacker Pat Schiller, cornerback Peyton Thompson, and safety Suaesi Tuimaunei. Atlanta has reached injury settlements with tight end Lamark Brown and guard Andrew Jackson. The Falcons have also waived-injured wide receiver Kerry Meier, placed safety Shann Schillinger on injured reserve, and released fullback Mike Cox and long snapper Joe Zelenka.
Adkins, 5-11, 236 pounds, was originally selected as a sixth round (176th overall) draft choice by the Falcons in the 2009 NFL Draft. He saw action in 10 games with one start in 2011, posting five tackles (three solo). Adkins played in 24 games on defense and special teams during his three seasons in Atlanta.
Council, 6-1, 255 pounds, was signed by the Falcons as a college free agent on April 30, 2012. He was tabbed Ohio Valley Conference Preseason Co-Defensive Player of the Year as a senior at Tennessee State. In 2011, he posted a team-high 87 tackles (49 solo) with 8.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, one interception, 11 passes defensed, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries.
Davis, 6-1, 205 pounds was signed by the Falcons as a college free agent on July 26, 2011. He spent the 2011 season as a member of the Falcons practice squad.
Franks, 6-0, 197 pounds, was selected as a fifth round (135th overall) draft choice by the Falcons in the 2010 NFL Draft. In two seasons, he has recorded 22 tackles (14 solo) with three interceptions and six passes defensed. Last season, Franks posted 20 tackles (13 solo) with two interceptions and five passes defensed.
Bryce Harris, 6-6, 300 pounds, was signed by the Falcons as a college free agent on April 30, 2012. He was selected to the All-WAC first team by the league coaches and named to Phil Steele's All-WAC first team after starting in all 13 games at left tackle as a senior at Fresno State.
Jerrell Harris, 6-3, 242 pounds, was signed by the Falcons as a college free agent on April 30, 2012. In 2011, he started at strong side linebacker for the BCS National Champion Alabama Crimson Tide and recorded 22 tackles (12 solo) with 2.5 tackles for loss.
Horn, 6-4, 305 pounds, was signed by the Falcons as a college free agent on April 30, 2012. He started his final 25 games at center for Miami and was named a second team All-ACC selection, and team captain.
Marcus Jackson, 6-1, 195 pounds, was signed by the Falcons as a college free agent on April 30, 2012. He recorded seven receptions for 73 yards during the preseason. Jackson finished his two-year career at Lamar with 65 catches for 1,159 yards.
Markett, 5-10, 162 pounds, was signed by the Falcons as a college free agent on April 30, 2012. He played both cornerback and special teams after walking on to the Gamecocks as a sophomore in 2009.
Nance, 5-10, 219 pounds, was signed by the Falcons as a college free agent on April 26, 2010. He spent the 2010 season with the Green Bay Packers, playing in 12 games and recording 36 carries for 95 yards. He was signed by the Falcons as a reserve/future free agent on January 20, 2012.
Obi, 6-3, 290 pounds, was originally signed by the Arizona Cardinals as a college free agent following the 2012 NFL Draft. He was signed by the Falcons as a free agent on August 3, 2012. Obi appeared in 41 games during his career at the University of Colorado and was a first team All-Gwinnett County selection at Grayson High School.
Regis, 6-3, 305 pounds, was signed by the Falcons as a college free agent on April 30, 2012. He played in 46 career games with 112 tackles (52 solo), 5.5 sacks, 18 tackles for loss, one forced fumble, and three interceptions at Miami.
Rodgers, 5-7, 188 pounds, was signed by the Falcons as a college free agent on April 30, 2012. He set school records for career receptions (222) and all-purpose yards (6,377) while at Oregon State.
Schiller, 6-2, 235 pounds, was signed by the Falcons as a college free agent on April 30, 2012. He earned second team All Mid-American Conference honors from *Phil Steele *Northern Illinois with 115 tackles (42 solo), two sacks, and 10 tackles for loss in 2011.
Thompson, 5-11, 180 pounds, was signed by the Falcons as a college free agent on April 30, 2012. He logged 186 tackles (125 solo), 10.5 tackles for loss, seven interceptions, one sack, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and 22 passes defensed in four seasons at San Jose State.
Tuimaunei, 6-1, 205 pounds, was originally signed by the Falcons as a college free agent on July 26, 2011. He spent the 2011 season as a member of the Falcons practice squad. Tuimaunei posted 85 tackles (53 solo), five tackles for loss, one interception, and two forced fumbles as a senior at Oregon State in 2010.
Brown, 6-3, 220 pounds, was signed by the Falcons as a college free agent on April 30, 2012. He caught six passes for 62 yards and one touchdown during the preseason. As a senior at Minnesota-Mankato, Brown posted 31 receptions for 405 yards and five touchdowns.
Andrew Jackson, 6-5, 295 pounds, was selected as a seventh round (210th overall) draft choice by the Falcons in the 2011 NFL Draft. He served as a member of the Falcons practice squad before being placed on the practice squad-injured list last November.
Meier, 6-3, 222 pounds, was selected as a fifth round (165th overall) draft choice by the Falcons in the 2010 NFL Draft. After missing his entire rookie season with a knee injury, Meier played in 12 games in 2011, seeing time at wide receiver and on special teams.
Schillinger, 6-0, 200 pounds, was selected as a sixth round (171st overall) draft choice by the Falcons in the 2010 NFL Draft. He played in 31 games during his first two seasons as a core member of the Atlanta's special teams units. Schillinger ranked third on the team with 11 special teams tackles behind LB Akeem Dent (19) and WR Eric Weems (12) in 2011.
Cox, 6-0, 252 pounds, was originally signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as a college free agent out of Georgia Tech in 2008. He was signed by the Falcons as a free agent on October 25, 2011. Cox served as the lead blocker for RB Michael Turner who ranked third in the NFL with 1,340 yards last season.
Zelenka, 6-3, 266 pounds, was originally signed as a college free agent by the San Francisco 49ers on April 23, 1999. He was traded to Washington in 2000 and after one season with the Redskins, was signed by Jacksonville in 2001. Zelenka was signed by the Falcons as a free agent in 2009 and served as the teams long snapper for the last three seasons.
The Falcons roster now sits at 53 players as part of the NFL's mandatory roster cut down. Atlanta may establish an eight-player practice squad beginning at noon on Saturday, September 1.
