For the second straight year in Flowery Branch one of the main storylines to open training camp is a new contract getting done between the Falcons and a key player. Last year it was quarterback Matt Ryan and this year it’s one of his favorite targets, wide receiver Roddy White.
The Falcons rewarded Roddy with a new four year, $30 million dollar deal. $10 million dollars is guaranteed money. Number 84 says he’s happy with how everything turned out.
“It was nice,” White said after their first training camp practice of 2014. “This is where I stay. This is where I always want to be. You hardly even see players nowadays with a team this long, so it was important to me to get the deal done. So when got it done I was so happy that I’m going to be here for the next couple of years. Hopefully we can go out there and win the Super Bowl.”
White was hampered last season by a high ankle sprain that kept him out of three games and held him to his lowest reception total of 63 catches, since he caught 30 passes in his second pro season back in 2006.
Even with that being the case, Roddy always believed a deal would get done to keep him here in Atlanta.
“I always had faith in them and they’ve got faith in me,” White said. “It wasn’t really concern it was just working out numbers. Working out numbers and getting the right thing done so I could be here long-term.”
Roddy White is no doubt one of the major faces of the Falcons franchise, alongside Matt Ryan and wide receiver Julio Jones. This deal ensures that the group will be together for at least this season. Ryan’s deal starts this season and Jones’ fifth year option has been picked up. He’s likely next in line for a long-term deal from the Falcons.
One of those names mentioned, Matt Ryan is no doubt happy to have Roddy back on a long-term deal.
“Roddy is one of the leaders and tone setters of our football team,” Ryan said in a statement distributed by the team. “I am extremely happy for him. He has been a major part of my development as a player and of the evolution of our team.”
In the six seasons that Ryan and Roddy have been playing together, White has averaged about 91 catches per season, on about 12 hundred yards and approximately eight touchdowns through those years.
With numbers like that, you can understand why both players are excited about being on the same side of the field for a while.
Another player who is excited about Roddy getting the long-term deal is his fellow receiver and friend Harry Douglas. He says he was ecstatic to get the news.
“I know as soon as I heard about it I hit him up and told him congratulations,” Douglas said. “It’s well deserved because Roddy has been like the backbone to our team since I came in. He’s a great leader, shows it on the field with his play, and I’ve learned a lot from him. He’s been a blessing to me since I’ve been here.”
This was never really a pressing issue for the Falcons, however it is one less thing to think about as they try to get ready for the 2014 season. This is also a season where they are trying to reverse the misfortunes of last year. One way to do this, is to stay healthy.
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