FLOWERY BRANCH - Linebacker Jessie Tuggle, a franchise cornerstone, was forced to retire in August. Starting safety Marty Carter was cut Oct. 26.
With the surprising release Wednesday of Tony Martin, Chris Chandler and Terance Mathis were asked to speculate on their future with the Atlanta Falcons.
Neither player had much to say.
``You always want to play,'' said Chandler, Atlanta's 36-year-old starting quarterback. ``There's no question about that. It's something I like to do.''
Mathis, the Falcons' all-time leading receiver, was more blunt.
``No comment,'' he said.
At least the 34-year-old Mathis knows he'll start when the Falcons (7-8) end the season Sunday at St. Louis (13-2).
Chandler missed practice Wednesday because of a sore right elbow that forced him to leave last week's 21-14 loss at Miami. Since Atlanta traded for Chandler in February 1997, the two-time Pro Bowl selection has suffered injuries that either made him leave or kept him from starting a total of 27 games.
The Falcons are 2-14 since the start of the 1999 season when playing at least part of a game with Chandler sidelined. They dropped to 1-4 this year after Chandler slammed his elbow against the helmet of Dolphins safety Arturo Freeman late in the second quarter.
``It's like hitting that funny bone nerve really hard,'' Chandler said. ``My hand went numb for about 20 minutes. The strength is coming back, and I've just got a big bruise on there now.''
Chandler has had a solid season, passing for 2,847 yards, 16 touchdowns and an 84.1 rating behind an offensive line that's allowed him to be sacked 41 times and once every 9.9 passing plays. Mathis, who owns Atlanta records for career catches, receiving yards and touchdowns, leads the team with 49 receptions, but his 11.1 average is a single-season career low. He's scored only two touchdowns.
The biggest numbers looming for either player is the 2002 salary cap charge. Chandler will count $8.5 million against the cap and Mathis $4.97 million. Defensive tackle Travis Hall and injured running back Jamal Anderson will cost the Falcons a combined $14.2 million against next year's cap.
Chandler insisted he wasn't worried about next year, particularly with No. 1 draft pick Michael Vick waiting in the wings.
``No, not at all,'' Chandler said.
Coach Dan Reeves had hoped to rekindle some magic from the Falcons' 1998 Super Bowl season when Martin was re-signed June 20. But the 13-year veteran broke his right collarbone in the home opening win over Carolina and missed the next four games.
Since he returned in a 24-10 loss to New England on Nov. 4, Martin had a team-high 31 catches. In 11 games, Martin led the Falcons with 548 yards receiving. He caught three touchdown passes, including a season-high 63-yarder against Buffalo two weeks ago.
Unfortunately, Martin, 36, was hardly the same player who led the Falcons 1,181 yards receiving and a 17.9 average three years ago. His speed and blocking skills had diminished and he rarely gained yards after the catch.
Shawn Jefferson, 32, will replace Martin in the starting lineup, and the Falcons signed rookie Shawn Mills from the practice squad. Reeves also plans to use Brian Finneran, who leads the team with a 20.9 average, in more three-wideout sets.
The Falcons, losers in four of their last five, will need all the offense they can muster this week. St. Louis has won five straight in the series by an average of 24.4 points. Reeves will wait until later this week to decide on a starting quarterback.
Vick played his best game of the season at Miami, accounting for 277 of Atlanta's 388 yards of offense.
``You guys like to have answers like that,'' Reeves said, snapping his fingers. ``You ought to call the plays. Y'all make your mind up quick. I'll let y'all call the plays. We'll leave our options opened until we see. As I said, if I made the decision today, because Chris isn't ready, Mike would start, but we'll just have to wait and see.''
Thursday
March 13th, 2025
8:36AM
