Roddy White will not play for the Atlanta Falcons anymore. It is very odd to say, as it feels like he has been on the team forever. White has been on the team since he was selected 27th overall out of UAB in the 2005 NFL Draft. White has spent 11 seasons in Atlanta, and is also the Falcons all-time receiving leader. Age started to slow down White in his later years, as his production started to decrease. White was one of the best players of all-time in a Falcons uniform, and will always remain a Falcon at heart.
In his 11 seasons in Atlanta, Roddy White had 808 catches for 10,863 receiving yards, hauling in 63 touchdowns. White started off with Michael Vick, and seemed to be immature and not up to the occasion when he entered the league. But when the team signed veteran Joe Horn at the time, Horn shared and lit a fire under White to be the best receiver he possibly could be. White then became one of the biggest threats at wide receiver in the NFL, and teams struggled to find ways to contain him.
White has helped Falcons receiver Julio Jones become one of the best in the game. They have had a brother type of relationship, and when the Falcons selected Jones in the 2011 NFL Draft, White felt the team would be more dangerous if Jones was the star wideout. The franchise leading receiver became an incredible teammate over the years, and put the team first instead of himself. Roddy White was not only explosive, but he also was so clutch throughout the years for current Falcons quarterback, Matt Ryan. Anytime it was third-down, you had a feeling the ball was going to sail into White’s hands, and most of the time it did to keep drives going.
With Roddy White being cut, Atlanta will certainly target and sign a couple of wide receivers in free agency and the 2016 NFL Draft. Besides Julio Jones, there is no one on the team that can be a number two receiver behind Jones. It is sad to see one of the best players in any Atlanta sports team cut, but it shows that the front office is determined to make this team Super Bowl contenders very soon.
Thanks for a hell of a career with Atlanta, Mr. Roddy White.