Read More: Brent Grimes (CB – ATL), James Sanders (SS – NEP), Dunta Robinson (CB – ATL), Kelvin Hayden (DB – IND), Thomas DeCoud (S – ATL), William Moore (S – ATL), Dominique Franks (CB – ATL), Atlanta Falcons, Indianapolis Colts

Two days ago, Atlanta Falcons fans were looking at the team charging into its regular season with a dime package of Dunta Robinson, Brent Grimes, Thomas DeCoud, William Moore, Chris Owens and Dominique Franks. In two quick moves, the team has upgraded at least part of that set, and maybe even more.

NFL.com’s Jason La Canfora reports the Falcons have signed former Indianapolis Colts cornerback Kelvin Hayden. While that’s not quite a game-changer, a healthy Hayden will provide a much more assuring presence at nickel than would either of the other two options. Not saying he’s better at this point in his career and after suffering several injuries, but he’s definitely more of a known commodity.

Add that move to the decision to bring in New England Patriots cut James Sanders, who will at least push the team’s starting safeties and likely see the field one way or another, and this is about as overhauled as a secondary is going to get in late August.

Hayden and Sanders are like in that both come from winning franchises and both are veterans who still have significant time left in their careers, though the caveat with Hayden is his injury concerns.

Also, Hayden is rated an 85 on Madden 12. Just thought you should know that.

For more on Hayden, head to Falcons blog The Falcoholic and Colts blog Stampede Blue, plus SB Nation Indiana.

Former New England Patriots safety James Sanders might not be the only new defensive back added to the Atlanta Falcons roster this week. NFL.com’s Jason La Canfora reports cornerback Kelvin Hayden, who was cut by the Indianapolis Colts last month, visited the team Tuesday and could sign Wednesday.

Hayden has six years of experience, starting 46 games, but has struggled with injuries at points. He started every game of the 2007 season. In his career, he’s piled up 298 tackles, 37 passes defensed, nine interceptions and four forced fumbles. He’d also add some championship experience to a young defense, having put up a pick-six in Super Bowl XLI.

A second-round pick out of Illinois, Hayden has played almost exclusively cornerback in his NFL career.

That nickel back spot is Atlanta’s biggest worry heading into the regular season. Adding a vet like Hayden to the competition between younger Dominique Franks and playoff scapegoat Chris Owens could be a great move.

For more on Hayden, head to Falcons blog The Falcoholic and Colts blog Stampede Blue, plus SB Nation Indiana.

By Jason Kirk

– Regional Editor

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Aug 31, 2011 – Former New England Patriots safety James Sanders might not be the only new defensive back added to the Atlanta Falcons roster this week. NFL.com’s Jason La Canfora reports cornerback Kelvin Hayden, who was cut by the Indianapolis Colts last month, visited the team Tuesday and could sign Wednesday.

Hayden has six years of experience, starting 46 games, but has struggled with injuries at points. He started every game of the 2007 season. In his career, he’s piled up 298 tackles, 37 passes defensed, nine interceptions and four forced fumbles. He’d also add some championship experience to a young defense, having put up a pick-six in Super Bowl XLI.

A second-round pick out of Illinois, Hayden has played almost exclusively cornerback in his NFL career.

That nickel back spot is Atlanta’s biggest worry heading into the regular season. Adding a vet like Hayden to the competition between younger Dominique Franks and playoff scapegoat Chris Owens could be a great move.

For more on Hayden, head to Falcons blog The Falcoholic and Colts blog Stampede Blue, plus SB Nation Indiana.

Read More: James Sanders (SS – NEP), Kelvin Hayden (DB – IND), Atlanta Falcons, Indianapolis Colts

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Free agent safety James Sanders reached a one-year agreement with the Atlanta Falcons late Tuesday night, according to reports from ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Selected out of Fresno State in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL Draft, Sanders became an immediate contributor in the New England Patriots’ secondary. The 27-year-old participated in 84 games throughout seven years — starting during the majority of New England’s undefeated 16-0 regular season in 2007 — while collecting 301 tackles, eight interceptions, and two touchdowns. 

Praised by his teammates and coaches for displaying fanatic leadership in the face of a suddenly shrinking role, Sanders was caught by surprise upon hearing about his release from the franchise, as he explained to ESPN’s Mike Reiss.

“It was a shock. It wasn’t one of the things I was expecting to hear today. It didn’t cross my mind,” Sanders said Monday afternoon.

The veteran now joins a Falcons secondary led by incumbent starters Thomas DeCoud and William Moore.

For more on the signing of James Sanders and how it impacts the Atlanta Falcons, check out The Falcoholic.

The Atlanta Falcons announced the signing of a new center Tuesday after an injury to starting center Todd McClure, and waived several players.

The team announced it signed center Brett Romberg and waived WR Doug Beaumont, CB Kirk Belgrave, RB Philip Sylvester, LB LaMarcus Thompson and LB Youri Yenga.

Romberg, 6-2, 293 pounds was originally signed as a college free agent by the Jacksonville Jaguars on April 29, 2003. He spent four seasons with the Jaguars before signing with the St. Louis Rams as a free agent in 2006. The Windsor, Ontario native was signed as a free agent by the Falcons in 2008 before being released prior to the start of the 2010 season. Romberg is a six-year NFL veteran who has seen action in 46 career games with 19 starts. He saw action in 10 contests with the Falcons in 2009, on special teams and as a reserve center and right guard.

Romberg’s signing comes after long-time starting center Todd McClure underwent minor knee surgery Monday.  Coach Mike Smith announced Tuesday that McClure will miss the team’s season opener on Sept. 11 at Chicago.

Beaumont, 5-9, 187 pounds, was signed by the Falcons as a college free agent on July 26 out of the University of Louisville.

Belgrave, 6-1, 205 pounds, was signed by the Falcons as a college free agent on July 26 out of Kent State University.

Sylvester, 5-9, 194 pounds, was signed by the Falcons as a college free agent on July 26 out of Florida A&M University.

Thompson, 6-1, 228 pounds, was signed by the Falcons as a college free agent on July 26 out of the University of Tennessee.

Yenga, 6-1, 231 pounds, was signed by the Falcons as a college free agent on July 26 out of Southern Methodist University.

The Falcons also announced an injury settlement with WR Tim Buckley.  Buckley, 6-1, 185 pounds, was originally signed by the Falcons as a college free agent on April 26, 2010 out of Alcorn State University. He spent the entire 2010 season on the Falcons practice squad.

The Falcons roster now sits at 80 players as part of the NFL’s mandatory roster cut down. Atlanta will have to trim its roster to 53 players by September 3 and may establish an eight-player practice squad on September 4.

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