Read More: Joe Zelenka (LS – ATL), Ken Parrish (P – ATL), Matt Bosher (K – ATL), Thor Merrow (FB – ATL), Andrew Schulze (LS – ATL), A.J. Simmons (TE – ATL), Atlanta Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons announced the waiving of four players Wednesday: fullback Thor Merrow, punter Ken Parrish, tight end A.J. Simmons and long snapper Andrew Schulze. All except Parrish were undrafted free agents — Simmons was brought on earlier this month after the team released Robbie Agnone.

The biggest story here: Atlanta’s kicking units are now set, with Matt Bosher outlasting his competition for punting duties and Joe Zelenka returning as long snapper. Fellow undrafted fullback Lucas Cox remains on the depth chart behind Ovie Mughelli, as do young tight ends Michael Palmer, Marquez Branson and Ryan Winterswyk behind Tony Gonzalez and Reggie Kelly.

The Falcons have until August 30 to get down to 80 players. They’re currently at 83, according to the team’s official site.

For complete Falcons coverage, please visit The Falcoholic.

FLOWERY BRANCH, GA. Kerry Meier was the last player off the practice field at the Atlanta Falcons’ training camp on Sunday morning.

The receiver kept running goal-line routes and catching soft lob passes over his shoulder while his teammates were signing autographs or headed to the locker-room.

Meier says he’s determined to make up for lost time after missing his 2010 rookie season with a knee injury.

“You can never catch enough balls,” he said. “In a day’s practice, I try to maximize the number of catches I get in. It can definitely pay off in the long run.”

Meier, a fifth-round pick from Kansas in 2010, impressed coaches in training camp last year before hurting his right knee in a pre-season game against New England. He missed the season following surgery but has participated in every practice in camp.

“I’ve been really surprised that he hasn’t had to miss any time in practice,” coach Mike Smith said. “He did a great job in his rehabilitation. … For him to be able to come out here and not miss a snap so far in training camp, I think that says a lot about his work ethic in the off-season.”

Meier is wearing a wrap but no brace on the right knee. At six-foot-three and 220 pounds, he gives the team a big target at receiver — especially important after Michael Jenkins was released and Brian Finneran wasn’t re-signed.

First-round pick Julio Jones is expected to join Roddy White, coming off his third straight Pro Bowl berth, as Matt Ryan’s top targets. Harry Douglas returns as a possible No. 3 receiver.

That leaves room for Meier to re-emerge with an important role.

“He’s got to do a lot of stuff that Finneran did last year,” White said. “He’s got to come in there and get those third-down catches for us and get those seam routes and things like that.

“You need a guy who can go out there and do what Kerry can do, because he catches the football really well. He’s a tough cover. He’s a big, strong kid and he can run and do a lot of good things. I’m just happy he’s getting his chance to show what he can do. I hope he has a lot of success this year.”

Meier converted from quarterback to wide receiver for Kansas and had a school-record 102 catches for 985 yards and eight touchdowns as a senior. He set another Kansas record with 226 career catches.

Meier was earning praise from Smith in training camp last year before the knee injury. The receiver continued to impress his coach with his dedication to his rehab, even during the NFL lockout that prevented him from using the team’s facilities.

“Prior to the end of the season we knew he was ahead of schedule and he continued to do that when he wasn’t able to work out here at the facility,” Smith said. “He was working offsite but he was working with some people who were communicating with our guys. We knew through the months of April and May that Kerry was ahead of schedule.”

Meier said his recovery is ongoing but he has cleared an important step by taking the first hits on the knee.

“It felt great, just being able to move around freely and confidently and do the things I once did,” he said. “You don’t have to worry about banging the knee on the turf and thinking something is wrong. It’s great to be able to go against the turf and pop up and run back to the huddle without worry.”

The Associated Press

Meier says he’s determined to make up for lost time after missing his 2010 rookie season with a knee injury.

“You can never catch enough balls,” he said. “In a day’s practice, I try to maximize the number of catches I get in. It can definitely pay off in the long run.”

Meier, a fifth-round pick from Kansas in 2010, impressed coaches in training camp last year before hurting his right knee in a preseason game against New England. He missed the season following surgery but has participated in every practice in camp.

“I’ve been really surprised that he hasn’t had to miss any time in practice,” coach Mike Smith said. “He did a great job in his rehabilitation. … For him to be able to come out here and not miss a snap so far in training camp, I think that says a lot about his work ethic in the offseason.”

Meier is wearing a wrap but no brace on the right knee. At 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds, he gives the team a big target at receiver — especially important after Michael Jenkins was released and Brian Finneran wasn’t re-signed.

First-round pick Julio Jones is expected to join Roddy White, coming off his third straight Pro Bowl berth, as Matt Ryan’s top targets. Harry Douglas returns as a possible No. 3 receiver.

That leaves room for Meier to re-emerge with an important role.

“He’s got to do a lot of stuff that Finneran did last year,” White said. “He’s got to come in there and get those third-down catches for us and get those seam routes and things like that.

“You need a guy who can go out there and do what Kerry can do, because he catches the football really well. He’s a tough cover. He’s a big, strong kid and he can run and do a lot of good things. I’m just happy he’s getting his chance to show what he can do. I hope he has a lot of success this year.”

Meier converted from quarterback to wide receiver for Kansas and had a school-record 102 catches for 985 yards and eight touchdowns as a senior. He set another Kansas record with 226 career catches.

Meier was earning praise from Smith in training camp last year before the knee injury. The receiver continued to impress his coach with his dedication to his rehab, even during the NFL lockout that prevented him from using the team’s facilities.

“Prior to the end of the season we knew he was ahead of schedule and he continued to do that when he wasn’t able to work out here at the facility,” Smith said. “He was working off-site but he was working with some people who were communicating with our guys. We knew through the months of April and May that Kerry was ahead of schedule.”

Meier said his recovery is ongoing but he has cleared an important step by taking the first hits on the knee.

“It felt great, just being able to move around freely and confidently and do the things I once did,” he said. “You don’t have to worry about banging the knee on the turf and thinking something is wrong. It’s great to be able to go against the turf and pop up and run back to the huddle without worry.”

NOTES: Smith said offensive guard Mike Johnson is recovering from a concussion and his status is day to day as he follows NFL protocol on head injuries. Johnson was hurt in Thursday’s practice. … Smith said two seventh-round picks, offensive guard Andrew Jackson and defensive end Cliff Matthews, “might be two of the best-looking guys in the draft class.” Jackson, from Fresno State, is working at guard and tackle. Matthews, from South Carolina, could earn immediate playing time on special teams as well as a backup role behind starting ends John Abraham and Ray Edwards.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Read More: Justin Blalock (G – ATL), Tyson Clabo (OT – ATL), Harvey Dahl (G – STL), Atlanta Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons have made sure their offensive line will only have one depth chart battle this training camp, re-signing LG Justin Blalock, with Jason La Canfora winning the race to report this one. Minutes later, the team itself confirmed the news.

Update: D. Orlando Ledbetter adds that it’s a six-year deal, the longest the Falcons have given anybody this offseason.

Atlanta lost RG Harvey Dahl to the St. Louis Rams but was able to retain RT Tyson Clabo, so hanging onto Blalock became high priority over the weekend. Mike Smith said so himself, y’all.

To this point, the Falcons don’t appear to have lost out on a player that they actually wanted to add. I’m sure they would’ve liked to have hung onto Dahl, but coming in few expected them to be able to keep all three free agent OL, and evidently the choices were Clabo and Blalock. The only major free agents left for the Falcons to re-sign: CB Brent Grimes and RB Jason Snelling. Grimes is all but a sure thing, while it wouldn’t be surprising to see Snelling move along.

Blalock is entering his fifth year in the NFL, all of which have been spent starting for Atlanta. 

Visit SB Nation’s 2011 NFL free agency hub for the latest news on all 32 teams. Head to The Falcoholic to discuss more Atlanta Falcons news and opinion.

Read More: John Abraham (DE – ATL), Jamaal Anderson (DE – ATL), Jonathan Babineaux (DT – ATL), Justin Blalock (G – ATL), Tyson Clabo (OT – ATL), Chauncey Davis (DE – ATL), Brian Finneran (WR – ATL), Brent Grimes (CB – ATL), Michael Jenkins (WR – ATL), Michael Koenen (P – TAM), Trey Lewis (DT – ATL), Todd McClure (C – ATL), Stephen Nicholas (LB – ATL), Jerious Norwood (RB – ATL), Chris Redman (QB – ATL), Jason Snelling (RB – ATL), Eric Weems (WR – ATL), Roddy White (WR – ATL), Matt Bryant (K – ATL), Matt Murphy (OT – DEN), Coy Wire (LB – ATL), Harvey Dahl (G – ATL), Tony Gonzalez (TE – ATL), Will Svitek (OT – ATL), Brian Williams (CB – ATL), Joe Zelenka (LS – ATL), Justin Peelle (TE – ATL), Dunta Robinson (CB – ATL), Michael Turner (RB – ATL), Kirk Belgrave (DB – Kent St.), Ryan McMahon (C – Florida St.), Doug Beaumont (WR – Louisville), Thor Merrow (DL – West Virginia), Andrew Schulze (LS – Iowa), D.J. Davis (WR – Oregon), Suaesi Tuimaunei (S – Oregon St.), Kiante Tripp (DE – Georgia), LaMarcus Thompson (LB – Tennessee), Darrin Walls (CB – Notre Dame), Rob McGill (OL – Louisiana Tech), Ryan Winterswyk (DE – Boise St.), Youri Yenga (LB – SMU), Philip Sylvester (RB – Florida A&M), Lucas Cox (RB – Georgia Tech), Matt Hansen (LB – Rhode Island), Sam Baker (OT – ATL), Kroy Biermann (DE – ATL), Thomas DeCoud (S – ATL), Harry Douglas (WR – ATL), Robert James (LB – ATL), Curtis Lofton (LB – ATL), Matt Ryan (QB – ATL), Spencer Adkins (LB – ATL), Peria Jerry (DT – ATL), William Moore (S – ATL), Christopher Owens (CB – ATL), Garrett Reynolds (OT – ATL), Lawrence Sidbury (DE – ATL), Vance Walker (DT – ATL), Gartrell Johnson (RB – ATL), Ken Parrish (P – ATL), Adam Froman (QB – Louisville), Andy Strickland (WR – ATL), Marquez Branson (TE – ATL), Antone Smith (RB – ATL), Jacob Harfman (K – Southern Cal), Robbie Agnone (TE – ATL), Jose Valdez (G – ATL), John Parker Wilson (QB – ATL), Rob Bruggeman (OL – ATL), Paul Fenaroli (OL – Stony Brook), Tom McCarthy (DL – Yale), Sean Weatherspoon (LB – ATL), Joe Hawley (OL – ATL), Kerry Meier (WR – ATL), Corey Peters (DT – ATL), Mike Johnson (G – ATL), Dominique Franks (CB – ATL), Shann Schillinger (S – ATL), Tim Buckley (WR – ATL), Rafael Bush (S – ATL), Brandyn Harvey (WR – ATL), Michael Palmer (TE – ATL), Emmanuel Stephens (DE – ATL), Bear Woods (LB – ATL), Rafael Priest (S – ATL), Andrew Jackson (G – ATL), Matt Bosher (K – ATL), Jacquizz Rodgers (RB – ATL), Cliff Matthews (DE – ATL), Julio Jones (WR – ATL), Akeem Dent (LB – ATL), Atlanta Falcons

Yes, our spreadsheet game is tight, and this is the fourth one we’re in the process of keeping up with so far this Atlanta Falcons offseason. But this one is the most important. Here we have all 90-something players who will be a part of the team as training camp begins, along with those who’ve already left us — peace to Jerious Norwood, Brian Finneran and Brian Williams.

All six drafted rookies have been signed by the team, along with 23 undrafted free agents. Most free agents won’t be able to practice with the team until early next week even if they do sign Friday due to collective bargaini-zzzzzzzzzzzz…. The two restricted free agents, Brent Grimes and Eric Weems, are good to practice, as far as I understand, though I don’t understand very far.

We’ll update this throughout camp and preseason as the roster gets whittled down to its final form:

Visit SB Nation’s 2011 NFL free agency hub for the latest news on all 32 teams. Head to The Falcoholic to discuss more Atlanta Falcons news and opinion.