BillsFever
07-21-2003, 08:28 PM
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Nose tackle Ellis Johnson has told the Atlanta Falcons that he will report to training camp Friday after abruptly leaving a mandatory mini-camp 12 days ago to return to his family.
Training camp begins Friday in Greenville, S.C. and players have until midnight Thursday to check in. Ray Anderson, the Falcons' chief administrator, said Monday: "I have spoken with his agent, and it appears Ellis has reconsidered."
Johnson, whose contract runs through 2005, returned to his farm outside Indianapolis before workouts began at team headquarters July 10. Neither he nor his agent, David Levine, has returned phone calls placed by The Associated Press.
"It's been an organizational effort to assure him that we would like him to be a Falcon and that he would be welcome back on Thursday," Anderson said. "I'm optimistic that he will do as he has said and report to camp ready to go and get after it."
Johnson, 29, was a first-round draft pick of the Colts in 1995 but was released at his own request last Aug. 28 after his style appeared ill-suited to the defenses of new coach Tony Dungy. He has said being away from his wife and two children was one of the hardest things he had to do.
Atlanta signed Johnson to a three-year, $4.3 million contract three days later. When Johnson told coach Dan Reeves he wanted to retire after Atlanta was eliminated from last season's playoffs, the Falcons extended his contract another year.
He started two of 13 games last season, finishing with 51 tackles and seven sacks, second on the team.
http://espn.go.com/nfl/news/2003/0721/1583746.html
Training camp begins Friday in Greenville, S.C. and players have until midnight Thursday to check in. Ray Anderson, the Falcons' chief administrator, said Monday: "I have spoken with his agent, and it appears Ellis has reconsidered."
Johnson, whose contract runs through 2005, returned to his farm outside Indianapolis before workouts began at team headquarters July 10. Neither he nor his agent, David Levine, has returned phone calls placed by The Associated Press.
"It's been an organizational effort to assure him that we would like him to be a Falcon and that he would be welcome back on Thursday," Anderson said. "I'm optimistic that he will do as he has said and report to camp ready to go and get after it."
Johnson, 29, was a first-round draft pick of the Colts in 1995 but was released at his own request last Aug. 28 after his style appeared ill-suited to the defenses of new coach Tony Dungy. He has said being away from his wife and two children was one of the hardest things he had to do.
Atlanta signed Johnson to a three-year, $4.3 million contract three days later. When Johnson told coach Dan Reeves he wanted to retire after Atlanta was eliminated from last season's playoffs, the Falcons extended his contract another year.
He started two of 13 games last season, finishing with 51 tackles and seven sacks, second on the team.
http://espn.go.com/nfl/news/2003/0721/1583746.html