Written by: STEVE WYCHE ¦ 8/18/2006Source: www.ajc.com
Green Bay, Wisc. - Tailback T.J. Duckett could be playing with the Falcons for the last time Saturday night as at least four teams have contacted Atlanta over the past few days about trading for the 2002 first-round pick, two people with knowledge of the situation confirmed.
The New York Jets is the only team that both sources would confirm, with recently demoted wide receiver Justin McCareins possibly coming to the Falcons for Duckett. Atlanta is in the market for a No. 3 wide receiver and McCareins (6-2, 215) a six-year veteran with 168 receptions and 15 touchdowns could fit the need.
Atlanta also is looking for backup help at safety, defensive tackle and defensive end. Despite those needs, exchanging Duckett for a draft pick is a possibility.
The Falcons would not confirm any trade talks.
No trade involving Duckett is expected before Saturday's exhibition game here with the Packers, a game he is scheduled to start. Regular starter Warrick Dunn is being rested.
Duckett could play through the first quarter before turning things over to rookie Jerious Norwood, the speedster from Mississippi State, who, since being drafted, has elicited enough confidence for the team to engage in trade talks involving Duckett.
There is some apprehension among the Falcons coaching and personnel staffs about parting with Duckett, a four-year veteran (54 games, 552 carries, 2,175 yards), who provides a sense of security should Dunn, 31, get hurt. Norwood, though talented and a better fit in the Falcons' cutback running scheme than Duckett, is still relatively raw and is learning the system, coach Jim Mora has said.
Even so, with Duckett being in the final year of his contract, dealing him now would allow the Falcons to receive compensation instead of letting him walk away for nothing after the season.
Duckett has spent much of the summer deflecting trade speculation, which until now, hit its crescendo on draft day after the Falcons' selected Norwood. Some teams, one being Pittsburgh, offered later-round picks, which the Falcons rejected.
After looking strong and rushing for 59 yards on 10 carries in last week's exhibition-opening 26-23 victory over the New England Patriots, interest resurfaced.
Duckett insists he wants to remain with the Falcons and said he's going to try to have a breakout season, no matter what.
"I had a great offseason we had a hard training camp and I'm ready to make things happen," Duckett said Thursday.
Duckett was drafted 18th overall out of Michigan State in 2002 - the same offseason the Falcons signed Dunn from Tampa Bay as a free agent. The simultaneous pairing never allowed Duckett to emerge as a feature back, but he has earned team-wide respect for not complaining about playing time.
Duckett has been used primarily in short-yardage or change-of-pace situations and has rushed for 31 touchdowns in four seasons, 27 coming in the past three. Last season, though, he faltered down the stretch after suffering an ankle injury and averaged a career-low 3.1 yards per carry. With Dunn nursing a sore hamstring over the final four games, Duckett's inability to provide much relief spawned trade speculation shortly after the season ended.
Vanni9283 wrote: I'm thinking maybe the EAGLES should look at this guy! lol
To bad Atlanta doesnt. Starting Schwab and Duckett would probably produce them 11 wins this season. But Vick sells jerseys, and that is more important then letting these two excel and the team winning I guess.
I dont see either of them staing in Atlanta after there contracts expire.
The Jets are friggin retards. Knowing the condition of C Mart for a while...they did. The could have put something together with the DE Abrahams trade with Duckett...to make it work
The Jets would not have gotten Duckett because they dealt exclusively with Denver. They were compensated with Denver's first rounder, and Denver turned around and dealt Abraham and a couple mid-rounders up to 15. While the Jets may have been cognizant of Denver's intention to deal Abraham, they were not entitled to compensation from the Falcons on the back end of the deal. We have to look at the Abraham deal as two separate trades.
This is the old boys club.....they all knew. The point is that the jets never addressed an issue (C Mart) when they could have. C Mart might be comming back as compared to C Mart probably not commimg back. Also a disgruntled DE traded to a team for a guy with NO time left on his (Duckett) contract is a little bit easier to swallow. No one hardly ever gets any compensation for a guy with no time left on his contract...especially a guy basically making minimum wage. Jets could have swung the deal straight up