The Atlanta Falcons announced the release of 11-year veteran wide receiver Roddy White today. White’s departure will leave Julio Jones as the new veteran wide receiver leader for the team.
THIS JUST IN: Falcons release all-time leading receiver Roddy White. In 11 seasons, he had 808 Rec, 10,863 Rec yds. pic.twitter.com/5kkyoKnVA2
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 2, 2016
Jones was selected by the Falcons in 2011 in the first round of the NFL draft. He came to the team one year after helping the Tide deliver the 2009 BCS National Championship. Alabama fans will always remember Jones as the first true freshman receiver to ever start a season opener with the Tide.
Upon his arrival in Atlanta, Jones said that White took on the role as the “mentor for the receivers.” With White no longer in the picture that leaves room for Jones as the leader for the receiving corp for the Falcons.
White ended the 2015 season with only 43 catches for 506 yards and just one touchdown. Jones finished the season with an impressive 136 catches for 1,871 yards and eight touchdowns. Jones also scored a game-changing touchdown against the then undefeated Carolina Panthers in December.
Roddy White will surely be missed but Jones is more than capable of filling the shoes that are left for him.
Kenadie Wilkerson is a contributor for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can follow her on Twitter at @kenadiewilker1
