Former Falcons' Coach Bobby Petrino says that leaving the team near the end of last season was one of the hardest things he's had to do in his life, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "It was an unfortunate thing because of the timing," said Petrino, who is now coaching at Arkansas. "The timing of it was the hardest thing I've ever had to do in my life." He left the team with three games remaining in 2007 and tried to avoid the beating he took from the media. "It was hard on my family. It was hard on my wife and my kids, but I didn't hear a lot of it," Petrino said. "That was probably good."

Falcons' wide receiver Joe Horn has decided to skip all workouts and team functions this spring unless they are mandatory, according to The Atlanta-Journal Constitution. "These are optional workouts right now, and Joe's option is he chose not to be here," Falcons' Coach Mike Smith said Thursday. "There's not really anything we can do about that. You'd like to have all your guys here, but the [collective bargaining agreement] is pretty concrete in what we can do and can't do." Earlier this month Horn expressed a desire to be traded from the team because he felt the Falcons planned on using their young receivers this season.

The Falcons officially signed rookie QB Matt Ryan on Tuesday, agreeing to terms on a six-year deal. Financial terms were not disclosed, but ESPN reported that the deal likely is worth $72M, including $34.5M in guaranteed cash.

Falcons wide receiver Joe Horn wants to be traded, according to a report in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I want to win a Super Bowl and I want to win a Super Bowl here in Atlanta, but I don?t think I can help this team win a Super Bowl sitting on the bench, waiting for third down," Horn said. "They?re going with the younger guys and I don?t have a problem with that if that?s the course they?ve chosen. I want to have an opportunity to play with a team that needs a veteran to play and contribute and who helps the young guys," the former Saint added.

Rookie quarterback Matt Ryan battled jitters as he made his debut for the Falcons in practice on Saturday, according to The Associated Press. "I thought Matt threw the ball well out there," said Falcons' Coach Mike Smith. "Like anybody going out there on his first practice, I thought he was a little bit nervous and had some jitters." Veteran receiver Brian Finneran agreed with Smith regarding Ryan's rookie jitters. "I caught it, but I knew he probably was not happy with the way that first one came out," Finneran said, adding he was impressed that Ryan walked up and promised the next pass attempt would come with more authority. "The next one was gorgeous," Finneran added. "He made up for it." Ryan is happy that he was a little experience under his belt now. "It was a fun first day," Ryan said. "It's nice to have it under your belt at this point." "I think everybody is anxious when it's their first practice, their first time out. I was. It's just nice to have that over and settle in. I'm just kind of in the flow."

Falcons' linebacker Michael Boley has apologized for his arrest on misdemeanor charges of domestic battery last week, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I'd like to take the opportunity to apologize to [team owner Arthur] Blank, [General Manager Thomas] Dimitroff, coach [Mike] Smith, all the coaches, fans, my family for the incident that happened last weekend," said Boley, who declined to discuss specifics of the arrest. "I can't really say much about it because it's a legal matter. It's something I have to work through." "I have spoken to Michael. I'd like to keep that conversation private," Coach Smith said. "I just want everybody to know that I am disappointed. We know that we're disappointed that Michael was in the situation. Anytime we see our guy's name in the paper in the Metro section in a negative light, it's not good."

Michael Boley, a leading linebacker for the Falcons, was charged with battery on Saturday. "The Falcons organization is aware of the situation and will have no comment at this time," Falcons vice president of football communications Reggie Roberts. Boley is known as a success story in Atlanta, as he has been an advocate for autism due to his son's condition. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is reporting that his wife told police he "became physical" with her.