Falcons first-round pick Julio Jones worked out with quarterback Matt Ryan and other teammates for the first time on Tuesday. During the league's lockout, Falcons players have routinely been running 7-on-7 passing drills at Buford High School. Jones is still recovering from foot surgery on a stress fracture that was discovered after the NFL combine. "I went to Dr. (Robert) Anderson in Charlotte (N.C.), and he released me last Tuesday to run," Jones said. "They just told me to take it very slow. That's what I'm going to do."

Falcons coach Mike Smith confirmed Monday to NFL Network's Scott Hanson that the team will not participate in HBO's "Hard Knocks" series this year. Smith said the Falcons had internal discussions about the show, which gives viewers an all-access look at training camp, but came to the decision that they won't do it in 2011.

The Buccaneers aren't interested, but the Falcons haven't completed shut the door on HBO's "Hard Knocks." "I truly believe that an organization has to be in the right spot to jump into something like 'Hard Knocks,'" Atlanta general manager Thomas Dimitroff said. "I think it sheds a lot of light on our league. This is a league of entertainment. There are some traditionalists that struggle with it, but they have to work against the grain a little bit and see that this is about entertainment. 'Hard Knocks' is a good show for the fan base." The Falcons turned down an offer to be on the show back in 2009 because it seemed like it would be a distraction. "It's such an individual thing," he said. "'Hard Knocks' could be right for some of the teams that are fairly entrenched. It could be right for some team that wants to kick off some more brand recognition."

Falcons rookie wide receiver Julio Jones was cleared to run on Tuesday. Jones is coming off surgery to repair a stress fracture in his left foot. "Heading back to Atlanta from Charlotte I had a recheck on my foot everything went great now I can start running #WINNING," Jones tweeted. Jones has already been meeting with quarterback Matt Ryan and the wide receivers.

The Falcons were happy to trade a host of picks to the Browns for the chance to draft Julio Jones because they see him as their own version of Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward. Atlanta expects Jones to help in the running game with his blocking as well as through the air.

Browns president Mike Holmgren says the trade of the sixth overall pick in the NFL Draft was "the right thing" for the team. "It was absolutely the right thing to do for our team at this particular time," Holmgren said. "The trade was kind of an amazing trade when you count it up. Next year we've got a one and a four and it's what we needed." Cleveland traded the sixth pick in the first round to Atlanta for five picks: their first-round choice (27th) plus their second- and fourth-rounders this year and their first- and fourth-round choices in 2012. The Browns then traded up from No. 27 to No. 21 with Kansas City, selecting Baylor defensive tackle Phil Taylor.