Before Tony Gonzalez accepted a job with CBS' "The NFL Today" pregame show, he joked about returning to Atlanta if the Falcons jump out to a hot start this season.
The Falcons aren't keeping his seat warm. In fact, they have removed his position from Dirk Koetter's offense.
Following through on their plan to add physicality on both sides of the line of scrimmage, the Falcons will use Levine Toilolo as a more traditional blocking tight end.
"There'll be a change in the type of tight end we'll have on our roster," coach Mike Smith said, via The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "We'll have a 'Y' tight end, where he'll be an inline player (lined up tight to the formation). They won't be moving around nearly as much as what we call a 'F.' Tony Gonzalez was more of a 'F' tight end than a 'Y' tight end."
Good coaching staffs mold their schemes to suit the talents of their players. With Gonzalez out of the picture, Koetter will run more three-wide receiver sets to make up for the 82 receptions, 835 yards and seven touchdowns that Gonzalez averaged over five years in Atlanta.
That means Harry Douglas will play a bigger role, fresh off the first 1,000-yard season of his career.
The upshot for fantasy footballers: Falcons tight end is no longer a draftable entity.
*The "Around The League Podcast" wrapped up the draft by picking our winners and losers. *
