Roddy White speaks out after release from Atlanta Falcons
ATLANTA - Roddy White released a statement on Twitter after the long-time wide receiver was released from the Atlanta Falcons on Wednesday.
"Thank you to the Falcons organization and the city of Atlanta for 11 unforgettable seasons. I will truly miss playing for the fans in the Dome on Sunday. I am beyond grateful to all that supported me throughout this journey and I look forward to the opportunity of continuing my career with a new team."
White has been with the organization for 11 seasons.
The 6-foot, 212 pound wide receiver was selected in the first round by the Falcons in 2005. White would go on to be the all-time leading receiver with 808 catches and 10,863 receiving yards since then.
He completed his 2015 season with 43 receptions for 506 yards and one touchdown.
“Decisions like these are always difficult, but this was one of the most difficult decisions I have been a part of in my years of football,” said General Manager Thomas Dimitroff in a statement on the Falcon’s website. “We have a tremendous amount of respect and gratitude for what Roddy has meant to this community and organization. He is a great teammate and one of the all-time great Falcons. We thank Roddy for everything he has meant to this organization and we wish him success as he continues his career.”
The Falcons’ franchise record for receiving and overall touchdowns with 63 scores during his career belongs to the South Carolina native. White ranks seventh in targets (1,376), eighth in receiving yards (10,863), ninth in receptions (808), and 10th in touchdowns (63). Being one of the 33 players in NFL history to catch more than 800 passes, and one of 45 players to record at least 10,000 receiving yards, White has had a significant impact on the game. He also was a first-team All Pro in 2010 and went to four straight Pro Bowls from 2008 to 2011.
App users: Click here to watch video report
“Roddy is one of the best competitors and warriors I have ever been around,” Head Coach Dan Quinn stated. “He was one of the first players I reached out to when I was hired here, and I want to thank him for his professionalism and leadership. Although this was a difficult decision, we feel this is best for everyone as we continue to put this team together, not just for the 2016 season, but for the future as well.”
Check out more accomplishments by White on the Falcons' website
Accolades for White poured through Twitter: