The Falcoholic
The team’s vital blocking tight end is headed back to school.
Summer school is already underway, and the best in the business are getting together to share notes from their fall/winter semester.
“Summits,” “conferences,” “boot camps,” and other terms synonymous with consulting scams and workplace education (coincidence?) have become popular events for NFL players during the dead period of summer.
The OL Mastermind Summit, founded by Duke Manyweather, was the first to gain traction. The best offensive linemen in the country get together annually in Frisco, Texas. Tight End University is the most notable to come after it.
George Kittle, Travis Kelce, and Greg Olsen founded Tight End University to bring the tight end community together for an immersive three-day program.
The Atlanta Falcons will have at least one member in attendance, the battering ram known as Charlie Woerner. The former Georgia Bulldog carved out a role for himself in 2024 and forced the staff to utilize his blocking skills as much as possible. He was part of a budget-friendly trio of free-agent additions (Woerner, Mooney, and McCloud) that exceeded their expectations.
Woerner’s shortcomings come in as a receiver, where he offers very little outside of security valve routes. Perhaps some education from the likes of Kelce and Kittle could turn him into late-stage Jason Witten, where he’s moving at a speed so slow everyone runs by him by mistake.
Kyle Pitts will not be in attendance. He was the belle of the ball during the university’s inauguration in 2021. However, Pitts has been dealing with an undisclosed foot injury that left him sidelined during OTAs. It wouldn’t be a great look to have missed those team workouts and then be fully active for a fake school. It is also important to note he’s gone every year, but I’ll let the commenters debate the results of his higher education.
It’s been reported that Pitts has still been getting work in with Michael Penix Jr. this summer, and that’s really all that matters. However, I’m sure his doubters will show this to you as proof that he’s [insert hyperbole here].
It’s always nice to see players putting in extra hours, but it is important to remember that they are people, too, and this is their time off. If their–and, by extension, the team’s–success hinges on a three-day summer camp, the season is already lost.
If your team’s players skip these events, don’t panic. Relax and catch some sun because there’s a good chance they’re doing the same thing.
