The Falcoholic
The Atlanta Falcons and Ray-Ray McCloud saga has been an odd one to track, and this newest update doesn’t inspire confidence that he’ll be back with the team any time soon.
Multiple rumors are circulating about the cause, but the only description we have from Raheem Morris is that it is a private matter between the player and the team, and they don’t know when he’ll be back. Morris also clarified that the issue is unrelated to the firing of former WR Coach Ike Hilliard, and said Friday that he excused the absence.
The wide receiver was a healthy scratch going into the Buffalo Bills game, which took many by surprise. McCloud has had a down year relative to his 2024 performance, where he set career highs more or less across the board. However, he has still offered value on special teams as a returner and remains one of the more dynamic receivers in the room, especially with Darnell Mooney out. However, if the Falcons were drawing up a run-heavy game plan, it is easy to see how he’s the most expendable player in that room.
It’s hard to draw any concrete conclusions about the issue, but it’s clear this professional relationship is not in a good place if a return is unknown. It’s good that the Falcons found success without McCloud against a formidable opponent, because it appears the team will have to continue without him for the time being.
From a production standpoint, this isn’t a significant loss, but McCloud seemed to be well respected in the locker room, and it’s unfortunate if this is the final chapter of his Falcons career. We’ll see what updates we get, if any, in the days ahead.
