The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Healthy safety Neal: ‘I feel like myself again’
Falcons safety Keanu Neal, who missed 13 games last season after suffering a torn Achilles heel, gave an update on his recovery Thursday.
“By God’s grace, I feel awesome,” Neal said on the NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football” show when asked about his recovery. “I feel like myself again. I’m grateful.”
Neal has missed most of the past two seasons. He suffered a season-ending knee injury in the opener against the Eagles in 2018. He went down in the third game against the Colts last season.
“These past couple of years have been tough,” Neal said. “I try not to look at the negatives. I try to think positive about it. I’ve (had) a lot of opportunities to spend time with my wife, family, friends and groom myself personally. It’s been tough, but it’s been a great time. I feel really good mentally and physically.
“I’m ready to get back with the guys and get everything going.”
Neal was set to get married March 28 but postponed the wedding for a year after the nation shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic. Eventually, he and Krizia Thalia Neal elected to get married in his hometown church in Groveland, Florida, in May. “She’s amazing,” Neal said. “It was dope.”
The hard-hitting Neal went to the Pro Bowl in 2017 and was considered the team’s enforcer on defense.
Bigger practice squad?
The Falcons may get to carry an additional four players on the practice squad this season, according to NFL Media.
NFL practice squads were set to expand from 10 to 12 players this season pursuant to the new collective bargaining agreement. Now, there is talk about expanding to as many as 16 players to help teams with roster flexibility in the face of the possibility of positive tests for COVID19, according to NFL Media. The NFLPA would have to agree to add practice-squad players but likely would not be opposed to more players landing jobs.
Blank Foundation donates $470K
Continuing its commitment to fighting racial injustice and supporting the democratic process, the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation announced it is making an additional $470,000 in grants to several organizations Thursday.
The organizations are focused on creating systemic change and ending the disenfranchisement of blacks, indigenous people and all people of color, according to the foundation. “Ending systemic racism in our communities, our country and our world is long overdue,” said Falcons owner Arthur Blank, chairman of the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation and Blank Family of Businesses, in a statement. “The recent and tragic deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Rayshard Brooks, and far too many other Black men, women and children, make it clear that we all must thoughtfully listen and respond with meaningful and sustainable actions. The grants we are announcing today are part of an ongoing commitment for racial justice by me, my family, our Foundation and our businesses. We will amplify the voices of these grantees and other enduring partners like the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, Equal Justice Initiative and New Georgia Project. Together, we will work to find common ground for all citizens to enable lasting and positive change.”
The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation is making the following grants in Georgia: Southern Center for Human Rights, $150,000; NAACP Georgia, $100,000; Color of Change, $50,000; Movement for Black Lives, $50,000; Blue Institute, $25,000; Out of Hand Theater, $20,000. The Foundation also made a grant of $75,000 to the Montana Racial Equity Project.