Falcons Pro-Bowl returner Eric Weems keeps everything in perspective

TAMPA -- A popular joke inside the Atlanta Falcons' locker room is that Eric Weems is so tight with his money that he still has a couple of Pell Grant checks left over from his college days at Bethune-Cookman.

The Pro Bowl return specialist smiled when he heard that line again inside the visitors' locker room Sunday at Raymond James Stadium. He didn't mind hearing it, because he knows there's a little bit of truth to it.

"That's always been me," Weems said after Tampa Bay beat the Falcons 16-13. "I like to be smart with my money. I'm tight. I'm a cautious investor. I'm not going to buy five cars, a house here, a house there. I've got one car -- my Dodge Magnum. It's an '08 and rides smooth."

Weems doesn't just throw away his money. The way the 26-year-old looks at it, every NFL player's career has an expiration date. For someone who makes a living returning kickoffs and punts, that expiration date can come sooner rather than later.



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Ex-Bethune-Cookman's Weems signs 1-year deal with Falcons

Atlanta, GA - Former Seabreeze and Bethune-Cookman standout Eric Weems signed a one-year contract with the Atlanta Falcons on Saturday. Weems was a restricted free agent. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

With the changes to kickoffs this year, it was thought his value to the Falcons would diminish. He also returns punts, plays on coverage teams and fills in at times at wide receiver. He made his first Pro Bowl last season after returning 40 kickoffs for 1,100 yards and one touchdown and 18 punts for 230 yards and one touchdown. He added six receptions for 61 yards.

Weems was named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Month in December after a franchise-record 102-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and 55-yard punt return for a touchdown.



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2 ex-Bethune-Cookman stars make NFL Pro Bowl

Undrafted out of Bethune-Cookman. Cut in training camp. Nearly a season a half on the practice squad. All of Eric Weems' struggles to become an NFL player were validated Tuesday, as the former Seabreeze and Bethune-Cookman standout -- and now current Atlanta Falcons special teams ace -- was named to NFC roster for the 2011 NFL Pro Bowl as a specialist.


Videographer: tonypanzarella: Eric Weems 12/05/10 103 Yard Return

Joining Weems in the Jan. 30 game in Honolulu will be former Wildcats teammate Nick Collins, a Green Bay Packers cornerback who was selected to the NFL's all-star game for the third straight season.

The pair will become the first from B-CU to play in the same Pro Bowl, and Weems becomes just the fifth Wildcat to be selected for the game, joining Collins, Rashean Mathis, Larry Little and Cy McClairen.


Videographer: bbgun1967

Bethune-Cookman's Eric Weems Joins Seven Atlanta Falcons at The 2011 Pro Bowl

The Atlanta Falcons, who have the NFC’s best record at 12-3, placed an NFL-best seven players on the National Football Conference All-Star team that will face the American Football Conference All-Stars in the 2011 Pro Bowl – the kickoff to Super Bowl week – the NFL announced today.

The 2011 Pro Bowl will be played on Sunday, January 30, 2011 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii one week before Super Bowl XLV in North Texas. Broadcast live on FOX at 7:00 PM ET, the Pro Bowl will be held prior to the Super Bowl for the second consecutive year and serve as the signature kickoff event of Super Bowl week.

Packers Get 5 Pro Bowlers; Rodgers, Williams Snubbed

GREEN BAY – The Green Bay Packers will send five players – left tackle Chad Clifton, safety Nick Collins, wide receiver Greg Jennings, outside linebacker Clay Matthews and cornerback Charles Woodson – to Hawaii for the 2011 Pro Bowl.

But three players who arguably deserved to be on that list as well – or instead – were snubbed: Quarterback Aaron Rodgers, cornerback Tramon Williams and nose tackle B.J. Raji.

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Wide receiver Eric Weems fights for position

FLOWERY BRANCH, GA -- Wide receiver Eric Weems made the Falcons' roster last season and played in all 16 games. He also won the punt- and kickoff-return jobs. With Harry Douglas returning from knee surgery and the drafting of rookie Kerry Meier, Weems, who signed in 2007 as an undrafted free agent from Bethune-Cookman, knows he's in another battle to make the roster.

"My mindset is to always compete," Weems said. "No job out here is safe. I'm going to go out here and fight hard every day." Weems averaged 25.3 yards on 48 kickoff returns, which was ninth in the NFL for players with 30 or more returns. Tampa Bay's Clifton Smith was tops in the league with a 29.1 average. Weems averaged 10 yards on 27 punt returns, which was 10th in the league for returners with 25 or more returns. Philadelphia's DeSean Jackson led the league with a 15.2 average.

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