Wanted to link to a story I wrote on Carson Bird for today’s Gazette. Bird, a former Air Force safety, has been working for months in preparation of trying out for NFL teams and hopefully signing a contract like Chad Hall did with Philadelphia. However, the lockout has prevented that, since he is technically considered a free agent. If the lockout doesn’t end soon, soon Bird – who was working in Qatar last year – will be off to his new base before he has a chance to sign with a NFL team. He said he is fine with either path, but obviously would like a chance to see if he can make it in the NFL.

The lockout might affect Bird in a few other ways. He’ll find it harder to make a NFL team without the minicamps that are held in May and June. It won’t be easy for any rookie to learn a playbook in an abbreviated training camp, much less one like Bird who has been away from football and will be fighting for a job. The timing of the lockout couldn’t be much worse for his pro dreams.

Also, the Falcons visited the White House today – here’s the story, on Gazette.com.