Ray Ray McLeod sent home after ‘private matter’ with team
The Atlanta Falcons heading into their week 7 Sunday night showdown with the San Francisco 49ers with good vibes afterwards beating the Buffalo Bills last Monday night. However, there may be some drama under the surface after news broke that wide receiver Ray-Ray McLeod be returned to Atlanta under mysterious circumstances.
“Rahim Morris says VR Ray Ray McLeod has been sent home. He said it’s a private matter between the team and McLeod. Morris said he doesn’t know if McLeod will be back,” ESPN Falcons beat reporter Mark Ramondi tweeted Friday.
McLeod, an eight-year NFL veteran from Clemson, has six catches for 64 yards in four games this season. He missed the Bills game after practicing all week without injury. Morris simply said it was a “coach’s decision.”
While no one is sure what it is, Sports Illustrated’s Garrett Chapman speculates that it is could be related to team firing wide receivers coach Ike Hilliard — with whom McLeod was close — after the team’s embarrassing 30-0 loss in Week 3 to the Carolina Panthers.
“It reminds you that this league has no loyalty. I mean, it’s football, it’s a day job, and you have to come in and pay your dues every day,” McLeod said after the dismissal. “He’s the best coach I’ve ever had, but it was real. Just because it happened (the break) doesn’t make it real, it was real, and it’s part of the game.”
Ray-Ray McLeod has played just 51% of the team’s offensive snaps in his four games this season, down significantly from the 86% he played last season, his first with the Falcons. In 2024, McLeod set career highs with 62 catches for 686 yards and a touchdown.
The Falcons have seemingly turned things around since that tough loss to the NFC South rival Panthers. A 34-27 win over the Washington Commanders followed, and then after the bye week they took care of the Bills on national TV in impressive fashion, winning 24-14.
2025-10-17 19:49:00
