The Atlanta Falcons have announced the signing of wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud III. Last week, they suddenly and without explanation, sent him home. This is a notable step backward from McCloud after an outstanding bounce-back 2022 season. He caught 62 passes for 686 yards and found the end zone!
Last season, McCloud, 29, was the starter for 13 games with a lot of success. This year he has flamed out, producing just six catches for 64 yards in four games. His absence from the team was notable in the wake of an equally surprising Week 6 healthy scratch. That week, the Falcons were rejoicing a win over the Buffalo Bills during “Monday Night Football.”
Head coach Raheem Morris downplayed the incident, labeling it as a “private matter.” He noted that McCloud’s absence was “more a football thing.” McCloud’s status with the team has flip-flopped drastically. It didn’t help that wide receivers coach Ike Hilliard, who played a big part in convincing McCloud to sign with the Falcons this offseason, was fired just a few days after.
McCloud was deeply impacted by Hilliard. McCloud would readily express that Hilliard was most the influence and best coach he’d ever met. Hilliard and McCloud were fiercely bonded. It’s no coincidence that Hilliard’s unique presence in Atlanta had a major impact on McCloud’s decision to sign with the team. In the aftermath of Hilliard’s departure, McCloud’s focus and productivity seemed to drop off a cliff.
Though he had a disappointing season, you can’t question McCloud’s proud encouragement of his teammates. He posted on X, expressing his desire to succeed with the Falcons: “wanted this one bad.”
The Falcons have already ruled McCloud out for their next game against the San Francisco 49ers. This matchup is particularly significant for McCloud, as he gets to match up against his old team. His removal, announced today, serves as a reminder of the cutthroat nature of professional sports and the fickle nature of loyalty.
“This league has no loyalty.” – Ray-Ray McCloud III
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