FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga., Feb. 25 (UPI) -- The Atlanta Falcons made a series of roster moves Monday to fit under the salary cap, releasing quarterback Chris Chandler, wide receiver Terance Mathis and free safety Ronnie Bradford.
"Chris has been great for thisfranchise," Said Falcons coach Dan Reeves. It is a similar situation that we had with Terance Mathis. We have a lot of young players. We think that (quarterback) Mike Vick is going to makegreat strides for us this season. The gap between Chris and Mike is getting narrower and this move will force us to get him more playing
time. It is a tough decision because I think that Chris can still play in this league."
Chandler, 6-4, 228 pounds, was traded from the Houston Oilers to the Atlanta Falcons in 1997. A veteran of 14 NFL seasons, Chandler immediately
stepped into the Falcons starting lineup and enjoyed back-to-back career years during his first two seasons with Atlanta, resulting in his
consecutive Pro Bowl trips in 1997 and 1998.
Chandler spent two seasons (1988-89) with Indianapolis after joining the Colts as a third round draft choice out of Washington. He then spent time with Tampa Bay (1990-91), Phoenix (1991-93), the Los Angeles Rams (1994) and the Houston Oilers (1995-96).
Chandler closed out his five-year Falcons career in third place on the Falcons all-time passing list with 13,268 yards, behind Chris Miller (14,066) and all-time leader Steve Bartkowski (23,468).
Last season, Chandler started 14 of the Falcons' 16 games and finished with 2,847 passing yards, second to the 3,154 passing yards that he had during the 1998 season when he led Atlanta to its only Super Bowl
appearance.
Chandler was named as the NFC Offensive Player of the Week for his effort in the Falcons victory over Buffalo (12/23) last season. Chandler established a single-game high and set a Falcons team record with his 431 passing yards against the Bills, eclipsing the old mark of 416 passing Bartkowski against Pittsburgh on Nov. 15, 1981.
He completed 28 of 40 passes with touchdown passes of 63 yards and 49 yards to lead Atlanta to a 33-30 win. Chandler had his seventh 300-yard plus game of his NFL career, his fifth as a member of the Falcons
and his second of the 2001 season. Chandler had 352 yards passing at Green Bay in the Falcons 23-20 win.
Chandler was 31-19 when he started and did not leave due to injury in the game as the Falcons starting quarterback (7-3 in 1997, 10-1 in 1998, 4-4
in 1999, 4-7 in 2000 and 6-4 in 2001). Overall he started in 67 of 80 regular season games and finished with a 34-33 record.
