FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga., Sept. 18 (UPI) -- The Atlanta Falcons signed veteran quarterback Byron Leftwich Tuesday and waived quarterback Casey Bramlet.
Leftwich, 6-5, 250 pounds, enters his fifth year in the NFL after four seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He has completed 789 of 1,344 career passes for 9,042 yards and 51 touchdowns. Leftwich has a 24-20 career pro record and is second among Jaguars quarterbacks in victories. In 2005, he led Jacksonville to a 12-4 record and second place in the AFC South.
Leftwich, a first-round draft pick by Jacksonville in 2003, played college football at Marshall University. In four seasons, he set Mid-American Conference career records for passing yards and total offense. He was sixth in the voting for the Heisman Trophy following his senior season.
“We’ve been looking to add a quarterback to the mix since D.J. Shockley’s injury in the preseason,” said Coach Bobby Petrino. “Joey Harrington remains our starting quarterback and Chris Redman is still No. 2."
