GRADY JACKSON RELEASED

The Falcons made a surprise move Tuesday by cutting starting defensive tackle Grady Jackson. Jackson has started 22 of the last 23 games for the Falcons and last year led the league with 13 tackles for a loss. He has 21 tackles, including 5 1/2 for losses, and one sack this year. Petrino denied the Falcons were going with youth and preparing for 2008 by releasing Jackson. "It had nothing to do with anything but football," Petrino said. "It was just the way we wanted to go. We felt like for our best opportunity to win games, the next nine games that we played, this was the right move to make and that's really all there is to it." Rookie Trey Lewis, a sixth-round pick, takes over as the starter.

Mancini's Take: Rumor has it that Grady Jackson may be considering a career in sumo wrestling.