The Atlanta Falcons have released wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud III in a move that stunned fans and insiders alike, coming just days after the veteran was abruptly sent home from team facilities under still-murky circumstances.
McCloud’s dismissal followed a strange week in Flowery Branch. Head coach Raheem Morris confirmed last Friday that he had ordered McCloud to leave the facility but declined to offer specifics, describing the situation only as an “excused absence.”
“I sent him home. We are working through some things that are private with the young man, and we will get those things figured out,” Morris told reporters. “This is between Ray-Ray, the organization, and us… I wouldn’t say it’s disciplinary – more a football thing we have to straighten out.”
McCloud did not show up for the Week 7 game
The 29-year-old wideout did not suit up for Atlanta’s most recent game, and by midweek, the team announced his release. The decision comes without public explanation, fueling speculation about what might have transpired behind closed doors.
Morris also made it clear the issue was unrelated to the firing of former receivers coach Ike Hilliard, who had previously worked with McCloud during their time together with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2020 and 2021.
McCloud is a reliable backup
A former Clemson standout and 2016 national champion, McCloud was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the sixth round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Over eight seasons, he has recorded 158 receptions for 1,518 yards and two touchdowns, along with valuable contributions as a return specialist.
Before his release, McCloud logged six catches for 64 yards across four games for the Falcons this season. Now, his sudden exit leaves more questions than answers – and one of the NFL’s most puzzling player departures of the year.
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