BIRDLAND — After the much publicized workout of Missouri linebacker Sean Weatherspoon on Wednesday, the Falcons flew to Dallas and went over to Fort Worth to work out Texas Christian standouts Daryl Washington and Jerry Hughes, according to an associate of the Willis & Woy Sports Management Group.

Hughes, played defensive end in college, but was worked out as a linebacker.
TCU's Jerry Hughes played defensive end in college, but some teams, like the Falcons, think he's a linebacker.

TCU's Jerry Hughes played defensive end in college, but some teams, like the Falcons, think he's a linebacker.

General manager Thomas Dimitroff, head coach Mike Smith and linebacker coach Glenn Pires were on the trip, according to the associate.

The knock on Washington is that he’s a little light at 230, but it’s believed that with a proper diet he can pack on some pounds quickly. He’s listed as 6-foot-1, 3/4. He played inside linebacker in the Horned Frogs’ 4-2-5 alignment.

The Falcons were looking at him as a weakside linebacker candidate.

Hughes is the more publicized of the two Horned Frogs. He had 28.5 career sacks and started 27 of 49 games over his career.

Smoltz joins Turner Sports broadcast team
Former Brave hasn't ruled out pitching despite new gig

By Mark Bowman / MLB.com

03/16/10 1:53 PM ET

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- John Smoltz has not ruled out the possibility of pitching again. But for now, the only baseball-related activities he has scheduled this summer involve his new role as a broadcaster.

Turner Sports has announced that Smoltz will team with Joe Simpson to broadcast each of the Braves' games scheduled to be broadcast on Peachtree Television this year. In addition, the former Atlanta hurler will serve as one of the guest analysts that TBS utilizes during its weekly Sunday afternoon national broadcasts.

The broadcasting world is not completely foreign to Smoltz, who worked as an analyst for Turner Sports during the postseason in 2007 and '08.

"Joining Turner Sports' Major League Baseball coverage is a great opportunity for me to stay immersed in the game that I love and I'm really looking forward to this experience," Smoltz said in a press release. "Having worked with TBS and Peachtree TV before, I am thrilled about the start of the 2010 season."

Smoltz, who spent a portion of last week at the Big 10 Conference men's basketball tournament, has told friends that he will continue to work out and be prepared in case he decides he wants to pitch again at some point this season.

When Smoltz signed with the Red Sox before the start of the 2009 season, he ended an affiliation with the Braves organization that dated back to 1987, when then-general manager Bobby Cox acquired Smoltz in a trade with the Tigers in exchange for Doyle Alexander.

Now like his good friend and longtime teammate Tom Glavine, Smoltz will be handling some broadcast duties during what will be the final season of Cox's storied managerial career.

While serving in his new role as a special assistant to the team president, Glavine will handle various front-office roles. But he will also do some radio and occasionally serve as an analyst for games televised by Fox Sports South and SportSouth.

Unlike Glavine, Smoltz is not quite ready to utter the word "retire." Coming off the major shoulder surgery that wrecked his 2008 season in Atlanta, Smoltz combined to go 3-8 with a 6.65 ERA in 15 starts with the Red Sox and Cardinals last year.

"Whatever happens, I think everybody knows that I'll forever be a Brave," Smoltz said when asked about his future last month.

After Smoltz went 2-5 with an 8.32 ERA in eight starts, the Red Sox released Smoltz, who two weeks later landed with the Cardinals, who saw him go 1-3 with a 4.26 ERA in seven starts.

The improvement Smoltz realized in St. Louis kept him motivated and drew some interest from a handful of clubs that are still looking to improve their pitching staffs.

By Mark Bowman / MLB.com

03/15/10 2:22 PM EST

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Mike Minor made a good impression in his first big league camp, and Jose Ortegano certainly caught the eyes of Braves manager Bobby Cox. But the two talented left-handed pitchers were still among the players who learned Monday that they are being sent to Minor League camp.

With their first round of cuts, the Braves informed 10 pitchers that they will spend the remainder of Spring Training in Minor League camp. The most recognizable position player affected was Cody Johnson, the powerful 19-year-old outfielder who was the club's first-round selection in the 2006 First-Year Player Draft.

Left-handed reliever Lee Hyde and right-handed pitchers Steve Marek, James Parr and Todd Redmond were optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett. Ortegano and right-handed pitchers Juan Abreu and Kyle Cofield were optioned to Double-A Mississippi.

The non-roster invitees assigned to Minor League camp were Johnson, Minor, right-handed pitchers Chris Resop and Erik Cordier and catchers Braeden Schlehuber and Jesus Sucre.

The Braves drew some criticism when they took Minor with the seventh overall selection in last year's Draft. But the 22-year-old left-hander has since shown that he has the polished skills that could help him make a quick rise to the Majors.

Minor's professional experience consists of the 14 innings he completed for Class A Rome and his time in the Arizona Fall League last year. But the composed hurler certainly didn't appear to be intimidated while not allowing a hit or run in the two innings he completed in Grapefruit League action this year."He's got a lot going for him," Cox said last week. "He's got some of the same characteristics as [Tommy] Hanson. They don't show cockiness, but they know that they can pitch. I was really impressed with him."

With just eight appearances above the Class A level, Ortegano enjoyed a second straight strong showing in the Venezuelan Winter League. During his lone Grapefruit League appearance for the Braves this year, the 22-year-old southpaw allowed six runs and lasted just one inning.

"He's pretty composed," Cox said of Ortegano. "He has a lot going for him. We like him a lot."

Cox also seemed to be impressed with Hyde, a left-handed reliever from suburban Atlanta who has battled injuries during his young professional career.

Johnson, whose power potential has been blurred by the high strikeout totals he has compiled during the early portion of his career, recorded one hit -- a double -- and struck out four times in the 11 at-bats he recorded while also experiencing his first big league camp this year.

The Braves have 44 players remaining in their Major League camp.

How many people on here would be interested in an online league?

I'm finally going to my first Braves game. Anybody else going opening week? And how's the view from the field level seats?