FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Despite whatever external speculations were out there, Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris told reporters the decision to release wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud III was strictly performance-based.

"There was nothing disciplinary," he said. "I've seen all that stuff. It's just based on performance."

The transaction was made Tuesday . Morris addressed the situation Wednesday .

McCloud joined the Falcons in 2024, the same year Morris took over as head coach. He started in 14 games and appeared in 21 of a possible 23 games the last two seasons.

The two games McCloud missed were the Falcons' latest. He was a healthy scratch in both the Falcons' Week 6 win against the Buffalo Bills and Week 7 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

McCloud didn't practice at all l

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