All is quiet on free agency front
All is quiet on the free agency front.
Over the first weekend, the Falcons lost three starters – Keith Brooking to Dallas, Michael Boley to New York Giants and Domonique Foxworth to Baltimore.
Safety Lawyer Milloy and defensive end Chauncey Davis are still out there.
The Falcons are clearly taking a low-key approach to free agency.
GM Thomas Dimitroff told us at the combine that the Falcons would not be major players in free agency. They are clearly not going after any top of the line free agents.
We’ll just keep working the phones and see what’s shaking this week.
Eagles’ tight end L.J. Smith’s name keeps coming up, but his agent Brian Mackler hasn’t confirmed anything on him. Mackler was busy getting Foxworth’s deal done. He also has former UGA and Cleveland Browns safety Sean Jones, who had a quiet weekend in the free agency game.
A couple of other names to keep an eye on are Colts linebacker Freddy Keiaho and Buffalo linebacker Angelo Crowell.
It’s been all quiet on the Derrick Brooks’ front, too.
Agent Drew Rosehaus in Miami has Jacksonville defensive end Paul Spicer, who has connections to the staff.
Are you a little disappointed that the Falcons have not make any moves in free agency?
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137 comments Add your comment
The Real Fan
March 2nd, 2009
4:46 pm
We are under the new salary cap. They increased my season ticket price. They shortened the time I have to pay for them. There were free agnts that could ave helped us. Foxworth knew our system. That hurts us the most. We need veteran leadership on this team and we have lost most of it with nothing to show for it!
Dewey Cox
March 2nd, 2009
5:12 pm
People need to realize that free agency just started on Friday. It’s not like the Falcons have a game coming up this weekend. There is still PLENTY of time to make the necessary roster moves.
Damndawg
March 2nd, 2009
5:37 pm
Brooking fans: God love him, but career means ziltch compared to the last 16 games. We need young speedsters at LB who can hit hard and cover. I’m trusting that TD will grab a SS as there are so many available. We should keep Grady at DL just because he is so dang gigantic and still has some moves.
Rest assured: Blank, TD & MS know all too well that the Falcons MUST go at least 9-7 to put to rest the franchise LOSER stat, before ANY other priorities.
hawesg
March 2nd, 2009
5:40 pm
There may be time, but I’m not sure there are players. Again, CB looks the hardest to fill via the draft, and there are a few CBs who would be a step up from Foxworth (McFadden comes to mind, maybe Bodden) but it’s a steep fall-off after that. CBs are getting silly contracts this winter, and I understand why you don’t want to give a silly contract. On the other hand, who’s going to cover Steve Smith? Antonio Bryant? This team doesn’t have a #2 corner, much less a #1.
Alan
March 2nd, 2009
5:48 pm
Great time of the year, it gives us the opportunity to express our approach to the Falcons. I think whats even better it to sit back and let the brass so their job, stop and think about this time last year an all of the nay sayers. Relax, let them do there thing and see if the results will carry forward in a winning season as it did last year.
Relax, settle down, take it easy and then we can all reap the rewards.
The proof is in the pudding with this leadership team, no one gave them a chance going into this time last year. GO FALCONS!!!!!!!!!!
Dewey Cox
March 2nd, 2009
6:01 pm
McFadden or Bodden would be fine at the right price. I think the key thing to keep in mind is that the team is looking big picture and with the future in mind. It’d be best to not overpay for a “quick fix” and be saddled w/a crippling contract for years to come, especially if you’re not even sure the guy is the answer anyway. Chris Houston and Chevis Jackson should be solid young CBs. Von Hutchins will be back from his broken foot. Grimes has shown some flashes in certain situations. I’d rather see the team take a step back, if it must, for the 2009 season if that means we’ve positioned ourselves with talented younger players who should have us in position to contend for five years beyond next season. I think either Jermaine Phillips or Sean Jones would be a pretty good fit at safety, assuming you don’t have to break the bank to get them. Phillips could provide veteran presence for a couple years and bridge the gap until a youngster is ready to take over–either someone on the roster now or someone we might draft.
Keeping that perspective is best for the team at this point. I’m sure Dimitroff and company have a plan. After all, we got Foxworth from Denver for a 7th round pick prior to last season. Keep the faith. It’s early.
NiteOwl
March 2nd, 2009
6:10 pm
I am with Dewey Cox, not only for his opinions, but also for the awesome fact that he picked the name Dewey Cox. A criminally underrated movie.
I see the fun in trying to figure out what we’re going to do ahead of time, but I’m not downgrading our current personnel as badly as some here.
The CBs are young (Houston, Jackson) or unheralded (Hutchins, Grimes), but to say we don’t even have a No. 2 CB is taking it a little too far. Who wanted Foxworth last year?
Foxy was good, but we’ll let someone else pay him Michael Turner money. We’ll spend it on guys who are worth it, like say, Michael Turner.
Steve
March 2nd, 2009
6:21 pm
I hated seeing Foxworth go, but the $7 million a year with $16 million gauranteed, I am glad we didn’t try to match that. That is just too much money for a CB unless he is in the ‘near-elite’ category. We have Jackson and Houston who are both capable as starters. I can’t remember if Irons will be back or not as he was on IR last year.
Brooking was a leader, and he will be missed, but he was no longer needed on the field. Too slow to play outside, and Lofton is our MLB, so nowhere to play Keith. Of course, if Lofton gets hurt we could be in trouble.
Boley just stunk last year. I had high hopes for him, and he may still turn out to be stud, but after last year he looks more like an average OLB. We are not stepping down at all with Nicholas and Wire on the outside, though we just signed Wire to hold the spot. We need to look at on OLB for 2010 in the draft this year and groom him for a year or two.
Overall, I love the fact that the Falcons were not afraid to let players leave for various reasons. Brooking was too old, Foxworth too expensive for the return value, and Boley has underachieved. To me, that is a sign of an organization not grasping at every straw. There is only so much money to play with under the cap, and if you can get close to the same value of play for a fraction of the cost, it is worth it. The Falcons are definitely not going to cap-strap themselves with stupid mistakes like many NFL teams have done.
Like many have said, TD earned our trust last year, and so far I really like these moves. Next year we won’t win the Super Bowl anyway, but 2010 is a legitimate shot if we continue to build with youth and then fill in the gaps with one or two big free agents next year (this years crop of free agents is horrible and it is causing average players to be overpaid).
NiteOwl
March 2nd, 2009
6:41 pm
By the way, no one is going to cover Steve Smith one-on-one, but who cares? I don’t remember Foxy, Brooking, Milloy, or Boley locking him down when he came over the middle last year. (Maybe I “misremember.”) Regardless, we beat the pants off the Panthers toward the end of the year. So did the Cardinals, come to think of it.
Be a team, work the scheme, jam him at the line, roll a safety over, try to pressure the quarterback, and remember that it’s only Jake Delhomme throwing to him anyway.
We were a 50-yard Carolina FG miss away (in the last minute of the regular season) from hosting a playoff game and winning the division. I’m not losing sleep over Steve Smith. Let him get his yards. I’m more worried about stopping the run, which Brooking and Boley did not do very well.
As for the rest of the division, I’m really looking forward to crushing the Bucs with our offense, as their last-days-of-the-Roman-Empire defense crumbles around us. We owe them some big-time payback, going back to the days of Warren Sapp doing the “your airplane is crashing” pantomime on the sideline in Atlanta (just after 9/11, no less—classy guy all the way). Looks like next year is as good a time as any to start dishing it out.
As for the Saints, I think last year was their best shot for some reason, and they were 8-8. Can anyone tell me why they’re getting better next year? I guess if you’ve got Brees, you’ve always got a shot. Yawn.
crabapplejoe
March 2nd, 2009
6:44 pm
Reno 911 wrote: “And let’s get real about who Wes Welker was before he was the Patriot’s #3 receiver and caught 112 passes while everyone was covering Moss. Welker was a practice-squad player for the Chargers and Dolphins, had one year as a regular, full-time player for the Dolphins in ‘06. If I recall, I think the Dolphins cut him, THEN he signed with the Patriots and blew up.”
Wow, Reno, try “Googling” Wes Welker before you write. He was the leading receiver for the Dolphins the year before the Patriots traded for him giving up two draft choices. Welker practically single-handedly beat New England several times, with receptions and punt returns, and Belichick didn’t want to face him twice a year so he traded for the Dolphins leading receiver, not a practice-sqaud player…geez. He was also Miami’s leading punt returner and kickoff returner for three straigt seasons. He’s Miami’s all-time leading kickoff returner. So, no Welker was not cut by the Dolphins. Also, it is Welker who gets doubled a good bit on third downs leaving Moss open for TDs. Sports Illustrated did a nice little box article on this fact actually diagraming a play that showed the defense doubling Welker and Moss getting the score. So now you’re doggin’ out the guy who has caught more passes than anyone else in the league the last two years. WOW. Practice-squad indeed. (Out of the utmost respect for you…no letters at the end!)
D. ORLANDO LEDBETTER
March 2nd, 2009
6:49 pm
MIKE MONTGOMERY: First confirmed Free Agency visitor. Former GB Packer DE is a grinder.
NiteOwl
March 2nd, 2009
7:01 pm
Can we consider Montgomery done, since it’s suppertime, and Mr. Blank always takes them for a steak dinner and never let’s them leave town? (Only partly joking)
NiteOwl
March 2nd, 2009
7:08 pm
For the record, my Blackberry spell-check added the apostrophe in “lets” and I know people get called on that kind of thing. Sorry to those offended by bad punktuashun.
BA
March 2nd, 2009
7:12 pm
Digging the bow tie, Ledbetter
Falcon 8211
March 2nd, 2009
7:47 pm
Mike Smith is in macon tonite @ the macon Tounchdown club. he did an interview with the reporter. did not say nothing but that he and TD like the draft.
Strawman
March 2nd, 2009
7:59 pm
It’s taking all of my trust (and TD has earned a lot of it) to not be outraged at the silence on FA front. We’ve lost 3 starters and could be up to 6 key defenders from a defense that, let’s face it, was pedestrian last year. Even if we get the pick of the remainder it is hard to see the defense taking a step forward this year.
Also, DOL, why hasn’t the AJC even reported on how much cap room the Falcons have with these three FA’s gone? I’ve read every article/blog online since Feb 27 and it’s nowehre to be found. Last report was over 20 million before Brooking was let go. We could really make some noise if we are willing to spend any of it. But it looks like even the second tier guys are not on our radar. What is going on?
Ken Strickland
March 2nd, 2009
8:57 pm
It’s truely amazing how uninformed some of our fans are. They seem to think losing CB Foxworh, LB’s Boley and Brooking, and SS LMalloy, along with our schedule, will send us down the tubes. Foxworth can be replaced by one of the 3 CB’x we have returning from IR(VHutchins, DIrons and BGrimes). SS LMalloy was a major liability in pass coverage and his reputation as a major hitter and run defender didn’t prevent us from finishing 24th in DEF. LB MBoley had an off yr because he couldn’t adjust to the new DEF scheme, and had to be replaced. Brooking wasn’t willing to accept the new role the coaching staff wanted him to play and signed elsewhere.
An awful lot of you negative minded fans were crying doom and gloom last yr when we jettisoned Probowl TE ACrumpler, RB WDunn and traded CB DHall. Common sense should tell some of you that losing players that were part of the NFL’s 24th worst rated DEF won’t be that devistating. It was the poor play of LB Brooking and SS Malloy that cost us a chance to advance in the playoffs. It’s truely amazing how some arm chair GM’s think their opinions and preferences are more informed than those of our GM, who helped put together and sustain the 10yr dynasty that is the New England Patriots.
The Cowboys and Redskins have been big players in the FA market over the last several yrs. Their FA acquisitions have electrified their fan base leading into the season, only to fall way short of expectations at seasons end. Even with our FA losses on DEF, our DEF, and team overall, will be better next season.
robdawg08
March 2nd, 2009
9:05 pm
Good points from pretty much everyone here. we are all die-hard Falcons fans and only want what is best for the team to win. The draft is huge and has produced Ryan,S.Baker, & R.White among others. I think we can fill 3 of those 6 needs in the draft this year. But as others have said our division (pretty much the entire NFL) is loaded with top WR’s and we have nobody to cover them. After having to knock the cob webs and dust off my Falcons gear last year to proudly wear it again (hidden since the Chris Chandler & Dirty Bird days) I’m seriously (based on the latest moves and non-moves) looking at putting it back up for a few years. I truly hope that TD signs a couple nice FA’s SOMETIME this year.
The way to build a team though is thru the draft and SIGNING key free agents. Someone used the Cardinals as an example. Kurt Warner wasn’t drafted by the Cardinals. Your core should be built thru drafting but gaps can be filled better thru free agency. Fine they let Boley,Brooking,Foxworth,likely Milloy & C. Davis go but NOW REPLACE THEM. Derrick Brooks would look nice in the Red & Black roaming the middle on defense !
Falcon 8211
March 2nd, 2009
9:08 pm
DOL. i seen where the ravens safety leonhard was talking about looking at the falcons at profootballtalk.com. please check into it. he would make a great replacement for the lawdawg.
robdawg08
March 2nd, 2009
9:13 pm
Hey Strickland, Boley,Brooking,Davis,Milloy,and Foxworth were starters (except Boley) for a reason. Even on a 24th ranked defense they were better than the other choices on the team. So yes, subtracting these 6 from a 24th ranked defense and not upgrading those positions gives you the now 28th worst defense…
robdawg08
March 2nd, 2009
9:23 pm
I read that Ray Lewis is wanting interest from other teams only to drive up his price to resign with the Ravens. That’s lame. But if the Falcons could really sign Ray Lewis they would definitely have a new leader on defense. Brooking and Milloy were the veteran presence that every team needs. Every day that passes by more free agents are signing. The pool will be scrub city soon. DOL, can you ask TD what his plan is for next year ? Does he go totally young on defense and finish likely 7-9 or does he sign 2 or 3 “D” FA’s to try and go 11-4 again ?
Dude, we need some daily info.
crabapplejoe
March 2nd, 2009
9:35 pm
falcon 8211 wrote: “ravens safety leonhard was talking about looking at the falcons at profootballtalk.com. please check into it. he would make a great replacement for the lawdawg.”
Leonhard would be a great addition. I thought he would have been resigned by the Ravens or signed by the Jets by now. Maybe he wants to come here…I understand his wife has ties to ATL.
Jones
March 2nd, 2009
10:32 pm
For some reason here in Atlanta were I was born and raised or pro sports teams are always rebuilding.
j knight
March 2nd, 2009
11:23 pm
here is an idea. Since san francisco might be interested in vick, why not trade vick for tight end vernon davis. vernon davis ran a 4.38 fourty yard dash. man thats faster than our cornerbacks and hes 6′3 inches tall and 250 pounds. hes not exactly fitting in with coach mike singletary anyway. Then we can save our first round pick for one of the many defensive positions that we (the falcons) need.
dledbetter
March 2nd, 2009
11:52 pm
LEONHARD: Just checked in with his agent Tim Valentyn of Mad-Town (Madison, Wis.). He doesn’t really fit Dimitroff’s profile. He’s 5-8, 186 pounds. Most had him following Rex to the Jets. So he may be dropping the Falcons name to create a fake buzz. Packers have not called about him and dude is a Badger.
BA: Thanks for the kind words about the bow tie.
NITE OWL & DEWEY COX: I think we all like the same kind of movies!!!
ON MIKE MONTGOMERY: My main man and mentor, the legendary Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, sent me a load of stuff on Montgomery. Won’t subject you all to ALL of it. But will get it whittled down for you tomorrow. Bob calls him “ONE TOUGH HOMBRE!” He does have a right knee issue that the Falcons will probe. (Just some regular MCL, PCL and cartilage stuff)
crabapplejoe
March 2nd, 2009
11:57 pm
robdawg08 wrote: “But if the Falcons could really sign Ray Lewis they would definitely have a new leader on defense”
Do you really want an individual who was convicted of complicity in a double homocide in Atlanta to be the “leader of our defense”…has it really come to that in our society….have we lost all of our moral compass. I would rather go 50 years without a SuperBowl championship than have that scum play in this town.
VICK SUPPORTER 2
March 3rd, 2009
1:58 am
YOU GUYS CAN SWAP SPIT WITH THE “GM” & “COACH” AND LOVE THE BUTTERFLIES AND THE PRETTY FLOWERS ALL YOU WANT, BUT TAMPA BAY IS NOT MESSING AROUND IN THE FREE AGENCY.
ALREADY THEY HAVE RE-VAMPED THEIR OFFENSE WITH A BIG TIME TIGHT END AND A BIG TIME RUNNING BACK AND A FEW OTHER KEY SIGNEES AND THEY ARE NOT NEAR DONE YET, THEN THROW IN THE DRAFT.
WE WILL SEE HOW “IN-LOVE” YOU ARE WITH THE GM & COACH…..I THINK THERE WAS A TIME MCKAY WAS SWAPPING SPIT WITH YOU AS WELL. IT’S AMAZING THAT YOU GUYS SAY FOXWORTH & BOLEY WERE NO BIG LOSSES, BUT THEY SEEMED TO HAVE RECEIVED SOME RATHER HEFTY CONTRACTS ON SOLID ORGANIZATIONS, SO SOMEBODY SAW SOMETHING IN THESE GUYS THAT COACH SMITH WAS NOT ABLE TO BRING OUT IN THEM —— COACH ISSUE? WE SHALL SEE.
NOT BEING ACTIVE IN THE FREE AGENCY, BETTER NOT MAKE THE WRONG DRAFT PICKS OR THIS TEAM WILL BE RIGHT BACK TO 2007 AND WE WILL SEE HOW MUCH YOU GUYS THINK OF THE “GM” AS “GODLY”.
IN THE MEANTIME, THE REST OF THE NFC SOUTH IS BEEFING UP. CAROLINA IS THE DEFENDING DIVISION CHAMP SO THEY REALLY DON’T HAVE TO BE TOO ACTIVE BECAUSE THEY HAVE ALL THE KEY INGREDIENTS ALREADY IN PLACE AND ONLY NEED A SLIGHT TWEAK HERE AND THERE. WHAT SHOULD BE A CONCERN IS, ONCE MV7 IS CUT BY THE FALCONS, IF CAROLINA PICK HIM UP —– GOD HELP THE FALCONS.
GOOD LUCK IN 2009
WILLSTER
March 3rd, 2009
6:48 am
get the picture,this team will not win 8 games in 2009,TRYANX,iguarantee it,I AM GOING TO VEGAS,the falcons if they dont resign,DAVIS, AND JACKSON,WITH THIS YEARS SCHEDULE,all you faithful people will be saying what happened?IWILL BE COUNTING MY MONEY.
cha dro
March 3rd, 2009
9:57 am
no not at all i’ve seen the team in past years spend way too much on over priced free agents like Ovie Mughelli and Peerless Price… we could stand to save a little money to pay our top draft selections once they have proven themselves and keep them in town… you’ve got to have atleast a little faith in TD and Coach Smith after last season!
Ken Strickland
March 3rd, 2009
10:10 am
ROBDOWG08-you’re already assuming our DEF will be worse before you even know who the replacements will be. SS LMalloy’s replacement will definitely have some pass coverage skills, which will be an upgrade. LB MBoley played so badly he had to be replaced near the end of the season, and I seriously doubt mgt wanted to bring LB Brooking back as a starter, which is why he signed elsewhere.
How can any knowledgeable fan believe that replacing SS LMalloy, a one dimensional SS with no pass coverage skills, LB MBoley, a dysfunctional LB that had to be replaced as a starter), Brooking, a LB that mgt no longer saw as a starter, and upgrading the DL(DT and DE)will make our DEF worse?
Green Tea
March 3rd, 2009
10:56 am
RobDawg08, don’t let the door hit you on the arse on the way out. Anyone who says they’d rather be a Panther fan is probably more interested in Dale Jr. and Jeff Gordon and wears a JAKE DELHOME jersey with his cutoff jeans. I live in Charlotte, I see people like you all the time.
When did Dimitroff say they were rebuilding? Every team in the NFL continues to build until the are a dynasty. Every team every year that isn’t a dynasty builds and rebuilds. What’s so hard about that? Players come and go in the NFL, it’s nothing new. Dimitroff knows what the team needs. We have big name players right now, every guy on the roster doesn’t have to be one. I say let’s see what happens in the up coming weeks and the draft all the way until training camp.
Stirg d'Nahsif
March 3rd, 2009
12:42 pm
Is it true; Davis is re-signed?
Falconboy
March 3rd, 2009
2:14 pm
Yes it is true
Ken Strickland
March 3rd, 2009
3:47 pm
DE CDavis has resigned with the Falcons. Considering he made it perfectly clear he wants to be a starter, it means DE JAnderson is likely out as a starter.
ORLANDO LEDBETTER-if DT Jerry fell to our #24 slot, do you think we’d pull the trigger and draft him?
marcus h
March 20th, 2009
8:10 am
yes i would like them to sign TE bo scaife and LB marcus washington that would go out nice
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