Finally, some FA action in the ATL!!!
While not exactly on the same level as the Michael Turner signing last season, the Falcons have made a move.
Drum roll please!!!
Defensive end Chauncey Davis is in.
Defensive end Michael Montgomery is out.
Monty was set to visit today, but the Falcons and Davis’ agent, worked into the night to hammer out a four-year, $14 million deal.
I was working on “The Book on Montgomery” for the blog.
Since we don’t want let some good work go to waste, he’s what we
had on the would be visitor.
Three executives in personnel for NFL teams were asked by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel to evaluate the Packers restricted free agent and here’s what they had to say about Montgomery:
“Can he make a team? Yeah. He’s probably a No. 4 end. You like his effort and all that stuff. He’s not a real talented kid. At one point I thought he might have an opportunity to go somewhere. But he’s just been OK. I haven’t been overly excited about him. He’ll get backup-type money. He’ll get decent money as a swing backup. He’s not great but he’s functional.”
Montgomery played last season at 270 pounds, but has been as heavy as 280. The Packers shift to a 3-4 kind of pushed him out the door. They are now looking for ends in the 290-plus range.
Davis is a welcomed return. He has been steady since being selected in the fourth round of the 2005 draft. He’s played in 63 games, 18 starts, 8 sacks and 7 fumbles recoveries. He really likes working with defensive line coach Ray Hamilton.
I told you all last night, not to buy into the Jim Leonhard rumors to the Falcons. That was just posturing. Everyone knew he was following Rex to the Jets.
Well, the Falcons’ deal appears to extremely fair.
The big question is will Davis get a chance to beat out Jamaal Anderson? He’s basically out played him — according to a statistical analysis and not a film coaching-style analysis.
Overwhelmed by this move? What’s the next move for the Falcons?
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154 comments Add your comment
Cameron
March 3rd, 2009
3:33 pm
Stirg d’Nahsif: Yes, I understand what you are saying. I wouldn’t mind drafting Cook. I think he is a walking mismatch. Too fast for LBs and too big for safeties. But, our staff like blocking TEs for running the football. Or, complete TEs who can do both. Receiving TEs can only be on the field for passing downs for us, which doesn’t fit what we are trying to do. That was all I am saying. I have seen Sintim as one of the best OLBs. If he is avialable in the third round, we would definitely take him. I just don’t think he is going to be. My wish would be:
1st round: Cushing
2nd Round: Ron Brace
Cameron
March 3rd, 2009
3:36 pm
I just don’t like to spend first round picks on guys who weren’t highly recruited out of high school, who are “overachievers”, and only shined playing in a weak Pac-10, playing on the best defense in the country. Is he a solid player, yeah. But, in college he ran around making plays with his speed and rushing the passer. We don’t have our LBs do that. Nothing against him personally, I just don’t think he is worth the 24th pick in the draft.
Dewey Cox
March 3rd, 2009
3:37 pm
DOL, do you think the Falcons are going to move Jamaal Anderson inside to DT? I know he played some DT last season and there was talk that they might move him inside. Have you heard anything new along those lines?
clthurman
March 3rd, 2009
3:39 pm
Jermaine Phillips pass….big time. Not familiar with Sean Jones at the moment….didn’t we have a good young cornerback on our team last year? Oh yeah we let him go because he cost too much. Hey you get what you pay for. We have sub-par corners like Grimes and Jackson(strictly nickle) a waste of money so far in Von Hurt and no one worth a damn in the draft. So instead of locking up a good young corner we spring an unnecessary leak at CB with the one we already had when Milloy left….oh and we have no outside linebackers. Cushing’s the man if we get lucky and Wire was okay but really…is he an elite player? Christ he played about 3 games tops at starter.
cutter
March 3rd, 2009
3:47 pm
Dawg93…Hello that is why I said TD would NOT have drafted Jamaal Anderson that high.
Stirg d'Nahsif
March 3rd, 2009
3:50 pm
I’ll take that, Cameron; I wouldn’t be dissatisfied with Cushing as the number one pick. He’d be a great compliment to Lofton and Nicholas. I say that, too, because it appears that a good starting DB will be available by the time We pick in round two.
Who the hell is Brace? And explain to Me why the Falcons should waste a number two pick on this guy? Judging from his combine numbers, it looks like he’ll still be available in later rounds. Faster DL clocked in better numbers in the 40. Although he had impressing number while pumping 225lbs, 32 times, I think the first three picks should be legit starters (i.e., Ryan, Baker, Lofton) and Brace is not a starter, right now. Cushing could start, Delmas can start, Sean Smith, Clint Sintim, Patrick Chung, those are starters and should be available at our second pick. Not Ron Brace, though. Who is he? Is that your cousin or something?
marko
March 3rd, 2009
3:53 pm
Clay Matthews? seems like a bit of a stretch at twenty-four, but that’s what I said about Baker last year. Even though Pettigew seems a solid choice, I hope we spend the pick elsewhere. We lost three starters, and they were all on the defense.
D.Orlando Ledbetter
March 3rd, 2009
3:56 pm
E-ROLL: We’ll know more about how Trey is doing when the voluntary workouts open later this month. The coaches are anxious to see and evaluate him.
ROW3: As of Monday morning, Crowell had not visited and was not scheduled to visit Atlanta.
CURIOUS: Fal007 answered this for you. Wire, because of the vet min contract he signed, was never technically a free agent.
BAILEY: The Falcons are putting a lot of stock in Von Hutchins’ return at this point. He can take over the nickel, Chevis, Irons, Houston and Grimes can compete for the outside spots. Draft is deep at corner.
NOW, the really big question is are they going to go through free agency without addressing Milloy’s exit. The safeties made a bunch of tackles and they can’t be weak on the back end. I don’t think Jamaal Fudge and Thomas DeCoud will be the only two fighting for that spot. SEAN JONES makes the most sense and a high draft pick.
Just good to be dealing with an actual signing!!!
robdawg08
March 3rd, 2009
4:01 pm
C.Davis really isn’t a FA signing in the sense since he was a Falcon last year. Just a re-up deal. That upgrades the defense but can no way make it better than last year since Davis was playing last year. I’m glad they resigned him but that’s not a FA signing I’m wanting. The Falcons need to sign (or trade for) a good veteran LB and young CB or S on defense prior to the draft. Derrick Brooks is an easy choice. The money is there and I’m sure he would like to show the Bucs they made a mistake twice next year playing against them. The Bucs are upgrading as evidenced by the signing of D.Ward RB.
I think TD might be actually a bear and be hibernating this winter…
Yawn.
Dawg93
March 3rd, 2009
4:03 pm
cutter – my bad, misread your post. Comes from trying to read everyone’s comments too fast, sorry about that.
And yeah I agree with your original point – I don’t see Dimitroff drafting him that high.
robdawg08
March 3rd, 2009
4:09 pm
If the draft has up to 8 or 9 good DBs then don’t waste the #1 pick on on a DB. Go with a DL or LB or possibly even the best player available at any position. Sometimes you can draft a player another team wants and trade him to that team for a good veteran need and get a 3rd round pick to boot.
I’m confident that the draft will be handled right based on last year.
We just need some veterans on defense to complement the youth.
robdawg08
March 3rd, 2009
4:10 pm
When is the NFL draft by the way ?
Shea
March 3rd, 2009
4:12 pm
PLEASE SIGN CROMARTIE!!!
clthurman
March 3rd, 2009
4:26 pm
What draftboard are they looking at? Deep in DB’S….YEAH if you want ifs and maybes and if you go to camp with the 4 losers you just spouted off as incumbents then look for us to improve against the run because they will be torching us thru the air.Seriously there are no shutdown corners and we have corners now who don’t know when to shut off…the other team. Plenty of good DBS….what a joke!!!!
robdawg08
March 3rd, 2009
4:49 pm
In the draft, I like…
1st round – DB or LB (depending on if a FA DB or LB is signed go with the other)
2nd round – DT,LB,or DB (if a DB or LB isn’t taken in the 1st or new DB or LB FA signee)
3rd round – Tight End (if a FA TE isn’t signed)
4th round – Best player available left on board
I’d do this if I were the Falcons GM :
Sign Derrick Brooks LB
1st round – DB
2nd round – DT
3rd round – TE
4th – best available any position
Cameron
March 3rd, 2009
5:16 pm
Ron Brace is a DT from Boston College. Most are projecting to go in the second round. He played next to Raji. Go on NFL.com and look up what the scouts say about him. He is like 6′3″ and 330 lbs. I think the words were “anchor” and “unmovable”, not bad words for a guy anchoring the middle of your DL and run defense. Think Grady Jackson, but much younger and in better shape. You want to know why you hear so much about Raji, it is because this guy kept blockers off of him so he could make plays.
cutter
March 3rd, 2009
5:23 pm
I am a bit concerned that Cleveland has not re-signed Sean Jones by now…I wonder what they know that we don’t. He did have a knee injury last season and surgery but came back later in the season.
Great Falconi
March 3rd, 2009
5:25 pm
I don’t know if anyone has really talked about this on these blogs, but the Falcons are likely going to get three or four nice compensation picks for Boley, Brooking, Foxworth, and Milloy (if he doesn’t retire). My guess is that the picks for Boley, Brooking, and Foxworth will all be sandwich picks between the third and fourth rounds. Those picks can’t be traded, but they will allow Dimitroff the flexibility (we still have our own third, fourth, and two fifth-round picks) to move up in the first round.
cutter
March 3rd, 2009
5:29 pm
A Florida newspaper reports Falcons showing interest in LB Mike Peterson of the Jaguars, he’s 33 yrs old same age as Brooking I believe.
willie
March 3rd, 2009
5:35 pm
Great Falconi…we probably won’t get as many compensatory picks as you think and also those picks will be for the draft next year, not this year.
clthurman
March 3rd, 2009
5:56 pm
Sean Jones of Cleveland…..no thanks…the last safety we got from them was Crocker and that turned out well…not!!!! What no Va Tech losers to grab? Dimitroff made a big mistake in shredding the D without a definate plan….hoping on the draft to fill spots every year seems dicey…especially in the secondary. Orlando would love to hear about these so called great draft prospects since there are none on any current board I’m seeing….and are you serious about Irons(more like aluminum),Von Hurt, the Spud Webb of the secondary Grimes and oh that nickle back from LSU….yeah sounds like we will need the pass rush of all pass rushes to make those clowns look good….can we dig up Buddy Ryan?
Sly Ty
March 3rd, 2009
6:28 pm
Mcrly, you are the only person so far that has actually mentioned the fact the Jamaal Anderson is very effective against the run. He doesn’t have the good sack numbers, but the football film shows he holds up well against the run. People seem to always NOT MENTION that this guy is good against the run. You can’t rush the passer, unless you stop the run FIRST. Check Abraham’s sack numbers, and you will see that he accumulated several sacks because it was 3rd down and long distances to go.
dledbetter
March 3rd, 2009
6:50 pm
ROBDAWG: Don’t come on my blog trying to dis the blogger!!! That’s just bad manners and poor home training.
That comment was made before the combine. We now have more than 250 interviews
and bios in the AJC database. We’ll have plenty of time for the draft.
Here’s the order: Combine, Free Agency, Draft, Offseason workouts, training camp. . . .
dledbetter
March 3rd, 2009
7:02 pm
Our buddy Michael C. Wright wrote for the Florida Times-Union in the 19th paragraph of a story about Tra Thomas, that “Linebacker Mike Peterson is also looking for a new team. It appears that Detroit and Atlanta are showing interest.”
http://www.jacksonville.com/sports/football/jaguars/2009-03-03/story/jags_visit_with_eagles_tackle
Doesn’t make sense because he’s mainly an MLB, but one of the Falcons told another friend of the blog that Peterson is on the radar screen. Nothing solid though. Checking it out.
dledbetter
March 3rd, 2009
7:13 pm
BIG GRADY MAY BE ON THE MOVE TOO. REPORTEDLY has a deal with Detroit, after he passes his physical. Waiting for my man Angelo Wright to text or call back. But here’s the Detroit Free Press link:
http://www.freep.com/article/20090303/SPORTS01/90303059/1048/sports/Lions+plan+to+sign+defensive+tackle+Grady+Jackson+after+physical
robdawg08
March 3rd, 2009
7:20 pm
What are you talking about Ledhead ? I simply asked when the NFL draft was ? What date and time ? Don’t read something that’s not there into a simple question, King Blogger.
TheManMike
March 3rd, 2009
7:27 pm
Wow – Grady too eh? I knew his name was being bounced around, but after all that have left, its really unreal how much this team is changing. I like it.
I just wonder who now we will get to fill the large hole GJack took…..
TheManMike
March 3rd, 2009
7:27 pm
filled, rather…
robdawg08
March 3rd, 2009
7:28 pm
Ledbetter : “That comment was made before the combine. We now have more than 250 interviews
and bios in the AJC database. We’ll have plenty of time for the draft.
Here’s the order: Combine, Free Agency, Draft, Offseason workouts, training camp. . . .”
What in the world are you talking about ? You got that from me asking you when the NFL Drat was taking place ???
You got me mixed up with someone else ?
Flappin' Falcon
March 3rd, 2009
7:33 pm
Glad to see some Falcon’s fans understand that Jamaal is a very good run defender. Just look at the stats when he is out of a game or left a game early due to injury. The Philadelphia game last year was a great example. Philly’s run game was held in check until the moment he left the game late in the second quarter. After that Westbrook had a field day. I like C Davis a lot, but he is not a strong run defender. He will have to dramatically improve in that area to have a shot at the starting job. Stopping the run is the #1 priority for Mike Smith’s defense.
Jamaal played WR in high school, walked on at Arkansas and started playing DE. I’m just as skeptical about his low sack numbers, but MARKO made a great point about Kerney’s early sack totals. So, this is the year for Jamaal to step up. I hope he succeeds.
TheManMike
March 3rd, 2009
7:34 pm
Its alll good Rob – DLed just protecting his blog. You were talking good football – keep that going.
Who do you see as filling the GJack abyss?
gabeaux
March 3rd, 2009
7:36 pm
Detroit Free Press claims Grady Jackson is signing with the Lions.
TheManMike
March 3rd, 2009
7:38 pm
Floppin-
Agreed on Anderson – I think this is his year to prove himself. I mean, 23 is young. Playing a position you didnt play your entire life. If he gets proper coaching, and takes to it – then he will pan out. But i like him inside as well…I think he just needs to show more tenasity…Grit. He needs to hang out with Harvey Dahl a bit………..
On that note – Where did i read about the possibility of losing Dahl? That would be a mistake, IMO>…..
Flappin' Falcon
March 3rd, 2009
7:53 pm
TheManMike-
Harvey Dahl signed a second-round tender, this comes with a guaranteed salary of $1.545 million dollars for 2009 and would compensate the Falcons with a 2nd round draft choice in April’s draft should another team sign Dahl to an offer sheet that the Falcons decide not to match.
In other words, he’s not going anywhere…I hope.
Falcon Fan
March 3rd, 2009
7:57 pm
The falcons are obviously letting veteran players leave, signing players and will draft players for the future rather than trying to win in 2009. With the Vick cap hit nightmare about to decimate the cap in 2009, they really have no choice. The 2009 schedule does not help much either. I am guessing any veteran who they determine will probably not be a solid contributor in 2010 and 2011 or beyond will not be signed. This is a very smart approach. I truly believe TD’s approach would be different if they were not about to take the Vick cap hit. I say lets build for the future and make sure players we sign will be contributors in 2010-2012 and beyond! The 2009 season might be a 5, 6, 7 or maybe 8 win season, but we will be in a much better position to win consistently starting in 2010!!
Super bowl winner in 2011!
TheManMike
March 3rd, 2009
7:59 pm
Yea man – while an extra second round pick would be nice, i really like Dahl. I hope he remains on that line.
Sly Ty
March 3rd, 2009
8:02 pm
Hey guys, I am probably in the minority here, but I actually like Jamaal Anderson. He is good against the run as a DE. The guys that were chosen ahead of him, and around him in that years draft, NONE of them are as good against the run as he is. The falcons as a team had a good sack total last season, in part because Anderson plays DE, and now with the Emergence or Kroy Bierman, he slides down inside to DT. The team will be able to add a run stopper DT in the draft, maybe in the latter rounds, because Trey Lewis will be back this season. Lewis will possibly be as effective as Grady was at plugging the middle, to help poor old Babineaux actually get some rest this season. The Birds will have a good DLine rotation, at a fair price, which in turn will help the DBacks in coverage.
TheManMike
March 3rd, 2009
8:10 pm
Im not against Jamaal – check this out…(hope it works)
http://xml.truveo.com/rd?i=35304478&a=af6f670b39b1121cf54358467c12e869&p=1&q=id%3A49111306&vl=49111306%20
Ballbreakers
March 3rd, 2009
8:34 pm
No way this bum beats out Jamal Anderson. That man-child is a SACK MACHINE!! Better luck next time, Davis.
Suckers.
Falcon 8211
March 3rd, 2009
9:34 pm
I know Rodney Harrison is getting old but i think he can still play for a year or two. he would be a great leader on defense and he loves to hit. check on this please DOL.
kclubmember
March 3rd, 2009
9:34 pm
I believe the latest Jamal Anderson needs to improve his technique rushing the quarterback.Mike Smith is not very patient with defensive players,so Anderson must increase his intensity turning the corner.
Freddy
March 3rd, 2009
9:49 pm
Look,
Did Jamal Anderson jump onto this blog? I have never seen such a overpaid player get so much love. Yes, If Jamal was a 6th or 7th round pick, then I could agree with his run defense, but this guy was the number 8 pick in the first round. So Jamal’s friends and family get off this blog and people get real. He needs to have a great year or he is history.
RA
March 3rd, 2009
9:55 pm
Here’s the thing, love it or hate it, the Falcons have made one undesputable statement, “we are going to build this team through the draft!” I agree with that approach. I mean, you don’t get the short term gratification of oh say the Boston Celtics, but then again most professional teams don’t give up hall of famers for chicken feed… Oh yea, this is Football blog. Okay, look will the Falcons go to the superbowl next year, no, but they are building a team that will compete, and win for years to come. That’s something that Falconville hasn’t had in a long time, if ever.
Sly Ty
March 3rd, 2009
10:02 pm
Jamaal Anderson is a developing player, in the same way that Roddy White and Michael Jenkins had to develop. The thing is people always want immediate results, Kinda like what Matty Ice gave us, but that is not normal. Look for the Defense to be improved. Addition through subtraction type thing. Also, as a fan, I would love for us to draft USC LB CLAY Matthews. It appears that he can also stay on the field in nickel coverage packages. He is a much better value pick.
RA
March 3rd, 2009
10:04 pm
I’m sorry Sly Ty, but I’ve got to take you task and back up Freddy on this one. Jamaal Anderson simply has not produced enough pressure. Yes, the Falcon D-line turned in a servicable job of sacking the QB. But here’s the thing, you take Abraham out of the mix and that servicable job becomes one pathetic performance and our DB’s get torched over and over because there is simply nothing else on that line that is going to stop the other team’s QB from standing back there and patting the ball until a WR gets separation which is something that’s just a matter of time regardless of how good the coverage is. Now I’m not blaming Anderson for all the troubles of the D-line, God knows, but he’s had every opportunity over the past two seasons to prove himself and he just hasn’t, maybe he can’t.
RA
March 3rd, 2009
10:10 pm
And furthermore, Sly Ty, even at their worst over their first two years, Jenkins and White showed flashes that made folks think that they could be special. Jenkins would run a slant pattern that would put you in the mind of John Taylor. White would get good separation before dropping the ball, BUT every once in a while he would make that catch that you just wanted to freeze in time and post on your kid’s wall as irrefutable proof that gravity is just an idea and anything is possible. I say all that to say this, you could tell that there were good players in Jenkins and White. If there’s a good player in Anderson, I haven’t seen him yet.
D3
March 3rd, 2009
10:32 pm
Sly Ty & RA, I kind of agree with both of you concerning Jamaal Anderson. On the one hand, he is a developing player like Michael Jenkins, who had a dang good year when everyone was calling for his head the last couple of years. But he was drafted like #24 overall, Jamaal Anderson was drafted #8 overall and he is good against the run. Bringing back Chauncey Davis was huge. Creates immediate competition at the DE spot and I think Davis will win out. It seems he found a way to make plays when he was in the game last year.
Assuming Von Hutchins and Chevis Jackson can fill the CB & Nickel, I don’t think we are weak as many feel. Even though that is a BIG IF. Wanted to sign Foxworth, but he wasn’t worth the money Baltimore paid him.
Pat Kirwan just had us taking Tyson Jackson in his Mock 2.0, which I can’t for the life of me understand, unless that was before he know about Chauncey. Sean Jones seems like a great, young pickup (certainly as good or better than Milloy) and he’s just sitting there. I know TD knows what he’s doing, but it seems like free-agenst will just up and sign with a team out of the blue without even visiting. We need at least one more experienced player in the secondary b/c we’re looking at some serious youth which will have some serious growing pains.
FA: Sean Jones
1st: Clay Matthews(OLB), Peria Jerry(DT), or Aaron Maybin (OLB)
2nd: If no SS signed via FA, Rashad Johnson
3rd: Shawn Nelson (TE), Jared Cook (TE)
DT may not be as high on needs assuming Trey Lewis/Jamaal Anderson could be a viable option.
BLACK AND RED DAWG
March 3rd, 2009
11:04 pm
WORD ON THE STREET, SAYS THAT A HIGH SCHOOL FRIEND OF SEAN JONES SAID HE WOULD LOVE TO PLAY FOR HIS HOME TOWN TEAM. IF NOT LET’S GET BUTLER(GT) IN AND ANGELO CROWELL(PEOPLE CHECK HIS NUMBERS HE’S A BEAST AND HE IS THE LEADER THE DEFENSE NEEDS) HE’S A PURE UPGRADE! A REAL TACKLING MACHINE.P.S. K.FOX OF STEELERS IS SOLID ;ALSO A HIGH SCHOOL TEAM MATE OF SEAN JONES AND THE IDIOT PACMAN. WESTLAKE HIGH SCHOOL PRODUCES SOME GOOD PLAYERS.
dledbetter
March 3rd, 2009
11:29 pm
ROBDAWG08: Ledhead??? King Blogger!!! I’m coming in peace and love of football. No need to attack. Sorry for flailing back.
ON GRADY: Asked my homeboy A-Lo (Grady’s agent) if the Detroit deal was done. His text back, simply said “No.” Doesn’t really matter, The Falcons haven’t talk to him at all. Saw Big Grady at the Super Bowl and he told he hadn’t heard from the Falcons.
Big Ray
March 3rd, 2009
11:43 pm
I get so tired of people judging guys by where they are picked in the draft. Where somebody gets picked in the draft says a lot more about the person who picked them than the player themselves.
When was Tom Brady picked? Does that mean that everybody who picked before then was a total idiot? No. Case closed.
Jamal Anderson has been decent against the run. However, I like the re-signing or extending (whatever the case is) of Chauncey Davis. The guy performed well in the playing time that he got. I get the feeling that he was re-signed because of his energy and desire, as well as for “option” reasons. I know the guy wants to start, and maybe he will. But more importantly, he will push Anderson, who may make strides this year. That, and Davis provides us with a workable end if it is determined that Anderson should go to DT. Better to have options and depth than to be trying to fill yet another hole and not having much to fill it with.
Having said that, I figure Dimitroff has a solid plan for filling these other defensive holes. I’d like to see Sean Jones come here, as our backfield will need a decent veteran player to lead them. I laugh when people say Dimitroff has no plan to fill all these holes. Just because you don’t know what it is doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.
Wow, so some people think there are no decent cornerback prospects in the draft. I guess all the NFL experts, scouts, etc are all stupid for thinking so. As for having had DeAngelo Hall, yes he is quite talented. Which is why the Raiders let him go after we did. It wasn’t that he cost too much, it was that he cost too many games…