Erik Coleman released, Coy Wire re-signed
In the wildcard game on Jan. 3, 2009, Falcons safety Eric Coleman levels Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, who had 6 catches for 101 yards and a score. Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com
FLOWERY BRANCH – The Falcons’ offseason evaluation is completed and safety Erik Coleman will not return next season.
Coleman was released and reserve linebacker Coy Wire was re-signed to a two-year contract on Wednesday.
Special teams maven Coy Wire.
We reported back on Jan. 27 that a couple of likely targets included safety Erik Coleman and possibly defensive end Jamaal Anderson.
Coleman has switched agents. He replaced Doug Hendrickson with Drew Rosenhaus. He’s hoping that Rosenhaus can find him a new team.
Coleman was set to make $3 million in base salary for 2011.
Coleman was a fifth round pick by the New York Jets out of Washington State in 2004. He signed a four-year contract with the Falcons on March 1, 2008 as part of general manager Thomas Dimitroff’s first free agent class.
He was the team’s second-leading tackler over 2008 and 2009 seasons. Last season, he suffered a knee injury and lost his starting job to second-year man William Moore.
Coleman finished the season as a special teams player.
Wire was originally drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the third round (97th overall) of the 2002 NFL Draft.
Wire was signed by the Falcons as a free agent prior to the 2008 season. In 2010, he appeared in 15 games serving as a captain on special teams and as a reserve linebacker. Wire contributed with eight special teams’ tackles and four tackles at linebacker.
–D. Orlando Ledbetter
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79 comments Add your comment
D man
February 9th, 2011
1:39 pm
Losing Coleman won’t hurt because he was replaced this year by Moore. We need help on DE and CB. Our offense did great this year and is fine without any help. They were ranked 5th overall in scoring and that is better than 27 other teams.
The reason we lost to GB in the playoffs is because our defense could not stop them. If the offense would have had the ball quicker, I believe we would have scored more in that game. We couldn’t get in a rhythm because we were sitting too long.
Sid
February 9th, 2011
1:45 pm
FACTS
February 8th, 2011
10:20 pm
“Green Bay won every game on the road this year”
****************************************************************
I hate it when you idiots make up your own facts and stats, if you were a real fan you would know they lost to Atlanta at the GA Dome, hell, they even lost to Detroit on the road.
Sid
February 9th, 2011
1:47 pm
I have seen Jammal make improvements, especially inside but no doubt he has played below expectations. Jerry just played essentially his first NFL season, have some patience.
D man
February 9th, 2011
1:48 pm
Everybody wants to see that “explosive offense”. You just don’t understand the huge advantage we have when we play control clock offense. It helps the defense because it takes a ton of time off of the clock, it puts points on the board, and it takes the opposing teams offenses out of their rhythm. That is how we beat so many teams this year with a weak defense. We took two high powered offenses Green Bay and New Orleans, out of their rhythm for two big wins by playing keep away offense.
If the coaching staff feels like we can stop them on defense next year, look for more explosive plays on offense.
Sid
February 9th, 2011
1:49 pm
Hines Ward was so obviously holding when the Falcons lost in overtime to Pittsburgh, perfect example of home field advantage. I say he is a cheater.
D man
February 9th, 2011
1:52 pm
Sid – Hines Ward is a darn good cheater…
D man
February 9th, 2011
1:55 pm
The better players always get away with holding down field. Take Roddy White for example…
Stevie B
February 9th, 2011
2:29 pm
D_LED-
Wanted to thank you for all your hard work in the 2010 Season. I look everyday to see what you are putting. Looking forward to the going through the 2011 Season with you. Thanks for all you do for us!
tjhook
February 9th, 2011
3:45 pm
Jamal Anderson would be a successful player in a 3/4 as would be Kroy Biermann. The Birds should at least try a player for player move.
TheManMike
February 9th, 2011
4:44 pm
Erik Coleman has been released and Coy Wire has been signed to a two-year contract…
http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcsouth/post/_/id/18396/falcons-make-roster-moves-2
…Where you at DLed…?
Samuel
February 9th, 2011
5:49 pm
No organization wants to pay a backup safety 3 million. Also Jamaal Anderson doesn’t consistently make plays. One man one chance. Thanks guys for being average at best.
bulldog bubba
February 9th, 2011
6:22 pm
Only 5 more months!!!!!!!!!
Mossy
February 9th, 2011
6:32 pm
Well it took them long enough to realize they made a mistake! Ando someone please tell me why these morons keep posting the word ” First” ? Seriously what in the same hell is that about? Come on guys grow up!
Ron Choke Mexico
February 9th, 2011
6:37 pm
Hate to Erik Coleman go, so who is going to take his place? I expected Coy to be cut this year. He’ll probably start somewhere, good for him.
TheManMike
February 9th, 2011
7:13 pm
Coy was re-signed – not cut. He has been a beast on ST….And Erik was already replaced with William Moore…so this was a “dollars and cents” move.
True Falcon Fan
February 9th, 2011
7:23 pm
Cory should be starting in LB rotation anyways – probably will when Petterson slows more!
ejj
February 9th, 2011
8:28 pm
Now first things first, I back the Dirty Birds, but I gotta call em like I see them. We have holes in our defense, and everybody knows it. Still not impressed with latest signings. Bout time we got rid of Anderson, need some better scouting. James and Wire are motivated, but too small to play in a starting role.
KevClo
February 10th, 2011
12:08 am
Coleman gone should be Owens he was the one who gave up all the big plays in the Packers game. Drop Norwood cant help the team on the bench. Get a pass rusher by free agent, WR in the draft, Running back in the draft, LB in the draft Peterson is getting old may have a year or to in the tank.
Tron5000
February 10th, 2011
12:55 am
Why do people have such a difficult time correctly spelling “definite” and “definitely”? What school did all of these folks attend where they were taught that it was “definate” and “definately”? From where did this phantom A come, and what happened to the I?
The Daily Dose: NFL News Wrap
February 10th, 2011
1:42 am
[...] Coleman released, Coy Wire re-signed (Atlanta Journal-Constitution) The Falcons’ offseason evaluation is completed and safety Erik Coleman will not return next [...]
Falcon57
February 10th, 2011
11:55 am
@True Falcon Fan. “Cory should be starting in LB rotation anyways – probably will when Petterson slows more!”
Nicholas, Weatherspoon & Lofton are all younger, better and faster than Wire. Cory is a very good backup and special teams player and I’m sure that’s the role they re-signed him to play.
Jim
February 10th, 2011
12:15 pm
Richard NO player has EVER left another team and come to the Falcons and has won a SB as of yet here. THAT was my point.And it is something.
Decatur Falcon
February 10th, 2011
1:32 pm
Well Falcon fans it had to be done, Erik Coleman will be miss. When all this CBA talk is over, and we can get back to basics of watching good old fooball again. The Falcons have a lot of holes on defense they have to address. The focus is, if you are going to run a 3-4 defense, your LB have to be fast around the edges, and are able to cover TE and slant routes. The front four needs a lot of help, we need another DE that is going to be about to help Abe get to the quarterback. Coy Wire is a journeyman, and he going to be a Special team guy. It would be crazy to let Jamal Anderson go, he could be a great DT. All we can do is cross our fingers and hope that Falcon improve on Defense, if not we going to win a lot of games, but we not going to go to the Super Bowl because of our sometime defensive play.
Falcon James
February 10th, 2011
1:57 pm
If I say it once, I say it 10 times. The falcon need to be more agressive on both side of the ball and especially on offence and defence. we need a new offence coordinator, we need all new reciever, we need a QB with a strong arm, we need go deep, we need to throw more screen. on defence, we need a whole new line, retire abe because he old and used up, cut anderson because we got the money he forgot how to play, cut robinson for the same reason, get a db who is hungry and get someone who know how to takle a QB when he blitsis. our only hope all season was bryant, but he can’t do everything.
FACTS
February 10th, 2011
2:07 pm
My MOMMIE did not love me.
FACTS
February 10th, 2011
2:07 pm
I have a low IQ and dont make that much money.
FACTS
February 10th, 2011
2:08 pm
I dont know much about football.
osama
February 10th, 2011
2:33 pm
sign either Shaun Rogers or Richard Seymour and Nnamdi Asomugha; build a more aggressive scheme
osama
February 10th, 2011
2:40 pm
implement more vertical route trees in WR patterns