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
Get instant updates on Twitter at AJCFalcons and you can join the Facebook Fan page at AJC Falcons.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
79 comments Add your comment
furst
February 8th, 2011
6:45 pm
first
Ted Striker
February 8th, 2011
6:47 pm
Hope both guys can catch on elsewhere if they’re cut.
Mave2124
February 8th, 2011
6:48 pm
FIRST…D-Led….you on vaca now or what….what is your schedule to tell any Falcon news or NFL stories, weekly only?as stuff goes down like this?…will you be at the combine?….I am going through NFL withdrawal and need to know Falcon news is coming on a regular basis…thanks for this heads up…
Tweets that mention Coleman switches agent, release is likely pending | Atlanta Falcons -- Topsy.com
February 8th, 2011
6:55 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by LaTonya Story, D. Orlando Ledbetter. D. Orlando Ledbetter said: #Falcons Erik Coleman switches agents (Hendrickson for Rosenhaus). Knows end is near. http://bit.ly/h5dOAx [...]
denverfalcon
February 8th, 2011
7:16 pm
D-Led, any word on a QB coach?
D. Orlando Ledbetter
February 8th, 2011
7:28 pm
Mave2124 — We’ll be blogging away here. Just needed to slow it down for a second in order to get ready for the Super Bowl and for my first time serving as a selector for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. That was a hoot. We’ll be ramping back up this week with Falcons info and swinging into combine coverage. Will post news at it develops.
denverfalcon — Should have something soon. Hire is important and staff is in no rush.
Tweets that mention Coleman switches agent, release is likely pending | Atlanta Falcons -- Topsy.com
February 8th, 2011
7:28 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by John Manasso, Lauren B. Lauren B said:
no more Rollin with Coleman?? worse than a lockout! haha RT @AJCFalcons: Coleman release is likely pending http://bit.ly/f3ss6D [...]
Unca' Bob
February 8th, 2011
7:30 pm
D-Led,
The NFL is first and foremost, a bussiness. Coleman has played well during hid stay. I wish him well and thanks for your service.
LJ
February 8th, 2011
7:41 pm
I guess the Falcons won’t be “Rollin’ with Coleman” much longer…
Peion Deion
February 8th, 2011
7:42 pm
Just think what we would have on D if the Jamal Anderson & Peria Jerry picks would have been hits, Jamal is out & Perry is not far behind, hes been here 2 years & has not produced, big misses by the Falcons, Moore & Grimes are the best DBs, overpayed for Robinson, Witherspoon will be a player when hes gets healthy, need to draft a pass rusher this year is loaded, Go Birds!!!
rm
February 8th, 2011
7:43 pm
denverfalcon- another bird in the mile high. If you live close to wymans (13th and vine) we have a little falcon crew there. Of course we have a little time til the next game…
Dilla
February 8th, 2011
7:50 pm
couldn’t agree more with #Peion Deion; should have cut Jamal long time ago. If some how we could get nnamdi asomugha, but i know its not the Falcons way to spend alot of money on free agents.
TheManMike
February 8th, 2011
8:29 pm
I am completely okay with cutting $6.588 Million to spend on new blood. I’m quit sure more cuts will be made to trim up a nice chunk of change….
dirtyo11
February 8th, 2011
8:39 pm
OK ENOUGH TALKING BOUT “PRIMETIME” Have yall noticed that we have won only 3 Championshipships in Ga since the 80s (bulldawgs, braves and GT{tied}). So we can’t be critizing players for leaving the great state of Ga to chase a champioship ring. I’m in the Army and I brag about Ga sports everytime someone talk about sports but they always get me with the ultimate question…HOW MANY CHAMPIOSHIPS HAVE THE STATE OF GA WON……OH DA ANSWER HURTS, so instead of critzing our players let’s stick behind them and try to win some championships in this great state. Fla and Texas fans get on my nerves but they right when they say they have winning programs in their state. Alabama have more championships in their state than we do and they only have college sports (dats a shame looking at the talent that comes from our state)
dirtyo11
February 8th, 2011
8:43 pm
Falcons need to trade their 1st rnd draft pick for a proven veteran LB or DE with less than 6yrs in the league. The reason why I say that is because we haven’t had the best success in the 1st rnd.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
February 8th, 2011
8:45 pm
TheManMike — These are the most obvious potential releases.
FalconRed
February 8th, 2011
9:15 pm
Man, I’m hopin’ we play Denver next year! We could all stay with rm and denverfalcon!!
FACTS
February 8th, 2011
10:14 pm
I don’t blame Coleman, Moore is younger not better, Dimitroff picks will haunt this team for years. He is a Belichik follower & they both got bounced in the first round, nuff said!
FACTS
February 8th, 2011
10:20 pm
Wake up Falcon fans, if you don’t win one playoff game when you get in, your season is a bust! Green Bay won every game on the road this year & Rex Ryan is 5-2 on the road in the playoffs Mike Smith is not in the same room! Holla
FACTS
February 8th, 2011
10:24 pm
This is not the “Peach State” this is the state of “Haters”
Arthur Blank
February 8th, 2011
10:56 pm
I WILL CHANGE THAT
Great Falconi
February 8th, 2011
11:33 pm
Coleman and Jamaal need to go. The money is too high for the roles they’d be playing on next year’s squad.
Moore will only get better. He hits hard and brings a physical nature and sheer athleticism to the secondary that we haven’t had in years. He goes well with Thomas DeCoud. Peria Jerry turns 27 next year, so it’s pretty certain that 2011 will be the make-or-break year of Jerry’s career. At that age, you’re either good, bad, or a journeyman. We’ll see what he ends up as.
mryan2
February 9th, 2011
12:04 am
If you’re an Atlanta/Georgia Sports fan and want to talk with other fans, check out our NEW message board.
http://www.atlsportsnation.com/forum
We have team forums for the Falcons, Bulldogs, Hawks, Braves, Yellow Jackets, Thrashers, etc. Please register and post! Be apart of a huge site in the early days of existence. See ya there! We’re looking for posters, moderators, bloggers/writers. Join up if interested.
Falcons Chic
February 9th, 2011
6:28 am
I understand drafting for position, and I will follow TD to the ends of the earth. But it is a tradition within my family to question to make your beliefs stronger.
Let me posit this: if you had CMatthews III still on the table –when you knew he not only had good numbers but good genetics who could play DE or linebacker — why would you not take him? Peterson is 34, and he’s the closest thing to Polamalu II as we are going to see for a couple of more drafts.
Jim
February 9th, 2011
7:29 am
It would be interesting to figure out how many players have left over the years ad ended up with SB rings with othe teams Deion,Farve,etc.Any more you can think of?
nes
February 9th, 2011
7:31 am
Don’t worry about Coleman finding another team and he will be starting too!! In my opinion he is a better safety than DeCoud is. Decoud is always around the ball but doesn’t get many break ups on passes and usually chasing the intermediate passes that go for big gains against the defense. Coleman is the more solid player and hits harder than Decoud. Coleman will land in either Seattle or Cleveland, maybe Cincinnati.
ATLol
February 9th, 2011
7:38 am
Anderson will be solid as a starting 3-4 DE for some team. I was hoping he could bulk up and be a DT for us.
Jerry has talent but fear his chronic injury issues will make him a waste. For that reason Ziggy Hood would have been better choice, his intial quickness is not as good as Jerry’s but he has a good maotor and makes plays as evidenced in the superbowl. Also 3-years younger.
Buckeye
February 9th, 2011
8:00 am
Anderson has been a bust taking up nothing but space and money.
kudzu
February 9th, 2011
8:24 am
Honestly. Has Anderson made 3 plays since he’s been here? DEFENSE…we need some players.. We need some play makers please…
Play-makers- Ryan, White, Abe, Weems, Grimes, Gonzo (but he’s past his prime), What else we got?
Anybody else got a list?
Richard
February 9th, 2011
8:46 am
Jim – EVERY team has some folks that leave to then go to the Super Bowl. That’s got nothing to do with nothing.
SmartMan
February 9th, 2011
8:59 am
Jamaal Anderson never fit our system, he is better suited as a 3/4 defensive end. And people still wonder why he wasn’t and isn’t explosive. Your not explosive as John Abraham if your at 290 pounds.
SmartMan
February 9th, 2011
9:01 am
@Falcons chick
Interesting fact-Clay Matthews only had 5 sacks in his college career. Hard to believe right?
Stephen
February 9th, 2011
9:23 am
I went back and looked at the 2007 draft and all of the DE’s taken in the draft have been busts with the exception of Woodley from Pitt, bet he is a 3-4 guy. I just wished we could have drafted a contributor. Darrelle Revis and Patrick Willis both went within 6 picks of ours.
UGA / Falcon Fanatic
February 9th, 2011
9:25 am
…D. Orlando…any news that the Falcons are looking to replace Norwood? He’s injury prone and we could us a “change of pace” back!
D man
February 9th, 2011
9:49 am
Enter your comments here
D man
February 9th, 2011
9:53 am
D Led – I heard we were getting $6m from MV this off season. Will we be able to use that this off season under the cap?
BirdDirty
February 9th, 2011
10:03 am
Use that money on a proven DE in free agency. Charles Johnson, DE, Carolina Panthers.
Use first three draft picks on WR, CB, and RB.
Redo of 2007 NFL Draft. Round #1-Patrick Willis, Round #2- Charles Johnson.
aizdaman
February 9th, 2011
10:20 am
Falcons that will get cut
Trey Lewis, Jamal Anderson, Erik Coleman and Will Stivek. We need to go grab Kyle Rudolph in the first, Leonard Hankerson in the second and Trey Lewis in the third. A sped back in the 4th and D line and linebacker the rest
aizdaman
February 9th, 2011
10:21 am
I meant Travis Lewis from Oklahoma to draft
Terrell
February 9th, 2011
10:38 am
Peion Deion
I agree with you about Anderson, but I don’t agree with you about Jerry. In his rookie year he did tear his ACL and everybody knows that unless your Wes Welker you don’t see the big improvement until 2 years removed from surgery, so this upcoming year will be more telling of what Jerry really is. It’s funny how people say we overpaid for Robinson. The only time the cameras were on him was when he got beat, but think about all the plays the camera was not on him. That was because there was solid coverage during those times and the QB could not throw to that side so they would pick on Grimes which was usually a big mistake.
HGN
February 9th, 2011
10:39 am
TD and Mike have done a great job since they got here> And I believe Blank will work to get the Falcons on top of the NFL world. Lets give TD and Mike a chance. Belichek and Brady have been together awhile. Lets give our guys the same amount of time and then judge.
Granted , we need a great draft this year and and a couple of good FA pickups ; and some Play Makers would be very nice.
ATL Fan
February 9th, 2011
10:58 am
D. Led,
What will the offensive line look like next year? Is the money from dropping Coleman and Anderson going to towards keeping Clabo and Dahl? What about Grimes? We need to keep the solid play-makers like Grimes. The right side of the O-line is a strength that we need to keep in place too.
I think we need another nickel (see GB playoff loss).
If P Jerry can be what he was drafted to be, then the interior D-line should be set. Another pass rushing end is a glaring need at this point.
That will leave needs at running back (speed back to replace the oft injured Norwood) and a number 2 WR or a second #1 WR.
tell it like it is
February 9th, 2011
11:04 am
The Falcons starting defence had so many holes in it ,it looks like it was shot with a 12 gauage shotgun.The falcons defence is so depleted with busts and age,and underachivers that it will be years before it can be fixed,and you know what that means,more of the same!The falcons will try to fix it through the draft,whitch never seems to work,and takes years to complete, when they could spend in FA,and fix it in one off season.
PFT: Simms apologizes for Howard incident | Sports News: US Hot News
February 9th, 2011
11:12 am
[...] Erik Coleman has jumped to Drew Rosenhaus as an agent in advance of his release from the [...]
JONESBORO SLIM
February 9th, 2011
12:14 pm
You’re right Terrell…. Robinson is a great corner the only time you saw him on camera was when he missed a player….besides the secondary is only as good as the D-line’s pass rush….look for Norwood to be given a shot of winning the RB position since his salary is so low…but I do see a drafted RB….WR….freeagent DE…”I’ll see you guys on the “HILL” this summer”
Mike Jay
February 9th, 2011
12:21 pm
SmartMan,
Did you know that Jamaal Anderson had Anderson recorded 17.5 quarterback sacks in his time at Arkansas, with those sacks going for minus 128 yards. He also recorded 130 tackles, with 84 solos. He had 32 stops for losses of 167 yards. He had 35 quarterback pressures, 8 pass deflections, 2 forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in 20 starts.
He was considered the best pass rushing DE by most experts coming out of that draft. Most 3-4 ends are strictly run stopping guys.
Mike Jay
February 9th, 2011
12:25 pm
Dled,
Does Matt ryan have any input on the next QB coach. Do star QB’s typically have any?
ASHCAN.
February 9th, 2011
12:37 pm
Matt ryan is not a star QB.
Terrell
February 9th, 2011
1:02 pm
ASHCAN.
We paying him $72M, that’s enough validation right there. If he struggles then so does the team. That usually happens when the Star player isn’t doing well.
Todd
February 9th, 2011
1:21 pm
I think they definatly NEED skill position players on the offense. Dominant defense’s just don’t exsist indoors, I would test Turner’s trade value if there is a labor agreement. Probably could get a third rounder, have to be pro-active. The Birds need 2 wr’s, 2 RB’s, and a TE. Titus Young, Torrey Smith, Mark Ingram, Pouncey should be looked at in the first.
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