Erik Coleman thanks the fans for ‘3 great years’
New England running back Sammy Morris got loose on a third down and Erik Coleman saved a touchdown. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com
Falcons safety Erik Coleman, one of the classy players on the team, was released on Wednesday.
He was always pleasant to deal with. Even after he was demoted, he was available to the media and tried to help out the younger players.
After he was released, he tweeted a farewell to his Falcons fans.
“I’d like the thank the Atlanta Falcon organization and the fans for 3 great years! I appreciate all the love and support and I def(intely) won’t rule out returning one day. I’m looking forward to what the future will bring… God Bless,” Coleman wrote.
From that last line, it sounds like the Falcons wanted him to take a pay cut from the $3 million base salary he was set to make in 2011. By getting released, he can shop for a deal that would recoup the money. If he doesn’t find one, he appears to be laying the foundation for a return at a lower salary.
–D. Orlando Ledbetter
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61 comments Add your comment
beauski
February 9th, 2011
5:38 pm
Thanks for busting it for three years (never took a play off)!
@DanWeiner
February 9th, 2011
5:45 pm
Another example of the high character, strong work ethic guys the Dimitroff/Smith regime has brought in to this organization. Thank you Erik for your hard work and dedication to the franchise. Best of luck in whatever your future brings you.
Kevin C
February 9th, 2011
5:50 pm
Hope he does make it back to ATL. We could use a character guy like that in the locker room to keep helping with some of the younger guys. Seems to me like Owens would have been gone before him.
MaxxFalcon
February 9th, 2011
5:50 pm
Falcons Nation will Roll with Coleman any day, just not as a starter over Willie Moore
Kevin C
February 9th, 2011
5:52 pm
I agreee MaxxFalcon but don’t you think he could have done a better job at that nickel than owens did.
tt44
February 9th, 2011
5:53 pm
thats debateable…..lol…moore missed how many tackles in the last 3 games..
Tweets that mention Erik Coleman thanks the fans for ‘3 great years’ | Atlanta Falcons -- Topsy.com
February 9th, 2011
6:12 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by chris and T.Hendrix(FFB7), D. Orlando Ledbetter. D. Orlando Ledbetter said: Erik Coleman thanks the fans for ‘3 great years’ http://bit.ly/f7oD5z [...]
Great Falconi
February 9th, 2011
6:33 pm
Moore was basically a rookie last year. I feel fine with Moore and DeCoud as our safeties going forward. Coleman and Jamaal Anderson both cost too much to keep around as depth. The money saved by letting them go will help the team in other areas.
Falconsfan13
February 9th, 2011
6:38 pm
I had thought about trying him out as the nickel back. He’s a solid tackler, and with all the missed sacks when had guys running scott free right at the QB, I can’t imagine him doing worse than Chris Owens did. I think TD knows what he is doing. But on a different note, I’m hoping he doesn’t draft another CB, that’s beginning to blemish his record a little. What position do you guys think we take at 27??
snellvillejacket
February 9th, 2011
6:43 pm
Good luck to you in your future.
Larry
February 9th, 2011
6:45 pm
Coleman lacked the speed to keep his job. If toughness, commitment, dedication and teamwork was all that was needed he would be a star. But, in the NFL, the single most critical need for any skill position is speed, especially covering speedy NFL receivers.
He could not be effective as a corner or nickle back because of his lack of speed, but I do not know he could have possibly been worse than Owens was against Green Bay. Just another example of our defensive coaching failure.
rollo lawson
February 9th, 2011
6:53 pm
When are we releasing Brian Finneran? I hope soon. If he is back next year, we are not fully committed to winning. The time has come and gone for playing favorites.
Reid Adair
February 9th, 2011
6:53 pm
Erik Coleman is a class act. I wish him the best with his future in the NFL.
Steve Wyche
February 9th, 2011
7:03 pm
Erik Coleman is one of the classiest guys there is. Wouldn’t be shocked if he returns. If not, he’ll be D-Led’s Co-host on this blog and other Falcons’ programming.
barney strickland
February 9th, 2011
7:09 pm
If only all the players on the Falcon played clutch like Finneran!! My god, I can’t count the number of times ol’ Finn has climbed the ladder to catch a ball on his finger tips on 3rd and 15 to preserve a drive for our team. Good routes, knows our playbook…… You can’t teach clutch…Jeesh!!
Dennis
February 9th, 2011
7:12 pm
Thanks for all your effort and sweat. Though you may not fell like it right now, you **are** appreciated.
Dennis
February 9th, 2011
7:13 pm
Sheesh, FEEL…
GregKennesaw
February 9th, 2011
7:24 pm
Erik, you’re a class act, best of luck to you
GregKennesaw
February 9th, 2011
7:25 pm
The guy can tackle, he’ll play somewhere.
waynester
February 9th, 2011
7:56 pm
Not the fastest guy but a terrific tackler and even better teammate. The earlier poster nailed it when he said it’s all about “quicks”. DeCoud hasn’t shown me much except that he can showboat following mediocre play. Moore is working out great but even with Schillinger coming back we need a boost at Safety. Brian Finneran was instrumental in winning several close games this year not only as a reciever but on special teams, also. If a youngster can beat him out in camp, so be it–I just don’t think they can–certainly no one currently on the roster….
D. Orlando Ledbetter
February 9th, 2011
8:04 pm
You all are doing a good job tonight. Erik was one of the nicest players on the team.
cdog
February 9th, 2011
8:07 pm
erik, thanks for 3 wonderful years. hope something happens so you will be back.
fanATicaL
February 9th, 2011
8:10 pm
Great start Thomas D. to an offseason.On our way to an Superbowl.We need to subtract to and an upgrade
aizdaman
February 9th, 2011
8:48 pm
Brian Finneran has no business on the Atlanta Falcons roster, he is in the NFL fool he is supposed to make a catch on 3rd and 15. We need to sign veteran native Champ Bailey to play across Robinson cut Brian Williams and let Franks and Owens compete for the nickel spot in camp.
GregKennesaw
February 9th, 2011
9:00 pm
aizdaman, Finn is no fool
GregKennesaw
February 9th, 2011
9:04 pm
aizdaman, I agree about Bailey, except I would play Grimes at nickle
Bluestreak
February 9th, 2011
9:07 pm
Erik, thanks for being a class player both on and off the field, and always playing all out. I hope that you get to return one day, maybe even a return this year.
Chat
February 9th, 2011
9:42 pm
Best of luck to Erik. He deserves our thanks for what he has been on and off the field.
Nathan Darling
February 9th, 2011
10:02 pm
Thank you Erik hope the best of luck.
tell it like it is.
February 9th, 2011
10:02 pm
Sorry to see him go,but the one thing the Falcons need on this team is speed!
Lesa
February 9th, 2011
10:17 pm
Erik, I appreciated your hard work and tough play while you were with the Falcons. You were an asset to the team as a player and a teammate. I wish you the best of luck in the future.
Roger
February 9th, 2011
10:21 pm
Now, if Richt could recruit high character guys like Coleman to Athens, we would have something going. Thank Erik and I hope to have you back at $2.9 million!
Supa Steve
February 9th, 2011
10:32 pm
Coleman will have no problem landing a starting job…not only did he show during his first couple of years here that he’s at worst a very solid all around player in this league, but also the class he has shown from the time he was replaced by Moore through being cut now makes him a valuable commodity even in this deep free agent market. Best of luck to you Erik and thanks for your hard work!
Arthur Blank
February 9th, 2011
10:49 pm
THANKS FOR YOUR HARD WORK ERIC I APPRECIATE IT. YOUR EX- BOSS
Tami
February 9th, 2011
10:52 pm
Sorry to see Erik go, if he’s truly gone. Can we clone him? We need more classy guys in the NFL. Whatever happens next, I truly wish him the best.
Mave
February 9th, 2011
10:57 pm
Will miss Rollin’ w/ Coleman on the Website. Curious to see what magic team Drew will work for him.
Chattanooga Chuck
February 9th, 2011
11:40 pm
Thank you, Erik. I’m sure you’ll be a success wherever you go.
PaulieOldSchool
February 9th, 2011
11:55 pm
That’s a class act right there. I hope it works out that he can come back at a lesser rate, no offense, Erik, it’s just business, man, nothing personal. We need to be lopping off a few other pieces of even more dead wood, though, starting with a certain DE who hasn’t lived up to the hype.
ToccoaBird
February 10th, 2011
12:01 am
In the business that is the NFL there are hard decisions that have to be made. This is one of them. Eric is a great person that I think Smitty would love to have back on his team. Thanks Eric for being a great Falcon.
ActionBette
February 10th, 2011
2:18 am
Erik is a class act, a great human being, and a terrific player. Any team would be lucky to snap him up.
jwritz
February 10th, 2011
5:44 am
Erik good luck, and thanks for being a Bird man…
Barry
February 10th, 2011
8:24 am
Hey Y’all:
Coleman, “ONE HEARTBEAT, BABY!!!” “ONE HEARTBEAT!!”. Look forward to your returning to the pack in “ONE HEARTBEAT!!”.
GO FALCONS!!!!
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is a SECRET from a FALCON FAN!!! TELL EVERYBODY!!
…………………….”ONE HEARTBEAT,BABY!!”……………………
Mr Zizzle
February 10th, 2011
8:25 am
Go Cougars! Being a WSU alum, I’m sad to see the only Coug leave the Falcons. Good luck Mr. Coleman! Wish you all the best! Thanks for your effort!
Nookah
February 10th, 2011
8:54 am
Greetings Falcon fans!!!
Sorry to see you go Erik. You are a class act and I wish for you and your family all the best. In this business called the NFL you never know. We just might see you back come August/September.
Go Falcons!!!
joewhite
February 10th, 2011
9:16 am
We should have had him playing against the pack at ss and moved moore to corner since b williams was hurt, i would love to get erik back cause he can play different postions and is a leader
tjhook
February 10th, 2011
9:20 am
Enjoyed Eric Coleman’s play all three years here, especially as a free safety. Good luck Mr. Coleman
Stirg d'Nahsif
February 10th, 2011
9:22 am
Something tells Me this will turn out to be a big mistake. Its not often you find a player with the versatility to play multiple positions. I do believe that the Three-Headed Monster (Coleman, Moore and DeCoud) could have changed the outcome of a couple games, especially against the Packers pass-happy, run-surprise offense (coupled with the loss of Brian Williams). Coleman could have solidified our manifested Cover-Two backfield and allow Moore to roam free, like a Troy Polamalou (spell-check). I understand, though, our coaching is very conservative and depend on traditional methods of playing football. I wish You, Erik Coleman, good fortune. Do what is best for You and your family. See You in the playoffs, buddy. Enjoyed the years.
Stirg d'Nahsif
February 10th, 2011
9:23 am
What’s up, Nookah? Long time…
Ted Striker
February 10th, 2011
10:42 am
Hope he lands somewhere else soon. You’re right, D-Led — he’s a classy guy.
Quicherbichin
February 10th, 2011
11:00 am
Today must be ”opposite day” for some posters.. B-Finn DOES belong on the Falcons and aizdaman does NOT belong on the blog. Yes.. He has the right to his opinion.. He also has the right to be wrong if he likes, and apparently he is using that right.