Report: Falcons went after DE Charles Johnson
Atlanta Falcons RB Jerious Norwood is upended by Carolina's Chris Gamble, left, and Charles Johnson. Rick Havner/Associated PresS
FLOWERY BRANCH — Defensive end Charles Johnson, a former University of Georgia standout from Hawkinsville, was pursued by the Falcons, according to the Charlotte Observer.
Johnson received a six-year, $72 million deal, with $32 million in guarantees and a $30 million signing bonus.
“Once the Panthers put that (offer) out, I guess everybody backed off,” Johnson told the Observer.
–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog
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52 comments Add your comment
Cnestor
July 27th, 2011
12:51 pm
DOL Would a michael turner trade for a big name DE be something the team would/has considered? They could resign Snelling for less than turners contract and practically a younger fresher turner.
robert
July 27th, 2011
12:54 pm
snelling is no turner
the murf
July 27th, 2011
12:57 pm
Haha, yeah thats funny
wind, rain, oil, FALCONS
July 27th, 2011
12:59 pm
Michael Turner is no Michael Turner, but he’s better that Snelling. Let’s hope Turner comes to camp in shape and ready to play hard every snap.
Fan
July 27th, 2011
1:09 pm
The Panther are the fool with no OL, one real RB, and NO WRs and you are signing this kind of money. I do not believe the Falcons did nothing for Charles Johnson in fact I feel sorry for him with that losing team and all of that money.. Good Luck Johnson with your 6-10 season and no wins aganist the Falcons again
Dr. Warren
July 27th, 2011
1:16 pm
Who’s next as a target, Orlando? Certainly the Falcons won’t get any farther than last year without adding some defensive talent.
c'mon man
July 27th, 2011
1:22 pm
Cnestor…. great point. I like the burner but his fuel will run out soon and very soon. Get while the getting is good if there is a market.
PMC
July 27th, 2011
1:24 pm
Why didn they just pay Peppers?
PMC
July 27th, 2011
1:25 pm
So yeah, the question is, are there any DE’s the Falcons can go get this year?
This may be trouble.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
July 27th, 2011
1:32 pm
Dr. Warren — Have a call and email into Ray Edwards agent. Looking up Mathias Kiwanuka’s contact info then we’ll just move down the list.
chickenman
July 27th, 2011
1:39 pm
so are we completely out of the db discussion?
rollo lawson
July 27th, 2011
1:42 pm
I would go after Antwan Odom from Cincy! The guy had like 8 sacks in 4 games before getting injured. Take a flyer on him. He’ll probably come cheap.
Falconairre
July 27th, 2011
1:44 pm
DOL what about a DE that gets cut like jenkins
Falconairre
July 27th, 2011
1:46 pm
Odom sounds good as well. Who else is available
FalconsFan284
July 27th, 2011
1:48 pm
Why not Cullen Jenkins from Green Bay? Here’s a kid that can provide a rush from the opposite end of Abe and is a quality end against the run.
Mike
July 27th, 2011
1:48 pm
The biggest need for the Falcons is to get a DE first to take down the QB after we get hands on him (look at the Saints and Packers) and to take the reigns with Abraham at the end of his career. We desperately need to get someone in there and try to find a diamond in the rough in the 2nd round next year to complement. A DB is also important, but QBs can pick apart any backfield if they don’t have pressure on them.
coachx
July 27th, 2011
1:50 pm
Release Anderson, Jenkins, and Davis…….that opens up about $7.5 mill in cap room. Use that cap relief to offer Ray Edwards $9 – $10 mill per year.
After signing Nichols and Edwards the Falcons would still be about $15 under the cap to keep Clabo and Grimes.
We would probably lose Snelling, Blalock, and Dahl as cap casualties to free agency.
So what it boils down to is:
Would you rather have Snelling, Blalock, and Dahl or Ray Edwards ?
coachx
July 27th, 2011
1:51 pm
Cullen Jenkins is 310 lbs. He is DT in a 4-3.
He only plays DE b/c he is on a 3-4 team.
Dan
July 27th, 2011
1:54 pm
If Texans sign Asomugha then I would just save my money till next year for Mario Williams who they are trying to move to LB who will be a Free Agent
Seen (The Aints) This (get obliterated) B4 (by the only sub-.500 playoff team in the history of pro football)
July 27th, 2011
2:01 pm
Looks like Charles Johnson is cool with getting paid to miss the playoffs for the next 6 years.
Falcon Fanatic
July 27th, 2011
2:24 pm
chichi, I would much rather have Babin, he is a stud
extremus
July 27th, 2011
2:32 pm
The Falcons may have gone after Charles Johnson, but the fact that he re-signed with the Panthers makes it non-news. Hopefully though the Falcons will be able to land another standout DE (along with a few more impact pieces) before all is said and done.
chichi008
July 27th, 2011
2:33 pm
I guess so Kiwanuka has been injury prone and Ray Edwards well he had alot of help in Minnie. Maybe the idea of Baban will grow on me. The eagles are reportedly interested also.
Rond
July 27th, 2011
2:46 pm
Ok falcons lets get going, sign someone.
John
July 27th, 2011
2:47 pm
A cheaper option could be Mark Anderson. He had a couple of good seasons with the Bears and is a great situational pass rusher.
Falcon Fanatic
July 27th, 2011
2:50 pm
Hello Falcons?????? Are you watching the Panthers???
John
July 27th, 2011
2:58 pm
I think we are seeing why there appears to be more parity in the NFL than other leagues. The Falcons, even though they are a desirable team for players to go to, will not be able to make a big free agent splash and sign their own guys that they need to. Teams are just not allowed to be loaded at every position. I thought they could maybe get a guy like Johnson or Edwards, but I think reality is sinking in for me.
Cheesehead
July 27th, 2011
3:37 pm
Cullen Jenkins gets hurt too much! Not worth the money!
falconfiend
July 27th, 2011
3:50 pm
If, snelling goes than we should get marion barber to replace him. If, blalock is not signed we should get max jean gilles to replace him. I like Matt Roth from cleveland. He is a tough nosed d. end that can make plays and i think we should look at jonathan joseph cb from cincy and jordan babineaux the seatlle. i like his game.
Go Away Saints
July 27th, 2011
3:56 pm
It’s great to know who we haven’t signed. Next…
DawginLex
July 27th, 2011
3:59 pm
Why would the Falcons want Charles Johnson?
He played for Georgia not the great cheating Ohio state University!!!!!!!!!!
Mike
July 27th, 2011
4:17 pm
BREAKING NEWS!!! According to ESPN.COM Falcons are looking at calling Patrick Kerney to play on 3rd downs only. For 5 million per season.
Mike
July 27th, 2011
4:17 pm
NOT!!!!!
Mike
July 27th, 2011
4:22 pm
Our problems are solved. The kid we picked up from Boise State played some DE. So we are good at the DE position now. LOL
Columbus
July 27th, 2011
4:28 pm
Falcon Fanatic: The panthers scare you? They NEED everybody they can get. If they lost their best players, wow they would be the new Lions of the last few years. Relax Fanatic. We have an unstoppable offense that immediately helps our defense. Think Green Bay last year but maybe better! Good luck to the opposing teams defense trying to stop us with top-flite receivers and tight ends to cover with linebackers! We WILL resign at least 2 of our OL and maybe some D if we can afford it. We have a tighter salary cap now but on the flipside with the rookie pay scale, we might have some extra dough to sign FA’s if resigning the Vets dont take it all. Just chill and enjoy the season and please do not panic about the D. Our offense now has them covered and will keep them off the field more, the opposing teams D ON the field more and come the 4th quarter, if the game is close, we will take it over with a STRONGER D and our offense will be going against a tired and frustrated D in most EVERY game. It is going to be a beautiful thing and many offensive records are going to be set and our D will give up less points because they will be on the field MUCH less during a game. It is going to be a FUN year. Can you not see the forest for trees brother?
D. Orlando Ledbetter
July 27th, 2011
4:29 pm
DawgLex — You are a smart man!!!
Don’t think Cullen Jenkins is a good fit. I have calls out to CAA on Kiwanuka and Octagon on Ray Edwards.
Heard the offensive linemen were up next.
One of the rookies’ agent had nothing to report and another was waiting to hear back from the Falcons.
Columbus
July 27th, 2011
4:32 pm
Do not forget the young guys on D we have that have been developed or were injured some over the last couple years that might be ready to step up. We havent been training/developing them for nothing. Some guys take longer to transition and injuries of course slows the learning curve.
steven A.
July 27th, 2011
5:07 pm
Cullen Jenkins is smaller than Reggie White. Didn’t Reggie play DE pretty good in the 4-3?
“Just sayin”
DawgFan
July 27th, 2011
5:31 pm
I heard Umenyiora of the Giants might be traded. Any interest by Falcons? Not sure who’d they’d part with to get him.
bgfalcon
July 27th, 2011
6:37 pm
we should get jason babin. he would be the best we could get at this point.
seattle falcons fan
July 27th, 2011
6:45 pm
I know it’s a long shot…. but where is Ray Edwards going? Philly?
seattle falcons fan
July 27th, 2011
6:52 pm
I’m not sold on Babin….. One hit wonder? Same size as Bierman
PMC
July 27th, 2011
7:18 pm
so yeah, what exactly are the Falcons waiting for?
BFALCON
July 27th, 2011
8:08 pm
I think we try to sign A.Odom or trade for O Umenyura or however you spell his name. I would also resign Clabo and Dahl.Let Blaylock walk.We need to cut Mike Jenkins, J.Anderson, Trey Lewis and C.Owens and create some more cap space. We still need a shutdown type CB.I would resign B.Grimes to play slot, he would be great.On defense, it is a must to have three good CB’s. I would go after A.Cromartie. We need a backup TE as well. I also like James Jones , the WR from Green Bay.The guy is a beast.
Ramon
July 27th, 2011
8:21 pm
Why has J Anderson been a Falcon for so long?
Observer
July 27th, 2011
8:21 pm
D-LED: If I missed another article or blog with a response to the Noel Devine miss, please enlighten me here. How did the Eagles swoop in and take him away? (Falcons are supposed to be faster than Eagles….geez!!)
Noel Divine
July 27th, 2011
8:47 pm
Sorry Atlanta Fans, Atlanta made me an offer but so did the Eagles. The offers were about the same, so it was a tough decision. In the end, they have a better QB and they won’t get beat senseless in the playoffs.
Bombay Nacho
July 27th, 2011
9:11 pm
FA needs: DE, OLB or MLB… really any defensive player, that after getting to the quarterback, also takes him down lol
Jason
July 28th, 2011
7:21 am
All the Panthers have done is spend vast amounts of money to keep the good players that were a part of their terrible team last year plus add an expensive kicker. I fail to see how that really makes them any better. If anything, it makes me wonder why they didn’t re-sign Julius Peppers the year before. Johnson is good, but Peppers is still better.
I for one am glad that the Falcons didn’t tie up too much money in Charles Johnson.
Flo=Ri-Duh
July 28th, 2011
8:50 am
I was hoping to see Charles Johnson with the Falcons since he actually has the speed and tackling ability to chase down Aaron Rogers and get him on the ground. Fact is though that 72 million is way to much to pay for ANY DE on the market today. Perhaps the Falcons should have passed on Julio, since WR wasn’t a priority. The priority was DE and OL. Green Bay kicked Atlanta’s butt on both lines – not because they didn’t have Julio (no hands) Jones.
falcons relax
July 28th, 2011
12:34 pm
@ Dan, thats not a bad idea. I would agree with waiting to throw all the money at mario williams next year if he doesn’t do well in the 3-4. EVery falcon is saying get this guy and that guy when TD could have something up his sleeve like always. The point is he tried to go get a DE in charles johnson but wasn’t paying no 72 mil and I agree. Its a numbers game. What do you guys think RAY EDWARDS WILL WANT??? Edwards is overrated and I wouldn’t pay him 72 mil either. Might as well pay that money to a guy whos better than all of them in Mario Williams. They can’t pay nnamdi and mario williams.
jran27
July 29th, 2011
1:26 am
panthers will be much improved in 2011