NFL free agency: All gassed up, but no place to go
Curtis Lofton, the Falcons' leading tackler over the past four seasons, appears headed to free agency. (Curtis Compton, ccompton@ajc.com)Arthur Blank’s charter plane – affectionately called Falcons One -- is gassed up with jet fuel and ready to go.Under general manager Thomas Dimitroff, the Falcons have identified their free agent targets and hit them.In 2008, Falcons One swooped in and picked up Michael Turner, the top free agent running back on the market, and signed him.In 2010, the main target was Dunta Robinson and that was done rather quickly.Last season, after the lockout, they flirted with defensive end Charles Johnson before the bidding got out of hand. The Falcons then went after and signed Ray Edwards.However, barring a flurry of cuts and contract restructures, the team will not be a major player in free agency when the league’s new business year begins at 4 p.m. today.Falcons One might just be sitting on the runway, gassed up with no place to go.Although fans are clamoring for the Falcons to get involved in the Mario Williams sweepstakes, the team has just enough room under the $120.6 million salary cap for the 2012 rookie class and perhaps a minor tweak or two.The Falcons have been busy getting ready for the start of the NFL’s new business year, but likely will be shifting their focus to the NFL draft, which will be held April 26-28 in New York.Dunta Robinson, after a trip on Falcons One, signed with the Falcons on March 6, 20010. (D. Orlando Ledbetter, dledbetter@ajc.com )
Also, it appears that the Falcons will watch as some of their key players like defensive end John Abraham, middle linebacker Curtis Lofton, center Todd McClure and wide receiver Harry Douglas head to free agency.
The Falcons have already completed some key moves.
On Saturday, the Falcons agreed to terms with linebacker Lofa Tatupu, 29, a three-time Pro Bowler and one-time All-Pro, move that basically signaled Lofton is headed to the open market.
In addition to securing Tatupu, with a two-year deal, the Falcons re-negotiated cornerback Dunta Robinson’s contract, signed offensive guard Vince Manuwai and re-signed three veterans — defensive end Kroy Biermann, safety Thomas DeCoud and running back Jason Snelling — over the past week.
“They have a great quarterback and a running back,” said Manuwai, who sat out last season after playing eight seasons in Jacksonville. “As an [offensive] lineman, this is a good situation.”
Manuwai is set to compete for the starting right guard spot.
On Friday, the Falcons worked out Tatupu, who’s 6-foot, 250 pounds. The former Seattle linebacker did not play last season because of injury problems.
He will compete with second-year man Akeem Dent for the starting spot. The Falcons could use Dent in running situations and Tatupu on third downs.
The Falcons were ranked 29th in the NFL in third-down defense last season. Tatupu has 10 career interceptions.
Tatupu has a history of knee and concussion problems. He did not play in the league last season, reportedly because of his knee problems.
Robinson re-negotiated his contract with the team to provide them with $1.55 million in salary-cap space in 2012. On Jan. 25, Robinson’s cap-value number for 2012 was $7.55 million. He cap number is now $6 million.
Manuwai, 6-foot-2, 335 pounds, played left guard in 111 games and started in 105.
Manuwai was a solid run blocker, who helped to power the Jaguars’ run game for running backs Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew.
He suffered a torn tendon in his ankle during the lockout and wasn’t ready to play when it ended.
Last season, the Falcons mainly used Garrett Reynolds and Joe Hawley at right guard. Also, Mike Johnson, who missed most of last season with a foot injury, will compete for the spot.
Manuwai played under current Falcons offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter for four seasons from 2007-10 when Koetter served as the Jaguars’ offensive coordinator.
“It’s awesome because I know the offense already,” Manuwai said. “They just wanted to see me work out and make sure that I had no problems. They made the first offer, and that was it. I didn’t want to worry about looking somewhere else. To me, it wasn’t about the money.”
Prospective Free Agents
John Abraham, DE
Kirk Chambers, OL
Harry Douglas, WR
Kelvin Hayden, CB
Reggie Kelly, TE
Curtis Lofton, LB
Todd McClure,OL
Mike Peterson, LB
Chris Redman, QB
Brett Romberg, OL
James Sanders, S
Eric Weems, WR
Joe Zelenka, LS
Vance Walker, DT — restricted
Players Re-signed
Kroy Biermann, DE – 4 years, potentially $12 million.
Thomas DeCoud, FS – 5- years, potentially $21 million
Brent Grimes, CB – Franchise tag – 1 year, $10.281 million
Jason Snelling, RB – 3 years, $ 4 million.
Vance Walker, DT — $1.26 million
Antone Smith, RB – $540,000
Michael Palmer, TE – $540,000
New players
Manuwai, Vince, RG – Undisclosed
Tatupu, Lofa LB – 2 years.
Potential targets
Carl Nicks, guard, New Orleans — Our buddy Mike Tripplett of the New Orleans Times-Picayune has an update on Nicks.
Scott Wells, center, Green Bay — Here’s a story by Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel on Wells likely leaving the Packers.
Kendall Langford, defensive end, Miami
Nick Hardwick, center, San Diego –Re-signed with the Chargers.
Mark Anderson, defensive end, New England
–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog
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Sports Facts » NFL free agency: All gassed up, but no place to go – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog)
March 13th, 2012
5:08 am
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
marko
March 13th, 2012
5:14 am
Looking forward to new toys ,and instead we’re told Santa Clause committed suicide.
Real Talk
March 13th, 2012
5:15 am
Here we go again injury prone players.
Frederick(Bailey) Douglass
March 13th, 2012
5:27 am
The Falcons have got to sign Harry Douglas. Maybe he is fed up? Knows something about Matt Ryan’s ability that we don’t know?
Whatever the case…you lose him, you lose major “explosion”.
Also…in all honesty, how in the world do you plan to start an NFL season with a middle linebacker that was horrible in 2010 and did not play in 2011. Laughable.
Maybe Akeem Dent is the truth?
Big Ray
March 13th, 2012
5:45 am
D. Ledd,
What in the hell happened to all of those reports you gave us about having upwards of 20-something million in cap space, huh?
Wow, man. The Falcons let us down? It wasn’t the Falcons that kept telling us how much cap space they’d likely have. You and Pat Yasinkas must both be writing from the same “bad, cruel joke” book.
OH well, things could be worse. We could be the Saints.
Hamp
March 13th, 2012
5:56 am
I was thimking the same thing about cap space. Did u and pat sell us pipe dreams or are you trying to put us back on the ledge?
robertussen
March 13th, 2012
6:15 am
we can sign players now and free up cap space later. watch them re-work ryans contract and free up tons of space. there is no player in free agency we cant sign.
John in VA
March 13th, 2012
6:23 am
D.O.L.,
Did you have nothing better to report? We keep getting updates we already know…the same list of “our” free agents…who we signed….then the same quotes we’ve seen multiple times. How about an “update”. I think you underestimate the Falcons. If there are 2 better than TD and McKay in regards to salaries and working the cap, I’d like to know who they are. Now I’m not saying they will get Mario Williams, but it shouldn’t be considered a “door shut” case. Also, you put a potential target of Carl Nicks. You think Atlanta can’t sign Williams but CAN sign Nicks. There won’t be a big difference in contracts being as Nicks wants to be the highest paid OL in the NFL…and rightfully so.
marko
March 13th, 2012
6:26 am
The Texans defense improved from sorta OK to basically awesome in a single season. the most significant signing was an old fat man named Wade Phillips. Let’s put away our razors, guns, step back from the ledge, and see what Mr. Nolan can do with this sorry mess . If you keep getting your butt kicked playing checkers, the problem might not be that you need new checkers.
nfl free agency « « The Latest Fuzz The Latest Fuzz
March 13th, 2012
6:26 am
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
Paddy
March 13th, 2012
6:27 am
Nicks and langford would be welcome additions.
DC Dirty Bird
March 13th, 2012
6:28 am
Let me get this straight. You say that we’re not going to be big players in FA, but you have Carl “I want to be the highest paid OG in the league” Nicks on the list of FA targets?
DLed, is it possible for the Falcons to rescind the franchise tag from Grimes since he has not signed his tender? If so, would it be probable that the Falcons could rescind the tag after signing Williams, then change the draft priorities to CB then TE?
Marcus
March 13th, 2012
6:43 am
This will be interesting …. just enough cash for incoming draft class, losing a lot of veterans, minus 1st and 4th round picks, and may be a bargain shopper in FA.
GDawg
March 13th, 2012
7:06 am
I don’t care who we do or don’t get just make sure we win next year.
GDawg
March 13th, 2012
7:08 am
And not just in the regular season a post season game or two as well. Maybe just surprise us all and go to the big dance.
NFL free agency: All gassed up, but no place to go | football-feed.com
March 13th, 2012
7:11 am
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GDawg
March 13th, 2012
7:24 am
The more I think about the more this team makes me sick. First no first round pick, then we can’t even keep our own key free agents and we can’t sign any to make a difference unless they were out of the league hurt last year. Wonder why we didn’t go after Randy Moss. Raise your glasses, heres to another mediocre year next year.
Samuel
March 13th, 2012
7:40 am
How about getting Matt Ryan to restruture his contract so we can get a Carl Nicks or Mario Williams. He’s kind of flopped in the last three playoff games.
GDawg
March 13th, 2012
7:42 am
Just read the Saints are close to a deal with Nicks and Colston, how is that possible when they were tighter on the cap than we were?
D. Orlando Ledbetter
March 13th, 2012
7:43 am
Big Ray – They signed five players and slapped the franchise tag on Grimes ($10.281 mill). Money gone!
D. Orlando Ledbetter
March 13th, 2012
7:45 am
John in VA – Just need to establish a baseline for today. Said authorities have hunkered down. Told us they’ll be back up by today or Wednesday for updates. Stay tuned.
Chattanooga Chuck
March 13th, 2012
7:47 am
Could Kamerion Wimbley be a possibility for The Falcons?
D. Orlando Ledbetter
March 13th, 2012
7:48 am
Bird — Not ruling anyting out, but the vibe we are getting from the Branch is to pull off the Super Mario to the ATL deal. Smokescreen or truth? We believe truth. See Schultz’s most recent post.
Chop Buster
March 13th, 2012
7:53 am
DLed, do you have insider knowledge to know what the Falcon’s FA plans are? Have you been working behind the scenes with TD to know exactly who they will release, pursue, sign? Just curious.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
March 13th, 2012
7:54 am
Samuel — TD recently said on 790 TheZone: ” Matt is the quarterback of our future and our franchise quarterback. He’s is of the utmost importance to this team. When we feel (it’s) appropriate we will move forward on our negotiations with him. We’re not in the process of doing that at this point.” I understand that to mean they are not working on a re-negotiation.
Wabe
March 13th, 2012
7:55 am
Those 5 players were at the time considered to be ‘bargain’ type deals.
Wonder how the Falcons PR guys are gonna spin this one…
Fans see Abe, Lofton, HD, etc. all walking. We don’t have a 1st rounder. And thought to be big players in FA, the Falcons will bring in a couple of more minor low-risk/high-reward type signings to try to fill the void of impact players moving on.
Should be an interesting day. Hope TD and this FO know what they’re doing.
Wabe
March 13th, 2012
7:59 am
I’m wondering why Pat Y. hasn’t written up an article about the Falcons cap situation considering he was probably one of the biggest promoters of this idea that the Falcons will sign one and probably two big time FA’s…
falCANS
March 13th, 2012
7:59 am
resign peterson and HD and lets go win a superbowl. Remember guys it was the scheme not the talent from last year
GDawg
March 13th, 2012
8:02 am
DOL so you are saying there is NO chance what so ever for us to sign a key FA?
Wabe
March 13th, 2012
8:04 am
It was the scheme, and not the talent…
Problem is, you’re not even bringing back the talent you had.
You’re losing the teams best pass rusher and stud MLB.
The teams slot receiver.
And potentially the veteran center.
Wabe
March 13th, 2012
8:05 am
And Nicks is reportedely tweeting that his agent has told him the Saints made an offer and that it’s respectable.
Chop Buster
March 13th, 2012
8:09 am
That $10m isn’t gone until Grimes signs. They still could remove the tag and go aftera real difference maker. I believe they will be working on at least one big signing. They won’t miss an opportunity to get the fans hyped (marketing).
GDawg
March 13th, 2012
8:09 am
I feel you Wabe, it looks like we can sign all these injury prone players but we can’t keep our own guys in house.
SINCE66
March 13th, 2012
8:10 am
As we’ve said before, you can’t have a whole team made up of super stars. Just good solid football
players can do the job.
JONESBORO SLIM
March 13th, 2012
8:13 am
It wouldn’t surprise me to see the Falcons “GET” Marcus Anderson DE New England he looks like just what hte Falcons need….and he can come cheap….and for you dreamers wanting Mario Williams “FORGET IT”…his GPS unit doesn’t focus on I-985….
Me Too
March 13th, 2012
8:14 am
If I see Michael Turner line up in the backfield in first game, I finished with the Falcons. It has been tried for four years and hasn’t worked for a playoff game.
Chop Buster
March 13th, 2012
8:20 am
Me Too, I know how you feel. LoL
Kramer
March 13th, 2012
8:26 am
DOL, what do you think of the possibility of Smith and TD going after Mincey in Jax? DE coming off a decent year and young. Of course, the Jax connection will not hurt.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
March 13th, 2012
8:28 am
GDawg – Not looking good for a “major” free agent.
Ralph
March 13th, 2012
8:29 am
They spend all the money on reserve players. The Falcons need a difference maker. The Falcons want change without one. Brent Grimes is a good player but his impact is min. Falcons signings have to be question. Pass rush is going to be terrible with know no upgrade on the defensive line. Ray Edwards is stealing money. Not a fan of Decoud.
jerry
March 13th, 2012
8:30 am
Without Abe, Lofton, and Douglas, this is an 8-8 team at best. After four years of the Dimitroff era there is not a single All Pro player on the team. Does Dimitroff not understand that pass rushers make cornerbacks and quarterbacks make wide receivers, rather than vice versa?
falcon 8211
March 13th, 2012
8:31 am
I see where da bears are getting Mario Williams. Guess we r fooled again. Part of the PROCESS!LOL
D. Orlando Ledbetter
March 13th, 2012
8:32 am
Chop Buster – Was out at the Branch all weekend. While they did not reveal there plans, we came away certain that they don’t have Mario Williams money unless his demands come down to the bargain basement.
Nativebird
March 13th, 2012
8:32 am
If this is true, the Dimitroff and Smith era will be over by 2013 after the Falcons make 1 of the 2 next playoff runs and bounce again early. Blank and this front office team TALK a big game, but arent committed to the truly big dance….a superbowl. Oline and Pass rush must be fixed….or it’s all just another wild card finish. NOTE THIS right now….if what you say is true this offseason; Matt Ryan WILL be playing for another team in 2013, his choice. I know I would.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
March 13th, 2012
8:39 am
Ralph – It’s clear that they are counting on new DC Mike Nolan having a MAJOR impact with the peices they are retaining and have already amassed. Corey Peters, Sean Weatherspoon and William Moore will have to be counted on to be major impact guys. (I’d like to see them cut Sidbury loose!) After everyone calms down, they might be in a better place. It looks like they’ve asked Nolan to fix the dinner with the groceries that were already on the shelf.
Chattanooga Chuck
March 13th, 2012
8:44 am
Is there still any hope for Peria Jerry to provide an inside rush? Is he in our future?
Bob
March 13th, 2012
8:46 am
Lofton, goes so do I. Is he that bad really, well I can sit out a year in protest myself. I do have a Harley, that always need to be worked out to keep it in shape.
Ralph
March 13th, 2012
8:47 am
Falcons looking for bargain players and over paying reserve guys. Decoud and Ray Edwards are terrible signings. Ray Edwards knee issues and bad play is going to come back and hunt TD and the Falcons. I hate to be negative but are the Falcons trying to get to the Super bowl with the same pieces on defense?
JesusHChristo
March 13th, 2012
8:49 am
The problem here is DOL and others were acting as “Shock-Jocks” to keep people reading during the offseason – Building speculation of all these Pie in the Sky pickups – Then reality set in.
Franchising Grimes is going to prove to be a BAD idea. I AM CALLING IT NOW – GRIMES WILL NOT BE PLAYING IN ALL 16 GAMES THIS SEASON.
I pray he does not sign and we drop him – his injury last season concerns the shyte out of me. Mark my words – HE. WILL. NEVER. BE. THE. SAME.
chc4
March 13th, 2012
8:52 am
Without a pass rusher we are in for a big fall next season. Could be the beginning of the end for Coach Smith.
1998
March 13th, 2012
8:53 am
Are you kidding me….??? Another embarrassing flop, I mean complete and utter collapse in the playoffs, and we are not going to go after the key pieces we need to get better…?!? I find it hard to believe that Arthur is going to sit back and watch his team do nothing in free agency but sign 2 injury riddled players who didn’t even play last year…? Unbelievable. Then again, this is what this team has done my entire life in this city: show flashes of potential and tease you, then embarrassingly collapse on the big stage.
AlanFalcon
March 13th, 2012
8:53 am
Relax boys, by 4pm you will know who we kept and whom we let test the free market, think about it, do you really want a $12million DE, on a snap count for the season, do you want a MLB who makes tackles 5 to 10 yards down field and does not have ability to cover passes over the middle, do you really want a WR that has yet to regain his speed for the slot, com’on guys wake up and let the brain truss do their job, 4 consecutive seasons lead to future sucess and a Super Bowl.
JesusHChristo
March 13th, 2012
8:54 am
From Mr. PatY:
” I have a tough time seeing the Falcons sit totally still when it has been made so clear by owner Arthur Blank that they have to win big next season. “
Mikey
March 13th, 2012
8:59 am
Anxious to see what is done for defensive end. No doubt that Abe provided a big force on the D-Line last year. Even if the injury-prone subs work out at other need positions, we still have a void at DE. The draft looks a little weak at that position by pick #55 (but might be possible) so that will be the next challenge for our Falcons. I’m anxious to see what they do. Balancing the salary cap is a critical skill and I still feel that we have the best in the business managing this for our Falcons.
It is nice to see that our Falcons are contenders and it makes these moves very interesting to watch. I’m more enthused this year than ever before. However, I agree wholeheartedly with marco’s great comment above that we don’t necessarily need new checkers just because we lost a few checker games to the super bowl winners. I look forward to seeing better orchestration of our emmense talent.
Wabe
March 13th, 2012
8:59 am
I have confidence in Mike Nolan. I’m just having a hard to grasping the logic behind this…
Going into 2011, we made moves thinking we were ‘one peice away’.
That turned out to be false.
Coming into 2012, it’s evident we have multiple needs. But, the problem essentially becomes compounded when you lose your best DE + MLB + a very capable slot receiver to FA. So now, ‘one player away’ turns into ‘multiple needs + talent downgrade’.
I’m willing to wait and see what this front office has in store for us. I’m hopeful they know what they’re doing. But, I’m just struggling to understand how an upgrade in coordinators (and I’ll give Dirk Koetter the benefit of the doubt for the sake of argument) with a reduction in talent equates to rings…
No 1st rounder.
Lose Abe, Douglas, and Lofton.
Replace them with bargain purchase signings and hope Mike Nolan can turn rags to riches?
Hope these guys know what they’re doing.
It’s true you won’t win/lose playoff games in the offseason, but you can win/lose fan interest. And after the last two playoff debacles, I’m pretty sure the businessman behind this operation, Arthur Blank, knows that.
We’ll see. Many of our concerns should be answered in the coming hours and days to come.
jay
March 13th, 2012
9:04 am
There is no way they are counting on the draft, Tatupu and Manwhoever to improve our team while letting Abe and Lofton go.
DC Dirty Bird
March 13th, 2012
9:06 am
Any truth to the rumor that Abraham was at Flowery Branch yesterday, possible for negotiations? Someone said they saw a tweet that said he was there.
Treeofwoe
March 13th, 2012
9:08 am
LAWL you and Schultz (said just like in Hogan’s Heroes) crack me up. Money can be made pretty quickly if need be to get who we want whether it’s Mario or no.
Current (supposedly reported cap) = 5.8 mill
Pull from 2013 = 1.5 mill
Cut Baker = 2.6
Cut Ovie = 3
Sign Grimes long term for (7.5/yr for 4 yr or so) or rescind tag = 2.5 to 10.281 mill
Money rolled back to clubs from Dallas / Redskins = 1.6 mill
Voila new cap money to play with = 17 to 24.5 million in a hot hurry
Really….Dunta restructured his contract so we could sign no one else HAHAHAHA…ok….
JesusHChristo
March 13th, 2012
9:09 am
Look – Fact is, losing HD is not as big a concern as the others. Our offense does not take THAT big a step back losing him – we have some really good receivers on this team. Cone, Meier etc. It’s not like HD was holding it all together or anything…
WTF
March 13th, 2012
9:10 am
The falcons are so stupid way are they so scared to bring in talent this is the problem with all atl teams they are scared of talent you let Abraham go he was our only pass rusher and dont go get mario williams you let hd go and you dont have a get replacement well i hope TD and MS belive some players they drafted are ready to step up if not td and MS your out the door. ATL teams stop runing from talented players p****
JesusHChristo
March 13th, 2012
9:11 am
I agree with Treeofwoe – Money can he opened up pretty quick. I repeat fans: DOL is doing his job by keeping up readers on our toes and coming back to read his stuff.
He started off acting like we were going to be big spenders – now he is acting all doom and gloom. Why are you all acting so surprised? This is a blog, btw. A blog is more for opinion than anything else…
Treeofwoe
March 13th, 2012
9:15 am
Exactly JesusH – the article above flies directly in the face of the edict Mr. Blank made at the end of the year press conference. Status quo changes weren’t just expected in coaching. They were also expected in personnel. Does no one remember Arthur’s face at the end of the season?! Moves will be made and not just in the draft…belieee dat!
Kramer
March 13th, 2012
9:17 am
Anyone on here, including DOL, think they might go after Mincey in Jax? Might be able to get him at a good price and he is cooming off a productive year.
Treeofwoe
March 13th, 2012
9:28 am
It’s possible Kramer. They might opt for a LT and a more reasonable DT / DE rather than throw all their money at Mario. 2 for 1 it. We’ll see. Either way I’m excited to see what’s coming down the road today.
GDawg
March 13th, 2012
9:31 am
Kramer I see them going after Anderson in NE before Mincey.
Chubbyboy
March 13th, 2012
9:32 am
D-LED: The drafy is in April not March…just a minor correction…
JesusHChristo
March 13th, 2012
9:33 am
That’s right. Mario Williams is not the ONLY DE out there. Just because we don’t go after “the best” doesn’t mean we’re sitting idle.
Besides – EVERYTHING YOU HAVE HEARD IS PURE SPECULATION. Teams CANNOT talk to players, it’s collusion – So reporters can ONLY speculate. We fans can’t live off every word – we have to use our own brains sometimes, as hard as that may be for some of you. Just like when you watch that KONY2012 video….You have to read between the lines to see what is REALLY going on…
I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS!!
March 13th, 2012
9:34 am
WTF!!!
CONservative Johnson
March 13th, 2012
9:37 am
Why not tell Grimes and his agent to go out and find a deal/trade? We’ve seen what we can do with decent CB play. We need pass rush more . . .
Chop Buster
March 13th, 2012
9:40 am
JesusH – You are exactly right. Sometimes us fans forget we’re dealing with speculation from the media and they know as much as we do about what a team will do.
Kramer
March 13th, 2012
9:40 am
GDawg, is Anderson more affordable with more upside then Mincey?
nobody
March 13th, 2012
9:43 am
I think we can all agree this was a huge fail by the AJC reporters. Every single article leading up to last week said the Falcons would have 30 million in the cap and then after Grimes was tagged it went to 20 and we’ve only made a few signings since then….WTF happened? AJC doing an awful job at keeping the fans informed.
Kramer
March 13th, 2012
9:43 am
Treeofwoe, I am looking forward to 4:00 as well. Should be interesting. I can not see us sitting on our hands if we intend to let Lofton go. Then again, you just never know with the crazy economics of the NFL.
Rafael
March 13th, 2012
9:45 am
This is great… now LIBERTY CHEAPIA also owns the Falcons.
It’s not enough that the BRAVES ownership operates on a “dime” budget (that’s right, one thin dime – one tenth of a dollar).
THANK YOU for taking all the wind out my sails.
Instead of the Falcons signing an impact game-changing free agent to IMPROVE our EARLY-EXIT playoff team, they try to sell us on the fact that oft-injured Lofa Tatupu and Vince Manuwai will lead us to the promised land.
I did not see ANY other NFL teams rushing to sign Tatupu or Manuwai. No, other NLF teams that WANT to win are chasing Mario Williams and Carl Nicks.
Arthur, don’t you think that Williams and Nicks are a TRUE way to IMPROVE this team?????!!!!! We’ve needed a pass rush since the Wright Bros. flew their plane at Kitty Hawk. How much more beatings can Matt Ryan take with our horrible offensive line????!!!!! Think about it.
Thomas… you think you can improve through the draft with NO 1st Round pick???!!!! All the Falcons with get in the draft is BACKUPS and DEPTH.
This is the SAME team as last year minus Lofton and Michael Turner going downhill each year.
Oh ok, you’re right… Lofa Tatupu and Vince Manuwai make us Super Bowl contenders.
Arthur Blank must be on Liberty CHEAPIA’s Board of Directors. Now our Falcons are run like the Braves…. CHEAP, CHEAP, CHEAP. The results will prove out… another depressing end to a mediocre season.
Some team will step up and sign Mario Williams and Carl Nicks. Our Falcons sign players from the MASH unit because they are (and I quote Frank Wren) “AFFORDABLE.”
Another NO Super Bowl wasted year for our Falcons.
Dan
March 13th, 2012
9:52 am
Rams release 28yr 320pds center Jason Brown. I will take him!
Get me McNeill when he is released and our OL will be set.
Report had Tavon Williams in for a workout 2 days ago? Why would they be looking at another DB unless maybe they are thinking abour recinding the tag for Grimes and going after Mario
Falcons will have to make some cuts to get rid of some dead weight and contracts with the guys in their 30’s like and guys that havent produce even if we drafted them high like Peria, Baker, Mclure
GDawg
March 13th, 2012
9:55 am
@ Kramer, Anderson and Mincey are the same age Anderson has better sack numbers overall I can see him with a better upside. And we have enough players from Jax
MR. ATL
March 13th, 2012
9:55 am
Only Free Agent I can understand walking is Abe. As much love as I have for Abe, he’s just getting older. We could have possibly signed him to a one-year deal but it all depends on what he wants.
The money we threw at DeCoud was absurd. No way is he worth what we gave him. I don’t care who’s scheme it’s in.
Only crisis I see are losing Lofton and Douglas. If you think neither of these are impact players, then you haven’t been watching the games. Who saved us when Julio was hurt (Douglas). Who was top 5 in almost all LB categories last year Lofton. And we sign a 30 year old package marked FRAGILE!!!!
I’m not convinced.
Pete E. Tong
March 13th, 2012
9:58 am
Why is everyone giving DOL crap about previous articles with regards to how much we money had?
When you rely on a source that cannot think for himself (DOL) you get whatever tidbits he can copy and paste. Garbage in, garbage out. Blame yourselves, not DOL – he’s found his niche (a payday that doesn’t require any real thinking), good for him.
Kramer
March 13th, 2012
10:00 am
GDawg, I agree with the enough Jax players already. Question is, does Sith and TD?
Kramer
March 13th, 2012
10:03 am
Damn Pete, that was pretty harsh! I wonder how many team beat writers are going through the same agony this morning with their information they have compiled from “reliable sources”? I know if I was a GM or front office person I would not be showing my hand before 4:00 pm to any journalist. DOL is in that damned if he does and damned if he don’t situation.
RUDEDAWG
March 13th, 2012
10:14 am
I don’t get it! Im still at a loss for resigning of Decoud and Beirman. And you still haven’t cut Baker,but won’t resign Douglass or Lofton.Tagged Grimes! Please let the shrimp go. Take that 10 mill and get some real football players. And if the falcons dont think Ryan’s contract does’t need reworked your crazy.Blank said he wanted some players with some B@@ls! I dont see them yet,and the money is gone! I’m sick of the teasing!
Sedgrid
March 13th, 2012
10:14 am
D-Led can not write an article show Mario the money and come back and say that Falcon officials state that there is no money. He deserves the heat he is taking. Although he has the right to express his opinion on who the falcons should sign, the job of the beat writter is to reflect the pulse of the team. Fans should have been warned after the Grimes Franchise Tag that the team is broke.
Ultimately Blank is responsible, You dont have a press conference and ask for major changes if you don’t have the money to sign free agents.
Curlygreg
March 13th, 2012
10:16 am
You are going to lose Harry Douglas for sure. Someone will pay #2 money for him, and as our #3, we can’t afford him. Ovie is a year away from being back at full speed, and he is too expensive, so he is gone. Abe isn’t going to be able to play enough snaps to justify his $, so he is gone. Add in a couple of restructured contracts and there is enough money to plug in solid new pieces. The sky is not falling. Every team goes through this.
Kramer
March 13th, 2012
10:19 am
Curlygreg, great post. There are some people who just like the turmoil and like to bitch. Just the way of the world.
Pete E. Tong
March 13th, 2012
10:20 am
We tentatively resigned Harry Douglas last night, Curlygreg. Get with the program.
Kramer
March 13th, 2012
10:22 am
Pete, what does tentatively mean? NFL Network still shows him as the number 4 available F/A WR.
Greg Mendel
March 13th, 2012
10:28 am
All I expect is an actual pass rush and more protection for Ryan. FAs, draft picks, trades, new schemes — I don’t care how they make it happen. Big Names didn’t work for the Eagles last year.
PMC
March 13th, 2012
10:28 am
If Lofton goes to Tampa he’ll have at least 2 amazing games a year and they will both be against Atlanta.
He will Chris Draft this team and Lofa’s knees will fall apart about game 2 of the preseason…. and TD will go on about how he doesn’t regret making this move.
Pete E. Tong
March 13th, 2012
10:30 am
Pete, what does tentatively mean?
Verbal agreement, pending a physical contract and signature. Fox 5 broke the story and said he will sign a new contract today.
Source: http://boards.atlantafalcons.com/topic/3943852-harry-douglas-to-stay-a-falcon/
D. Orlando Ledbetter
March 13th, 2012
10:31 am
Sedgrid – Situations are fluid in the NFL. Championship teams aren’t built through free agency.
Kramer
March 13th, 2012
10:32 am
Channel 5 trumped the NFL network. Go figure.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
March 13th, 2012
10:32 am
Kramer — Yesterday Schultz was talking the heat. Today is my day. Like the Braves, we have deep rotation.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
March 13th, 2012
10:33 am
Pete E. Tong — I think I should thank you for those remarks. . . . . Back to thinking position!
Kramer
March 13th, 2012
10:34 am
You best have thick skin to DOL. I don’t envy your situation. Sort of like being a politician, one day you are a public favorite and the next you are scum. Except you don’t make a habit of lying to us. Keep up the good work.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
March 13th, 2012
10:34 am
nobody — Situations change. They are called updates.
SawThat1nce
March 13th, 2012
10:36 am
If the Falcons do not strengthen their OLine, they have failed, in the off-season.
They desparately need to improve their pass rush also.
Pete E. Tong
March 13th, 2012
10:36 am
Someone’s gotta give you heck, DOL. You we love you; someone’s just gotta take the flack for the displeasure over the salary cap issues. That person, unfortunately, appears to be you.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
March 13th, 2012
10:38 am
Just heard from Douglas’ agent. Reports that Douglas has agreed to a deal with the Falcons are “not true.”
Kobie
March 13th, 2012
10:41 am
I am like everyone DLed, if the Falcons are not going to be major players in free agency why put a list of potential targets up? No need in raising fans hopes and then dashing them. Just say from the jump no money, I was surprised that you wrote about the different scenarios to begin with and was wondering how the Falcons would pull it off anyway.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
March 13th, 2012
10:41 am
Peter E. Tong — I’m fine with that. Yesterday, it was Schultz. Tomorrow, it’s Bradley’s turn.
tn
March 13th, 2012
10:43 am
Dumb dumb, sign two guys that didn’t even play last season. How is that making this team better. No draft picks worth a crap this year. Starting to wonder if this teams is heading in right direction or the wrong direction. I believe the wrong direction. This team will not make the playoffs the way there built now. Too many dumb moves on Thomas Dimitroff’s part. He hasn’t drafted very well over the last few years and its really hurt. Like I said, this team is headed in the wrong direction.
Kramer
March 13th, 2012
10:46 am
Damn you Pete! You get us up then you bring us down! You call yourself an expert?! Hey, that was for DOL because I knew he wouldn’t say it.
jay
March 13th, 2012
10:47 am
lol at deleting my comment.
Chop Buster
March 13th, 2012
10:50 am
The bottom line is as much as we want to know now, nothing will happen until after 4 pm today. Everything else is pure speculation on the media’s part. The Falcons do not want to risk being hit with a tampering charge for letting anything out early.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
March 13th, 2012
10:56 am
I understand the angst. But, heck, Rich McKay and everybody around the league, didn’t know the actual cap until this past weekend. Everything was a projection. Just ask the Cowboys and the Redskins.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
March 13th, 2012
10:56 am
jay — Sorry about that. It was intentional.
JSS
March 13th, 2012
11:00 am
Well, you guys are going to reading this comment because for months (8 to be exact) I told you that your pipe dreams of Thomas Dimitroff and Rich McKay being able to pull some Jedi mind trick and make the salary cap do something it was not being designed to do (lockout) happen.
So, for all of you who came on here and cried destroy NFLPA and give us a hard cap, here’s your Valhalla!
And to a certain bunch who keep saying take from the 2013 cap, that is an accounting trick that is an harbinger of an ill wind. You have to either got on the Ryan extension potty in the late Fall or you have start preparing to clear decks for your 2013 free agents and the replacement of Grimes. You cannot still from Peter to pay Paul…
PMC
March 13th, 2012
11:02 am
I’m still good with the Hard Cap. I like this drama. It’s just not good for Atlanta right now because they chose to spend so much on CB’s and WR’s.
jay
March 13th, 2012
11:03 am
I got nothing against you man, there’s just something that doesn’t seem right here. Add to that the rumors that the Saints will sign both Nicks and Colston or at least are attempting to. It just doesn’t add up when we had alllll this cap space and they had none.
JSS
March 13th, 2012
11:03 am
Oops STEAL!!!
JSS
March 13th, 2012
11:13 am
PMC, that hard cap is just bad… Ask the NHL, they’ve (owners) have never passed savings back to the consumer or fans…
The Saints cap does add up… They let a lot go the last two seasons to have room (small as it is)… Their plan all along was to get to a point to offer Nicks and pull from other places to keep Colston. Some of us have been telling you that until the Cap is set that is all conjecture… Most of you never read the “estimation” part of those Web sites that were wildly throwing around cap numbers that never took into account contract escalators or bonuses… Bingo!
Falconbikerdude
March 13th, 2012
11:17 am
We are losing some really key players.. If we have any chance at all this year to get back to the playoffs .. we are going to have to be players in free agency. This is no joke.. Rich McKay is supposed to be a salary cap wizard.. if he really is.. then we need to see some magic!! How is it the Redskins can sign top free agents every year?? Sounds like someone is a little better than Rich McKay.. Come on TD and McKay we have to make some things happen.. I mean Lofton and Abraham.. That’s huge!!
Mike
March 13th, 2012
11:18 am
Honestly I think DOL is used by the Falcons to feed all their crap to. Remember it was DOL who swore we were not in on Ray Edwards last year, and BAM what do you know…we were.
Plus DOL is also to ignorant to realize that you dont restructure DR contract so you can go out and do nothing. Blank is demanding improvement. And no it would not be handing the keys to Nolan and saying fix what we have, its saying fix what we have with our 2 best players (Lofton and Abe) removed. Thats asinine. And if that is what happens and we again fail to advance farther than last year, then I will be calling for TD’s head.
News about NFL Preseason Games issue #1 |
March 13th, 2012
11:21 am
[...] [...]
LawDawg
March 13th, 2012
11:28 am
If the Falcons do not get Nicks or another impact OL and at least 1-2 impact defensive players, they are not even going to make the playoffs next year.
Pete E. Tong
March 13th, 2012
11:29 am
Damn you Pete! You get us up then you bring us down! You call yourself an expert?! Hey, that was for DOL because I knew he wouldn’t say it.
Blame Fox 5.
I’m not sharing my big secret and risk burning the bridge with my source. Make sure you follow the Free Agency later today
Wabe
March 13th, 2012
11:29 am
Falcons –
Cap space 5.8 mill
Present from Dallas / Washington = 1.6 mill
Pull from 2013 = 1.5 mill
Cut Baker (LT) = 2.6 mill
Cut Ovie (FB) = 3 mill
Sign Grimes to longer term OR rescind tag = 2.5 to 10.281 mill
Freed if needed = 17 to 24.5 million to play with
SR
March 13th, 2012
11:31 am
This is why fans abandon their teams – they identify needs and yet passively sit by doing nothing to address them while some of their competitors make bold moves to improve themselves. Falcons, Braves and Hawks are eerily similar in this regard.
Falcons 73
March 13th, 2012
11:32 am
It’s obvious that DOL is only trying to spike his #’s for his own benefit (as I rarely see this many folks putting up posts on his blog). It may very well be that the Falcons don’t have the needed space available to sign any major free agents, but it would definitely be a blow to not bring any REAL additions through FA and let your major defensive contributors go (Lofton, Abraham). There is no reasonable explanation that TD, AB, and this staff could sell season ticket holders if they don’t truly do more through FA. Even if they only signed one major player (I’d peg Mario because he would fill the BIGGEST need the Falcons have), that would go a long way to improve the very weakness that this team has.
Offensive linemen can be found at bigger discounts through FA and the draft, but having a known commodity at DE changes the whole complexion of the Falcons D. I hope that DOL is just pulling our collective legs, otherwise I don’t see how this organization will be able to really show improvement next year.
Sid
March 13th, 2012
11:33 am
Frederick(Bailey) Douglass
March 13th, 2012
5:27 am
The Falcons have got to sign Harry Douglas.
*****************************************************
DITTO
PMC
March 13th, 2012
11:35 am
JSS, fair point about the NHL cap, and it’s not like owners will do that in the NFL ever either.
I just meant that I’m enjoying this free agency drama created by the cap.
Sid
March 13th, 2012
11:38 am
Seems odd to go to the extreme to get Dunta to restructure then sit on our hands.
Sid
March 13th, 2012
11:39 am
Welcome Mario…………….!!!
Treeofwoe
March 13th, 2012
11:40 am
Way to cut and paste my post from ESPN boards Wabe lol
jbo
March 13th, 2012
11:40 am
Anything to sell those newspapers, huh
Falcons 73
March 13th, 2012
11:41 am
DOL – “(I’d like to see them cut Sidbury loose!)”
I can’t believe that you actually typed that. Have you paid any attention to this dude and his productivity with almost ZERO opportunity. It may just take him being cut to show you and others that this dude can play (given any semblance of an chance). He may not ever be a run stopper, but he has managed to put pressure on opposing qb’s in his limited play.
Wabe
March 13th, 2012
11:42 am
Just passing on the info bro…
If it’s you that posted that, my bad.
jbo
March 13th, 2012
11:44 am
True that If given a true opportunity Sids could do it.
Treeofwoe
March 13th, 2012
11:45 am
Wabe – LOL np bro
Falcons 73 – I’ve seen statistics showing that Sidbury actually pressures the QB at the same rate as Abraham. He needs more snaps imho.
Wabe
March 13th, 2012
11:47 am
Oh, I see it was you Treeofwoe.
My bad bro. Just copied and pasted and posted…
Appreciate the info on that.
Not a Sports Town
March 13th, 2012
11:48 am
Interesting to note that Grimes and Mario Williams share the same agent. Is the franchise tag just a stalling tactic to keep Grimes in the fold knowing they can work out a long-term deal? I bet Dogra would be a lot more amenable to working a reasonable deal for Grimes knowing that he’s gonna get paid a huge commission for a big F/A deal from the Falcons benefitting his prized DE client. Hmmmmm….
BTW Ledbetter, nothing says the Falcons can’t rescind his tag.
Dan
March 13th, 2012
11:48 am
15 min ago Mario Williams Free Agency: Falcons, Seahawks, Bears Among Reported Candidates
http://atlanta.sbnation.com/atlanta-falcons/2012/3/13/2867588/mario-williams-free-agency-falcons-bears-seahawks
Houston Texans defensive end Mario Williams, the top trophy in this year’s NFL free agency derby, is going to draw a lot of interest around the league. The Texans went and dumped perhaps their best player, right tackle Eric Winston, in what looks like an attempt to free up enough cash to keep him around, but there’s a lot of competition out there.
John Clayton names the Atlanta Falcons and Seattle Seahawks as the “favorites” to obtain Williams’ services. Clayton thinks that $15 million price range is too much for teams that would use him as a 3-4 rush linebacker. Though the Falcons could use some 3-4 under new defensive coordinator Mike Nolan, of course.
The Chicago Bears and Jacksonville Jaguars are also popping up in reports, as are the New England Patriots. We’ll choose to ignore all of those and instead dwell on the part where John Clayton said Mario Williams is all ours. That’s what he said, right?
GameReviewer
March 13th, 2012
11:54 am
Why is GRIMES getting the franchise tag? This guy is 5′ 8″ and cannot cover half the receivers in the league. Colston from the Saints has a FIELD DAY with this guy. He is worth 1.5 mil at best.
GameReviewer
March 13th, 2012
12:10 pm
Everybody is talking about losing Abraham and Lofton. So, what impact did either player have on 3rd down conversion? 29th in the league. Did you not watch the games? Abraham RARELY got to the QB or made ANY impact on a play. Lofton made a lot of tackles… 10 yards down the field after they already had a first down.
All the Falcons need to do is get DECENT players to replace these two and it will be an improvement. Turner and Dunta should be LET GO as well.
Pete E. Tong
March 13th, 2012
12:15 pm
GameReviewer, Brent Grimes is 5′ 10″; Dunta Robinson is also 5′ 10″. Darrelle Revis, one of the best cornerbacks currently playing, is 5′ 11″; Lardarius Webb, another great cornerback, is also 5′ 10″.
The Grimes height myth is as old as it is groundless.
Ken Strickland
March 13th, 2012
12:28 pm
Come on now, some of you are really over reacting. We’ve signed MLB Tapulu, OG Manuwai, resigned DE KBiermann, CB BGrimes, RBs JSnelling and ASmith, TEs TGonzalez and MPalmer, OG AJackson, FS TDeCoud, and you want MLB CLofton and WR HDouglas resigned. How in the devil can anyone expect the Falcons to do all of that and still come up with the money to sign what will likely be one of the highest paid DEs and OGs in NFL history?
I am a FANCONS FAN, not a PLAYER FAN. Some seem more interested in who the Falcons might sign to fill a need, than us actually filling the need. Otherwise, why keep making an issue of us signing, or not signing, high dollar, high profile FAs like OGs Nicks or Grubbs when we’ve already signed OG Manuwai?
Why get upset over us not being able to go against all reality and signing DE MWilliams when it’s obvious we can’t create the cap space it would take to even start the bidding off for him. He’ll certainly command as much, and likely more, that the $15.25M that JPeppers got last yr. Even if we wave a bunch of players to clear cap space, which we can do, we’ll still have to use up some of that saved cap space to replace those players.
According to figures posted by DOrlando Ledbetter, our current cap space is $7,323,709M, which is the combination of $5,723,709M(original cap space) and $1,600,000M(awarded cap space). We can gain an additional $14M by releasing DT JBabineaux($3.514), LT SBaker)$2.576), FB OMughelli($3.0M), RB MTurner($5.0M), and we could gain up to an additional $3M by extending QB MRyan’s contract.
That would gives us a total of around $24.3M, but we’d have to use part of that to sign our draft picks, resign or replace some of our unsigned FAs, and the players we released. That would leave us enough to sign someone like Nicks or Grubbs. But with OC and LT also in flux, and DE still unsettled, as well as our need for a backup FS, it would be rather foolish for us to go all out for an OG, especially when we have already addressed that issue.
Look at how many teams have managed to get to the AFC and NFC finals, as well as the Superbowl over the last few yrs without those players on their roster. There is no one thing or one player that’s responsible for getting a team to the Superbowl. It takes a combination of things, and that’s what TD and Co are working on. They have obviously learned a very valuable lesson from last yrs mistake of thinking the acquisition of one(1A) player will get us where we want to go.
Who Me?
March 13th, 2012
12:31 pm
I’m Done. anybody else? This team appears to be solidly going nowhere this year, when the evidence clearly indicates several positions MUST have upgrades in order for us to be competitive.
Pete E. Tong
March 13th, 2012
12:35 pm
Who Me?, free agency hasn’t even begun. Relax.
Kobie
March 13th, 2012
12:36 pm
I do think everybody should calm down and remember that no one really knows what is actually going to happen. The Falcons are very good at keeping everything tight lipped. Remember last July after the lockout, DOL was posting that the Falcons were not going to sign Ray Edwards, he would be too much, that LB Nicholas would not be signed and was headed elsewhere. No one knows what is going to happen and the Falcons are very good at keeping all their cards close to the vest. Rich McKay is a wiz at cap issues and if there is a will to get something done, he will find away. Let’s just sit back and wait to see what happens.
Ken Strickland
March 13th, 2012
12:44 pm
FALCONBIKERDUDE-With the Redskins’ alledged ability to sign big named FAs to big contracts every yr, tell me, how has it help them improve? If anything it proves how that approach is definitely not the answer. You can look at the Raiders and Cowboys for further proof.
As soon as it sinks in that we aren’t likely to be big players in signing some of the big named big ticket FAs, the negative minded closet dwellers immediately come out with their dire predictions of doom and gloom for the Falcons. Now the prediction is we won’t make the playoffs if we don’t sign DE MWilliams, OGs CNicks or BGrubbs, even though we’ve managed to make the playoffs 3 or the last 4yrs without them. STUPID IS AS STUPID DOES.
What??
March 13th, 2012
12:48 pm
Keep Grimes (who sat out our BIGGEST games), go on the cheap to “replace” Lofton with a guy who was out all last year and a wasted 3rd round pick in Akeem “Special Teams!” Dent. Letting Abe walk. Letting Harry Douglas walk. Committed to slow, over the hill Michael Turner. Sam Baker still here. Ovie Mughelli still here. DeCoud is a player, like Akeem Dent, that is a backup and special teams guy. This is NOT what you want from 2nd and 3rd rounders. Lofton is what you want from a 2nd rounder. Dent was SO LAME, he didn’t play last year. Our LB core is only getting worse every season, lets not forget Stephen Nicholas is another backup/special teamer starting at LB. Are we really hoping to pair Ray Edwards with Biermann/Sidbury on the other side?!? Lets HOPE they’re working to bring in Mario Williams.
It looks like we’ll slog through 2012, trying to keep the winning season streak alive and HOPE 9-7 will make the playoffs. And I’m talking best case scenario.
And BTW Grimes should be cut. He’s NOT worth anything near 10 mil….unless its 10mil over 3 years!
GDawg
March 13th, 2012
12:54 pm
Saints signed Colston next up Nicks but for the Falcons nothing.
Falconsdiehard
March 13th, 2012
12:58 pm
DOL doesn’t really ever seem to have his pulse on the fan base or executive attitude in this organization…there is no way Arthur Blank doesn’t make a big move, ESPECIALLY without a first round pick. Restructuring Dunta’s contract, losing Abraham and refusing to re-sign a consistently good falcon like Lofton are all signs that point towards a large FA move. Blank is image conscious and would never want the media (and more importantly the fan base) saying he isn’t doing enough to make the falcons a super bowl team. He’ll make a splash in free agency or else we’ve entered a paradoxical word where AB isn’t devoted to this team and Warrick Dunn is the tallest RB in the history of the NFL
jay
March 13th, 2012
1:03 pm
@Pete. Grimes is not 5 10. I’m 5 7 and have seen him in person at a b-ball game. Stood right next to him, even shook his hand. He’s 5 9 at best, but more like 5 7.
Die Hard Falcon
March 13th, 2012
1:08 pm
I really hope we have something up our sleeve. I am hoping that we either sign Grimes to a reasonable 4 year deal or trade him for a 2nd round pick, we need that cap space.
I also don’t see how the aints are signing colston & nicks, they were about 15mil less cap than we were going into the offseason and they franchised brees and he’ll want more than that franchise#, I don’t know if he’ll play for them at that #, it’s an insult for a top 3 QB to make that when the other elite qb’s are all making about 4 or 5 mil a year more from older contracts. I hope they collapse
Falcons need to upgrade the pass rush even if it’s not super Mario, we have to get someone and I really think HD should be a priority as well.
Go Falcons!
Pete E. Tong
March 13th, 2012
1:12 pm
Jay, Pro-Football Reference, Wikipedia, and NFL.Com say you’re wrong, pal:
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GrimBr20.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brent_Grimes
http://www.nfl.com/player/brentgrimes/2506861/profile
Wasn’t Miko Grimes going to post a picture of her measuring Brent? Might want to check his Twitter for that. I’m 6′ 2″ and met Brent last year at practice in Flowery Branch – he’s 5′ 10″. Might want to re-measure yourself.
Seattle Falcons Fan
March 13th, 2012
1:18 pm
Nothing personal DLed…. I love your stuff…. But didn’t you report the same thing about Ray Edwards last year? You reported the Falcons would not be signing him they piled out of the bidding. Let’s see how this goes.
Kyle
March 13th, 2012
1:26 pm
Once again the best we can count on is the playoffs if we’re lucky and maybe move up a point and get 3 this year. Then we can look forward to another apology and we will try and do better going forward because this is unacceptable. I’m from here and will always be a fan but for someone like me that has been following this team since 1980 it is a broken record.
Pete E. Tong
March 13th, 2012
1:27 pm
Chargers releasing Marcus McNeil today.
MaxxFalcon
March 13th, 2012
1:27 pm
We’ll see what happens this week, but I would be shocked to not see the Falcons make any impact signings, especially after Dimitroff expressed that we would be aggressive in Free Agency. Bringing that same Defense back without Lofton and Abe will not sell tickets, and Arthur knows that. I just pray that DOL and Schultz are wrong about this like they usually are about most things, or else we are in for another long season of bending and subsequently breaking on Defense. I think our Offense will be better either way, but O-line improvements are a must, especially our glaring hole at LT.
falcon guy
March 13th, 2012
1:31 pm
DLed,
You are crazy man. Brent Grimes’s franchise tag money IS NOT ON THE CAP YET!!! Check the facts. If the Falcons so choose, they can sign Mario Williams, and then retract the franchise tag if they need to. Or negotiate a deal with Grimes and cut players like Sam Baker and Ovie Mullgheli, or get a restructured deal from other players like Matt Ryan or Roddy White.
Saying Mario is a dead deal is just wrong. Check with your national colleages, they all are hearing the Falcons are definitely in on the Mario market. They always come up first or second in mentions for a new home for Mario.
@CaliDirtyBird
March 13th, 2012
2:03 pm
Arthur Blank had better have his private jet en route to pick up Mario as I’m typing this. If we go into next year without a PREMIER DE. We will be screwed. We saw how that worked out for us last year by passing on Charles Johnson. Lets not make the same mistake twice.
Pete E. Tong
March 13th, 2012
2:11 pm
Kincaide via John Clayton:
The Atlanta Falcons ARE pursuing Mario Williams and WILL restructure contracts to make room for him.
What can you copy and paste in response to that, DOL?
falconfiend
March 13th, 2012
2:17 pm
The center positon is a must. i like the pursuit of scott wells and Nick Hardwick. I like the signing of Manuwai. These guys will provide that strength up front that we need and blocking needed in the middle. On defense, i like the signing of lofa. falcons need to sign lofton and try to go after phillip wheeler for depth. Nolan should go after kendal langford and mark anderson.
What Pass Defense?
March 13th, 2012
2:20 pm
I think the franchise tagging of Brent Grimes can be attributed to DC Nolan. In one of his earliest interviews after being hired here he said in today’s NFL you must have 5 starting corner backs because of the era of high powered passing attacks like the Packers, Saints, Giants, Lions and Patriots.
Why would he want his best corner back to leave, and then have to replace him, while trying to make sure he can get and coach up 4 more? I think Dunta will be better in man-to-man coverage. I think Owens, Franks, and Walls are good coachable candidates for the other three positions DC Nolan wants to defense these high powered passing offenses. Hayden played well in the slot before the toe injury. Re-sign Hayden and we have six corners available, and who knows what the draft or free agency brings?!
I am optimistic.
jay
March 13th, 2012
2:52 pm
@Pete. Sho ya right, brotha. He’s 5′ 10 that’s why everyone thinks he’s a shrimp, lol.
Disgusted
March 13th, 2012
3:20 pm
Offensive line is the biggest need for upgrade. We got one guy who if healthy will be a great pickup, but that is a big if.
Need Wells and Nicks. And they have to replace Baker.
Chattanooga Chuck
March 13th, 2012
3:20 pm
The quiet before the storm?
Kramer
March 13th, 2012
3:23 pm
Let’s hope so Chuck. I guess we will find out over the next 60 minutes.
Tha Real Falcon
March 13th, 2012
3:28 pm
Wish I knew this before I re-upped for 2012
Kramer
March 13th, 2012
3:33 pm
Real Falcon, that would not make you a real Falcon fan. The true fan sticks with their team through good times and bad.
Falcon Realist
March 13th, 2012
3:36 pm
Thomas,
Trade Matt Ryan and Roddy White to Washington for the second pick (draft RG3). Throw in Michael Turner. You could sale Washington on the fact they get a West Coast QB with experience to win now. He brings his number one receiver and running back.
Sign Peyton Manning and Pierre Garcon. Peyton prefers to play in a dome, control environment. He could overlook the fact he may have to face his brother to reach the Super Bowl. We could even sign his center Jeff Saturday to a one year contract.
Cut Dunta Robinson and free up some more cap room and sign Mario Williams. Mario would make any DB you bring in to replace Robinson better than the performance we’ve received from Robinson.
I've Been Telling You Guys For Years TD is Crap!
March 13th, 2012
3:52 pm
Way in over his head. The only thing Arthur is concerned with is the new stadium. It’s really sad!
This city deserve much more.
Arthur, please SELL the team to an owner that knows what he’s doing.
Mikey
March 13th, 2012
4:00 pm
Falcon Realist – you’re retarded…i feel dumber after reading that post
Falcon Realist
March 13th, 2012
4:13 pm
Mikey you look dumber too. Now you match your IQ.
realsquawk
March 13th, 2012
5:01 pm
That is the most unrealistic thing I have ever read @ falcon realist
hbcuclassics
March 13th, 2012
5:26 pm
HBCU Classic Sports
2012 Draft Preview: DE, Corey Hart, Alabama A&M
Led nation in Tackles for Loss – 29
http://www.hbcuclassics.com/hbcu_showcase
I've Been Telling You Guys For Years TD is Crap!
March 13th, 2012
5:39 pm
yeah…Falcon Realist may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, but one things for sure,,,this org is going to sink to trying to cover up Ryan’s short comings.
jay
March 13th, 2012
6:02 pm
lot of wr’s falling off the board. i think santana moss would be an interesting option at the 3rd WR if HD can’t be had
Ed
March 13th, 2012
6:05 pm
Are you kidding me! Not going to be active in Free Agency! What was all the build up for in the off season and the big talk about nobody is safe. Coachs can’t play and if you really think that it was all coaching faults last year then why are you letting Lofton go or Abraham. This is a joke we have needed linemen from year one and still need line help and you have no first round draft and yet you are not going to be active in free agency. This is not good and I like Mike Smith but he will be gone in a year because the fans won’t stand for this and Blank will have to get rid of the office keepers next. I really can’t believe Arthur is not going to go heavy into free agency it just doesn’t make sense!
Carter
March 13th, 2012
6:44 pm
I believe that Atlanta made a huge mistake in signing washed up players and Mediocre players instead of getting a superstar to change a game. It is just so disappointing for a team with so much upside. I prey for the Atlanta and its fans. As for the front office, you should be ashamed of yourselves and when the stadium is empty, you should not question why. Also, when Blank wants to fire Mike Smith because of another early exit form the playoffs, then you should not question why.
Bruce
March 13th, 2012
7:51 pm
My money is on the Falcons being worse this coming season than last season. Not keeping some players, resigning spot players to high contracts & being unable to improve via free agency means a definate step back. Top it off with no 1st round pick & they will be lucky to go 8-8 with that rag tag defense that will be spun as having “all this potential”. Can’t wait till the phrase “if they play the way we know they can” gets used for the first time.
Desperate falcon fan
March 13th, 2012
8:15 pm
Its the start of free agency today. Did anyone notice? We still got the same team from last year minus our best defensive players with the addition of injury prone players. Dimitroff and smitty who are you guys and how good are you guys really. Im starting to think that matt ryan and arthur blank deserves alot more credit.
Tommy Maddox
March 13th, 2012
8:18 pm
Let’s see: Falcons let Harvey Dahl go – how’d that help the Offense? Now Lofton and Abe are probably gone. How’s that going to help the Defense? Rely on the second coming of Peria Jerry?
I know it’s early on but this does not look good. Maybe my fuse is too short and should see what tomorrow brings. I hope we are all pleasantly surprised!
Desperate falcon fan
March 13th, 2012
8:29 pm
All dimitroff is, is very well spoken. Very smart guy but that doesnt make you a good general manager. As a fan I just ask that he improves our team. Give smitty anf nolan the players they need to put us over the top. Stop resigning our dead weight. Improve! Dont just look busy. Read the damn blogs and get help dimitroff.
Disgusted
March 13th, 2012
8:33 pm
I don’t think so Tommy Maddox, being cheap with Harvey Dahl did not help the line last yr and this time around the defense does not look improved. What do we get, hope to be healthy William Moore, Peria Jerry and a comeback from Lofta Tatupu? And get lucky with pick number 55?
Its hope upon a prayer.
If the do not upgrade the line signifigantly (and I am not buying into that big guard they got from Jacksonville), how can they possibly be better?
If anything they slide back to 8-8, or worse.
Disgusted
March 13th, 2012
8:35 pm
Dimitroff is not a great GM, but we have had worse.
Remember Ken Herock?
Disgusted
March 13th, 2012
8:58 pm
Hey, Albert Haynesworth is available.
Whit
March 13th, 2012
9:11 pm
I hope Turner and Mughelli are gone. That’s 10 million off the books. Release Baker and get another 3-4 mil. Restructure Ryan and White… Or trade White for a high pick and sign HD. Sign Williams and Winston. Draft a running back in the 3rd of 4th round.
bama52
March 13th, 2012
9:11 pm
Two line backers from The University of Alabama that will be under the radar come drat time are Jerrell Harris and Alex Watkins. Also DB Phelon Jones is worth looking at.The Falcon scouts should have their eyes on these guys.
mike powell
March 13th, 2012
9:13 pm
I don’t understand how arthur blank think giving us fans the same team , with the same weaknesses and now less talent is showing progress in this leauge. What does the hirearchy of this team think we are? The Falcon fans are the poster children of the ” THIS IS SHINOLA” line. Arthur, we are not ignorant, and we will let our absence speak for us. YOU have to earn fan following, it’s the job you applied for.
Teenwolf
March 13th, 2012
9:23 pm
Mr. Blank,
Get in your private jet and get D. Williams from Buffalo! We need a significant upgrade on both sides of the ball. You can draft an interior lineman at 55. You can’t find an impact pass rusher in the 2nd round.
Tommy Maddox
March 13th, 2012
9:32 pm
I misspoke earlier. Sorry fellas.
We have not had the first coming of Peria Jerry so how can we have a second coming?
Desperate falcon fan
March 13th, 2012
9:41 pm
I wont go to a single game if we dont upgrade our talent. Is anyone hearing me on mike tolbert in sandiego. Hes literally a faster turner. Trade turner for picks and sign tolbert,hes a free agent. We dont need turner,he only plays for the money. If you look at the guy hes only getting fatter. He only cares about fat checks not the team. In the playoffs he should be a beast. Not even over 150 for all three playoff games combined. Lets go FALCONS, MAKE MOVES!!!!!! WERE WATCHING!!!!!!
hbcuclassics
March 14th, 2012
12:40 am
Carl Nicks and Terrence Newman
Disgusted
March 14th, 2012
6:41 pm
The Falcons are making moves but they are dumb moves like giving big bucks to Thomas Decoud and Kroy Bierman. Average players and that is generous.
sams
March 16th, 2012
12:26 am
Hi,
Thank you four your nice writing on Atlanta Falcons
NFL free agency: All gassed up, but no place to go
Thanks.
NFL free agency: All gassed up, but no place to go | NFL Online News
March 19th, 2012
12:10 pm
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