Brent Grimes has signed his franchise tender
Associated Press photo Eagles cornerback Asante Samuel runs with the ball after intercepting a pass during a game against the Falcons last season. Associated Press.
FLOWERY BRANCH – Falcons cornerback Brent Grimes signed his franchise tender on Tuesday.
Also, the Falcons are in trade discussions to acquire cornerback Asante Samuel from the Philadelphia Eagles.
The team is set to make players available after their second day of the offseason training program and could announce the trade for Samuel at that time if the deal doesn’t fall through.
Grimes did not attend the start of the Falcons’ voluntary offseason training program on Monday. Grimes is set to make $10.281 million this season. It is unclear if both sides will continue to negotiate toward a long-term deal.
In early March, the Falcons placed the franchise tag on Grimes, which guaranteed that he’d make the salary of the top five cornerbacks in the league.
Samuel, 31, was with the Patriots when Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff was the director of college scouting. Dimitroff has coveted him in the past, but the trade price was considered too high by the Falcons.
The Eagles asking price has reportedly dropped to a late-round draft pick, perhaps the Falcons’ (non compensatory) seventh rounder. The snag could be if the Falcons are able to renegotiate a new contract with Samuel.
Grimes and Dunta Robinson were the starting cornerbacks for much of the past two seasons. The Falcons have had trouble finding a third cornerback.
Over the last two seasons, Brian Williams, Christopher Owens, Dominique Franks and Kelvin Hayden have all played the nickel back position.
If the Falcons are able to land Samuel they would have a solid trio of cornerbacks.
Falcons coach Mike Smith has noted that the nickel back is considered a starter because the team plays more downs in their nickel package than they do in their base defense.
Samuel is set to make $9.9 million in base salary this year and is set to make $11.4 next season.
Samuel, 5-foot-10 and 185 pounds, was drafted by the Patriots in the fourth-round (120th overall) of the 2003 draft out of Central Florida.
He played for the Patriots (2003-07) before playing for the Eagles (2008-11). He has been selected to four Pro Bowls and was named an All-Pro after the 2007 season.
Samuel is noted for his ball-hawking skills. He has 45 career interceptions. He led the league with 10 interceptions in 2006 and with nine in 2009.
–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog
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
90 comments Add your comment
Bird Since '66
April 24th, 2012
1:22 pm
Tony, don’t know who you are but have you thought about working for the Falcon’s front office? Finally someone on here that knows something about Falcon’s football. A strong secondary makes a weak D-Line look better like a strong D-Line makes a weak secondary look better. If you’re strong in both areas, protect your quarterback and have a decent running game, you have the Lombardi Trophy in your display case.
Paddy
April 24th, 2012
1:37 pm
Joe Tess……I will tell you exactly when you said you would never post again. When the Falcons would not sign Terrell Owens!
collegedude
April 24th, 2012
1:50 pm
Funny how quickly Grimes decides to sign his tender once the Falcons start talking about trading for a better CB.
Chop Buster
April 24th, 2012
1:51 pm
If we can give up one of our 7th round picks and AS restructures his contract, it’s a good deal to improve our secondary. Safety is still a major concern of mine. Decoud is undisciplined and slow for a FS.
Bird Since '66
April 24th, 2012
2:02 pm
Chop Buster, Moore looks strong and if he can stay healthy I think he has the potential to be great. Decoud is a mystery. Sometimes he looks lost and other times he makes a big play. I’d give him another year under this new system and hopefully he’ll get straightened out. Otherwise, next year we need to dump him. I agree though, safety is a concern. Especially in the depth department.
Big Crimson 75
April 24th, 2012
2:40 pm
Brent Grimes is not worth 5 mil per yr & We double that!!!!!
Asante is worth a 5th round pick.
suwaneefalcon
April 24th, 2012
2:50 pm
An NFL secondary is only as good as the pass rush. Can we mount a pass rush? That will be be the question in 2012…again.
BamaGuy
April 24th, 2012
3:01 pm
suwaneefalcon
April 24th, 2012
2:50 pm
An NFL secondary is only as good as the pass rush. Can we mount a pass rush? That will be be the question in 2012…again.
Not true…D. Sanders (especially when he was in the ATL), D. Revis (Last Year with Jets), Miami db’s last year, there are lots of examples of corners being good without a dominant pass rush…In fact, good DB’s can make the QB hold the ball longer which in turn can make the rush better instead of the other way around
hbcuclassics
April 24th, 2012
3:07 pm
HBCU Classic Sports
2012 Draft Preview:
WR, Mario Louis, Grambling
http://www.hbcuclassics.com/hbcu_showcase
suwaneefalcon
April 24th, 2012
3:10 pm
That is true in some cases Bama but, for the majority of teams you need an quality rush to force the QB to make bad decisions. There are not a lot of Revis’s defending receivers in the NFL.
BamaGuy
April 24th, 2012
3:13 pm
I will give you that but I am juat saying that with the right coordinator and scheme maybe we can get pressure than just in the traditional way…I just do not see a DE out there that is going to walk in and make a difference like Samuels can…I am all for getting better and if this is the way we have to go then i am all for it
tyger
April 24th, 2012
3:24 pm
Asante Samuels…Yes!
One characteristic of Super Bowl Champions…
Veteran secondary stars….Deion, Harrison, Woodson, Polamalu, Clark
Samuels more than suffices for the lack of a 1st rd pick…
I would extend anyone except Ryan and Baker…
Last rodeo fellas…
Grimes, Robinson, Samuels, Moore, DeCoud, Franks, Owens, Walls…
looks pretty darn good…
If we can get a Pro Bowl OT, we can pass on this draft thing altogether…
COOK1972
April 24th, 2012
3:42 pm
Joey M. – The Falcons did sign a track star in the late 60’s. He could not catch a hot biscuit if he was starving. Just a thought.
Mike
April 24th, 2012
4:18 pm
Any updates right now, are the Falcons is still talking to Eagles about Samuels?
FalconsRealFan
April 24th, 2012
4:25 pm
ROFL @ Joe Tess Fishouse….I hope D Orlando Ledbetter is reading this blog, maybe he’ll take the hnit…LOL.
Robinson Grimes Samuel Decoud Moore. What a nice combo.
MIKEDABIRDMAN
April 24th, 2012
4:26 pm
I mean think about it!!! The only two corners worth anything we have is robinson and grimes. If one of them goes down we are in trouble. Owens and Franks are absolute trash!!!
MIKEDABIRDMAN
April 24th, 2012
4:29 pm
Oh and I almost forgot….Decoud absolutely sucks!!!
Tony
April 24th, 2012
4:36 pm
Thanks “Bird Since 66″… maybe I will see if they are hiring for the front office…LOL… Just an FYI stat……The Falcons defense ranked 20th and the defense ranked 29th on 3rd down situations which means the defense not getting off the field… Samuel addition will help lower this ranking…
Also.. special teams is a need…. PUNT RETURNER AND KICK RETURNER…. We need a true threat… no one feared Weems….
mark
April 24th, 2012
4:41 pm
Samuel would be a great pick up and another reason why you do not sign Lofton to a long term deal. No one has said a word about this in relation to Lofton but this why I am most encouraged about current leadership. They let Lofton walk and now will have room for Samuel. Teams have to cover and with a guy like Nolan he is going to throw things at a guy like Newton who is terrible at making adjustments and pick him off, Josh Freeman too. Breese does make adjustment but with 3 CB on the field will be much tougher to pick up long 3rd downs which killed us in Van Gorder system.
Delbert D.
April 24th, 2012
5:10 pm
Start building for the 3-4 defense. Premium on OLBs, don’t need pass-rushing DEs. Ease in the 3-4 while Abe is still here. Nolan knows how.
chuck
April 24th, 2012
5:19 pm
Bring in Assante and tell big headed Grimes that he can take $6 million a year or be cut.
GT GRAD
April 24th, 2012
5:58 pm
Everyone should be patient………if we just wait a few weeks the Eagles will probably/likely cut Samuel (due to salary cap reasons). With his salary cap numbers; he should definitely clear waivers. Why would he not want to come to Atlanta? If we pick him up as a free agent we will not have to pay him stupid money.
I wish Brent Grimes had NOT signed the franchise tender…….I was hoping to trade him (which could still happen). He is simply not worth $10.28M for one season.
I would be MUCH happier and the Atlanta Falcons would be much better with a 1st or 2nd round draft pick, additional salary cap space and a vacancy at starting CB. Does ANYBODY out there think Samuel would NOT sign with Atlanta as a free agent after being cut by Philly if Grimes was traded?????????
GT GRAD
April 24th, 2012
6:01 pm
Additional comment: Use the draft pick from the Grimes trade and salary cap space for a starting caliber OT and starting caliber Nose Guard.
Abe
April 24th, 2012
6:25 pm
Joe Tess……You can’t be as illiterate as you type. Your comments show that you are a stupid, uneducated person who dwells on negativity. I’m sure glad that I’m not you.
jalex49
April 24th, 2012
6:26 pm
I still think trading Grimes to a team for early picks this year and maybe next would have been the way to go. I like the idea of getting both Samuels and Franklin. It would be solid acquisitions. I understand keeping the core of players intact but that doesn’t mean Atlanta can’t and shouldn’t add solid players to their roster, especially with the roster expansion to 90.
I like Grimes but if he doesn’t want to be in Atlanta, then let him go!
RUDEDAWG
April 24th, 2012
6:27 pm
Little Grimes rushes and signs now,too funny! Hope the deal goes thru,because we DONT have one single cover corner! Grimes and Robinson,Franks,who the hell is Wells my @ss! LOL to funny!
Mikey
April 24th, 2012
6:55 pm
I like Samuel but doubt that the Falcons will bring him in with Grimes signing. I don’t blame them for looking aggressively with Grimes holding out.
Chub Rock
April 24th, 2012
6:56 pm
The Falcons’ interest apparently hasn’t waned after Brent Grimes signed his franchise tender. The two sides are believed to have settled on a late-round draft pick as compensation. Samuel is willing to restructure his contract, but he’s balking at a significant paycut for the 2012 season. The Eagles want Samuel moved before the draft begins Thursday evening; the negotiating is now going through Samuel’s player rep.
Billy
April 24th, 2012
7:39 pm
Get it done..
truefalconfan
April 24th, 2012
7:47 pm
i relly doubt we get him now that grimes signed is tag, i think they acted like they were interested just so grimes would sign it so now i got all excited for nothing… BUT i HOPE we do trade for sam bt i will take more than non compensatory seventh rounder, and thats a no brainer. that was dum to say
Ed
April 24th, 2012
8:05 pm
Adding Asante Samuel to our secondary gives it that much needed attitude back there. Gives them that chip on the shoulder.
Mike(PhillyFan)
April 24th, 2012
9:03 pm
Asante is a good player, but the Falcons main concern should be his contract and his refusal to play into your defensive scheme. It doesn’t matter to him what the play is, he will selfishly jump routes and if he misses, make the safety look bad. He’s not as quick as he used to be being on the wrong side of 30, but he can still make plays. Just make sure you always give him safety help.
Falcon James
April 24th, 2012
9:55 pm
I agree with everyone except the people who say that Dunta is a good CB. We could sign a unrestricted free agent walk on who played second string at Furman University and that would be a step up from Dunta.
vuduchld
April 24th, 2012
11:44 pm
Yawn. Samuel is past his prime, that is why the Eagles are looking for a sucker (Falcons) to take him and his bloated contract. You people still don’t get it do you, the Falcons have many holes they need to fill, last ime I looked their guts were getting spalttered all over Met Life stadium.
SeenThisBFalcon
April 25th, 2012
7:07 am
YES…YES….YES…….
Sid
April 25th, 2012
8:03 am
I think we are going to give up too much to get AS. That is why it’s not a done deal yet.
Brent: you’ve played 7 foot tall with huge heart and finally gotten your money. Keep bringing it!
Sid
April 25th, 2012
8:23 am
…………..and with the 55th pick the Atlanta Falcons select:
Kelechi Osemele, 6-5/333 Guard Iowa State
Matt Zen
April 25th, 2012
8:46 am
Grimes will be hosting a football camp this summer in Atlanta, check out http://www.footballcamps.com for more details.
Samuel could be a Falcon soon, leaving one cornerback trio for another | Goal-Line Stand | Blogs | theScore.com
April 25th, 2012
9:54 am
[...] So employing a surplus of players who are quite good at batting down balls and catching them when they’re thrown by the opposing quarterback is a sound strategy. Yesterday the rumors of Atlanta doing just that began to percolate when Jay Glazer reported that they’d shown serious interest in Asante Samuel, the expendable and expensive Eagles cornerback who’s on the trading block. At the time, it was also thought that GM Thomas Dimitroff’s interest could have been rooted in the potential for unrest with Brent Grimes, who was promptly motivated to sign his franchise tender. [...]
FEATURED ARTICLE: Brent Grimes has signed his franchise tender | Falcons - NFC South Daily | Atlanta Falcons Blog
April 25th, 2012
12:29 pm
[...] The rest of the article can be found here: Atlanta Falcons [...]