Atlanta Falcons: Defensive end Ray Edwards released
By Michael Cunningham
The Falcons released defensive end Ray Edwards less than two seasons after he was heralded as a key component of the team’s pass rush.
The Falcons signed Edwards as a free agent in July 2011, giving him $11 million in guaranteed salary on a five-year deal. But Edwards produced little in the way of sacks (3.5) or quarterback pressures in 25 games with the Falcons.
Edwards started all 16 games in 2011 and four of nine games this season. Edwards’ playing time had decreased this season, a development coach Mike Smith and offensive coordinator Mike Nolan attributed to extensive use of special personnel packages.
Kroy Biermann has absorbed a number of Edwards’ snaps while playing a hybrid position in Nolan’s defense.
The Vikings selected Edwards in fourth round of the 2006 draft our of Purdue. He was set to make $3 million in base salary this year, $5.5 million in 2013, $5 million in 2014 and $5 million in 2015.
RAY EDWARDS PLAYING PERCENTAGE/PRODUCTION CHART
GAME PLAYS TOTAL PERCENTAGE TACKLES SACKS
K.C. 28 69 41 1 0
Denver 16 73 22 0 0
S.D. 35 56 64 2 0
Car. 30 64 47 3 0
Wash 12 49 27 0 0
Oak 45 73 62 3 0
Phil 10 63 16 0 0
Dall 10 57 18 1 0
NOS 20 62 32 1 0
TOTALS 207 566 36.5 11 0
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221 comments Add your comment
phil
November 12th, 2012
11:14 pm
Begging for snelling and quizz is like braves fans begging for Constanza or Janish….
Please.
lowdownjj
November 12th, 2012
11:14 pm
D-LED…ya know what the cap hit for next year will be?
Loyalfalconfrmthemississippi
November 12th, 2012
11:16 pm
ACTIVATE MASSAQUI AND ANTONE SMITH, cmon lets see wat these guys can do on the field!!!!!!
Loyalfalconfrmthemississippi
November 12th, 2012
11:17 pm
So are we saving that 5.5 mil next year???
kral
November 12th, 2012
11:18 pm
great come back phil…I guess I am the doofuss..your just the azz..forgive me for calling what I read like I read them..but rip what I say…it’s okay…leaving here..you the man..and the azzzz
[Falcons News] Falcons Part Ways With DE Ray Edwards - GridironFans.com
November 12th, 2012
11:18 pm
[...] coordinator Mike Nolan attributed to extensive use of special personnel packages. Source: Atlanta Journal Constitution [...]
nfcchampsliveinga
November 12th, 2012
11:21 pm
Maybe this means more 3-4 looks. Time to see what we have in the young guys, Sidbury, Matthews, and Massoqui. I definitely think more Sidbury is on the horizon.
Falcons' startling admission: Ray Edwards was a blunder | Jeff Schultz
November 12th, 2012
11:23 pm
[...] end Ray Edwards, the epitome of a free agent bust, was drop-kicked by the Falcons Monday night. How bad does a supposed high-profile player have to be for him to be found useless by two defensive [...]
Loyalfan
November 12th, 2012
11:26 pm
Should have been Turner,he is too soft.Quizz has way more heart.
BirdFan
November 12th, 2012
11:26 pm
They should either tell Matt Ryan to use some more athleticism and stop playing scared or show him the door too!
Loyalfalconfrmthemississippi
November 12th, 2012
11:29 pm
@birdfan lol lets not get ahead of ourselves dude, the guy just threw for over 400 yards with no run game, that is a feat in itself, im assuming your comment was sarcasm though lol
BigSteve
November 12th, 2012
11:33 pm
Ray Edwards makes us miss Jamal Anderson !!
I was hoping Stanbury would raise his game — maybe this will be his shot…
tfalcon
November 12th, 2012
11:35 pm
DOL any word if they are going to try and sign that NT that steelers released or anything else to help
the run D
nfcchampsliveinga
November 12th, 2012
11:36 pm
Thank you for you time in the ATL RE93, best of luck to you on your future endeavors!
USMC DAWG
November 12th, 2012
11:39 pm
“They should either tell Matt Ryan to use some more athleticism and stop playing scared or show him the door too!”–BirdBrain
Not intended to be a factual statement!
Wild Thing Fantasy Football » Falcons Part Ways With DE Ray Edwards
November 12th, 2012
11:40 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution Read [...]
Falcons Release Ray Edwards « The Falcon Project
November 12th, 2012
11:42 pm
[...] Atlanta Falcons have released defensive end Ray [...]
USMC DAWG
November 12th, 2012
11:47 pm
Michael Turner is STEALING money from the Falcons! Get Steven Jackson; anyone!
Loyalfalconfrmthemississippi
November 12th, 2012
11:49 pm
Thats a no on steven jackson hes old and either way how would they aquire jackson the trade deadline is passed and unless jackson was released he cant be signed
BigDawg9
November 12th, 2012
11:52 pm
Can you please DRAFT us some cornerbacks that are not scareed to play aggressive and better yet TACKLE. The two guys we have #22 & #23 are wimps. They can’t cover and are scared to tackle. The coaching staff need to let Robinson go as well with that big bloated contract of his also. I want even discuss our running game. Turner has to go we need a back that can hit the hole or better yet make cuts and don’t use yardage in the process also. Please draft an ALL-PURPOSE back for the future now PLEASE !!!!!!!!!!!!
jack
November 12th, 2012
11:53 pm
Michael Turner next ?????
fanATicaL
November 12th, 2012
11:57 pm
It is time to steal Maurice Jones Drew from the Jaguars.We have stolen every thing else of value from them.
NORRIS CHUCK
November 13th, 2012
12:02 am
Michael Turner is NEXT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Falcons RiseUp
November 13th, 2012
12:06 am
I disagree about cutting Turner but Coach should give Antone Smith some playing time
Another Bust
November 13th, 2012
12:07 am
The left DE position has been one bust – Jamaal Anderson- followed by another in Edwards. How can one organization get it so horribly wrong twice in a row? Only question is why release Edwards now if his contract is guaranteed for the remainder of the season.
Dirty Bird
November 13th, 2012
12:10 am
Ray Edwards: looks like Tarzan, played like Jane! Dunta is a dud too, if Grimes wasn’t hurt he’d be the next to go! Asante is allergic to contact, this is pro football, not ballet dancing!
Peter
November 13th, 2012
12:10 am
A buddy in Minnesota laughed when we got him…….he said he was disruptive to the Vikings organization, and he only got his sacks because of the other linemen there.
He must have been disruptive……..and non productive all at the same time !
We do need a pass rush…….. and where is it going to come from ?
keith
November 13th, 2012
12:11 am
Fire Michael Turner NEXT!!!
Dirty Bird
November 13th, 2012
12:13 am
Bird Fan, with a comment like yours you should change your name to Bird Brain! Dummy
Blackcow
November 13th, 2012
12:14 am
Sooo…is my Pro Bowl vote voided now? WTF.
Blackcow
November 13th, 2012
12:15 am
He can thank Jarrod Allen for his $11 mil he stole from us. That guy was a joke.
Falcons RiseUp
November 13th, 2012
12:16 am
Matty is doing a excellent job at QB here just need to learn to extend the play if he has too
Tree Rollins
November 13th, 2012
12:17 am
Michael ‘the burner’ Turner is next – see ya Burner
Choke On My Grits
November 13th, 2012
12:18 am
I remember when Edwards came In He called Himself the “MISSING PIECE”….yeah…you know… He truly was!
Falcons RiseUp
November 13th, 2012
12:19 am
I wish Coach would let Antone Smith get a chance in the backfield I think he is what our offense is missing
Tom(Independent Viet Vet-USAF)
November 13th, 2012
12:21 am
How much money do we owe Michael Turner for the next two years on his contract, that is probably what is holding this up?
keith
November 13th, 2012
12:21 am
Turner should have been the 1st to receive his walking papers. He plays with no passion at all. Big time players make big time plays. Turner is way past his prime. Maybe he could convert to FULLBACK!
freddie falcon
November 13th, 2012
12:25 am
Mike Nolan is an offensive coordinator ?? That explains it
Dean Lee
November 13th, 2012
12:25 am
Over priced end.Time to clean out more vets, Micheal Turner.Draft a back with speed, power,moves
vision.A back who can get 1yd or 20yds on any given play.Quit over paying for defense,AA usrless
celbration cost the team & he should be fined by Smith.Birds had chances to go 9-0.They need to
come together as a team as the pundits just don”t beleive they will.Us dirty birds beleive! So go
prove pundits wrong! Go dirty birds1
keith
November 13th, 2012
12:27 am
Next Draft: (2)Corners–(1)Defensive End–(1)Running Back—(1)Linebacker (1)Safety, QB or DT! You can win it all with an “inept” running game….Never too early to think NFL Draft.
freebird13
November 13th, 2012
12:28 am
Enter your comments here
keith
November 13th, 2012
12:30 am
Also, a 6″5′ receiver could have helped us tremendously ie..,PLAXICO BURRESS. Give ALBERT HAYNESWORTH a call.
The Dude
November 13th, 2012
12:30 am
Holy cow…it’s like this blog is from the future..
Tree Rollins
November 13th, 2012
12:30 am
The whole Ray Edwards saga reminds me of a bad fart – it felt good for a minute but the lingering smell made me wish we hadn’t done it!!
eff you
November 13th, 2012
12:33 am
Loyalfalconfrmthemississipi, stfu and die. go away. you’re name is too long and annoying to look at and everything you say is stupid. kill yourself.
John
November 13th, 2012
12:36 am
Ray Edwards is a horrible person who doesn’t deserve to live. It makes me very happy that he is now jobless and I pray that he catches leprosy.
Tree Rollins
November 13th, 2012
12:38 am
Did I see one doosh-bagg on this site actually wished Edwards good luck? Is this what we have for Falcons fanz now? Let’s wish Bobby Petrino good luck also wih his Harley repair – jeeshh!
nativefalcon
November 13th, 2012
12:41 am
The whole reason they got him was to take pressure off of Abe which he never did, or get sacks when John was getting double teamed which he never did. I’m glad the front office did it, their not playing. They want a super bowl, We want players that have that hunger, I wished we had gone after babin more or some others, I knew Edwards was a bad deal, he rode the coat tails of the Vikings DE Jared, he was not that good. I ‘m just hoping we are going to get a replacement or make this work better, because Edwards was not doing SQUAT.
Buckhead Benny
November 13th, 2012
12:43 am
Remember though last year he was so hurt and was playing on one leg that had surgery…… Blah blah blah and I called that be last year- Hell I guess he got worse when he got healthy then Hugh?
This just in
November 13th, 2012
12:46 am
Showed ya’ll I’ma winner…
Byron