Falcons: PFT - Falcons won’t overpay to keep Curtis Lofton, John Abraham

[atljbo]

Falcons won’t overpay to keep Curtis Lofton, John Abraham

Posted by Michael David Smith on February 22, 2012, 12:09 PM EST
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Curtis Lofton and John Abraham are both stalwarts of Atlanta’s defense, but as free agency approaches, the Falcons seem willing to let both of them walk.

The Falcons are widely expected to use the franchise tag to keep one soon-to-be free agent, cornerback Brent Grimes. But Lofton and Abraham are also soon-to-be free agents, and the Falcons aren’t planning to overpay to keep either one of them.

Mark Bradley of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that the Falcons won’t be crushed if Lofton leaves because many within the Falcons organization believe that Lofton is a liability against the pass. That doesn’t mean the Falcons won’t make any effort to re-sign Lofton, but it sounds like the Falcons are going to be willing to let Lofton test the market, and if some team offers him more than the Falcons think he’s worth, they’ll say goodbye and put Akeem Dent, a third-round draft pick last year who played in all 16 games as a rookie, in the middle linebacker spot.

As for Abraham, who has led the team in sacks for two straight years, the Falcons apparently think he’s too one-dimensional and, at 33, too old. Abraham will apparently need to see if some other team wants a situational pass rusher who turns 34 in May.

For the Falcons, who traded away this year’s first-round draft pick as part of the deal to acquire Julio Jones last year, free agency will be their best chance to improve the roster. But at the moment, the talk in Atlanta is more about which free agents the Falcons will be losing.

[The Falcon Jedi]

Good. And the Falcons should not over pay for them.

[mdrake34]

So . . . do we sign someone else? Draft someone? (please God not another 5th round 240 lb. DE from a D-VII school)

[DemBirds]

You better be planning to spend big on Mario Williams if you let Abe walk because we don't have shit to replace him with. I'd understand spending big on Williams over Abe based on age, but they better have a FA target and a damn good idea how to get him.

[SLICK NICK]

(02-22-2012 09:38 PM)mdrake34 Wrote:  So . . . do we sign someone else? Draft someone? (please God not another 5th round 240 lb. DE from a D-VII school)

I think that 5th rounder has exceeded expectations, and if used right will be a great asset to the defense. I personally think in the 3-4 OLB position he will really shine. MHO

[ggp]

I am looking forward to the time when the Falcons will not have to over pay for anyone.

[ChrisD]

You know, I can understand the Abe thing. But Lofton? I mean look at how young the guy is. He's already the leader of our defense, and to say there isn't room for improvement in any aspects of his game still is absolutely crazy. The guy is going to be a top linebacker for years to come. I know we have Spoon, but keeping Lofton needs to be a priority. Akeem Dent is not a long term answer for us at linebacker (As much as I do like what I had seen from the guy!). I really hope the Falcons don't spend huge money on Grimes only to pass up Lofton.

Then again, this problem has been coming for a couple years now as it was all created by the overpaying of Dunta Robinson.

[Aftermath]

Every time I read about the Falcons franchising Grimes I want to drive up to FB and give TD a preemptive bitch slap

[Jimusmc]

they better not tag grimes.. thats 10.6 Mil for him..

he's not worth that

[Tigz]

(02-23-2012 10:19 PM)Jimusmc Wrote:  they better not tag grimes.. thats 10.6 Mil for him..

he's not worth that

I agree