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Falcons' free-agency plan: business as usual - atljbo - 02-16-2011 09:17 PM
Falcons' free-agency plan: business as usual
In a normal year, the Falcons would have a chance to address their personnel shortcomings through free agency and then fill in the blanks during the NFL draft.
However, the uneasy labor situation is making it more difficult for the team to plan how they will address their personnel situation this offseason.
The current collective bargaining agreement is set to expire March 3 and could put a halt to free agency. The draft is set to be held April 28-30.
"Obviously the CBA situation is on everyone's mind," Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff said. "Our staff here has always been and will continue to [operate] business as usual. That's the only way that we can approach things. There are some very intelligent people working on both sides of the ball to try to get [the labor situation] taken care of."
Under Dimitroff, in 2008 the Falcons made a big splash in free agency when they signed running back Michael Turner to a six-year, $34.5 million contract. They added linebacker Mike Peterson in 2009 for modest two-year deal.
Last season they were big spenders again, adding cornerback Dunta Robinson with a six-year, $57 million deal.
But before they go shopping, the Falcons must handle their own players. The team has 14 free agents and will approach free agency, whenever it happens, with an internal plan and external plan.
They've already signed reserve linebacker Coy Wire, but agents who represent some of the other players believe the team is waiting until the labor situation is settled to orchestrate their major deals.
"We are approaching free agency like it will be there, and that's how we are rating the potential free agents," Dimitroff said. "We'll be ready when the time comes to make those decisions."
Dimitroff said the Falcons "at this point" don't plan to use their franchise tag, but haven't made their final decision. They have until Wednesday to do so.
By putting the “franchise” tag on a player, the Falcons would have the right to match any offer the player receives in free agency or receive two first-round picks as compensation. The player is guaranteed a one-year contract worth at the average of the top five players at his position or a 20 percent increase over his 2010 salary, whichever is greater.
Included in the group of free agents are three starting offensive linemen: left guard Justin Blalock, right guard Harvey Dahl and right tackle Tyson Clabo, who made the Pro Bowl last season.
The team's other free agents are kicker Matt Bryant, wide receiver Brian Finneran, cornerback Brent Grimes, punter Michael Koenen, defensive tackle Trey Lewis, linebacker Stephen Nicholas, running back Jerious Norwood, linebacker Mike Peterson, tackle Will Svitek, wide receiver Eric Weems and cornerback Brian Williams.
"We have always been very cognizant of the fact that we will be faced with some tough and challenging decisions," Dimitroff said.
The Falcons are concerned that a team or several teams will swoop in and offer one of their linemen substantially more than what they have budgeted for the position.
The team planned for this scenario over the past two drafts by selecting tackle Garrett Reynolds, guard Mike Johnson and center Joe Hawley, who can also play guard. They've also been developing Jose Valdez, a promising guard, on the practice squad.
"We knew all along that we were going to face some tough decisions along our offensive line, and we have planned for the possibility of losing people along our offensive line to free agency," Dimitroff said.
"We are very mindful of that. Hopefully, we can get them re-signed, but in the event that doesn't happen exactly the way that we may project, we may have to get ready to move forward."
RE: Falcons' free-agency plan: business as usual - The Falcon Jedi - 02-17-2011 12:13 AM
Clabo had a good year. The others not so much.
RE: Falcons' free-agency plan: business as usual - monoxide - 02-17-2011 11:58 AM
(02-17-2011 12:13 AM)The Falcon Jedi Wrote: Clabo had a good year. The others not so much.the offensive lineman or the free agents?
RE: Falcons' free-agency plan: business as usual - g-dawg - 02-17-2011 02:38 PM
I think Falcons should let both Dahl and Blalock go. Both guys are decent players but neither are overly talented and I don't think the Falcons would experience any dropoff with Mike Johnson, Joe Hawley and Jose Valdez to move up to starter positions. We do need to re-sign Clabo and it will be easier to give him the money if we don't waste money on Dahl/Blalock with good replacements waiting in the wings - this also frees up money for Grimes - and most importantly allows Falcons to be aggressive in free agent market at cornerback and defensive end.
RE: Falcons' free-agency plan: business as usual - Radical - 02-17-2011 04:56 PM
If we can get them back for the right value, we should. Just because you have solid depth doesn't mean you just throw away your starters the first time they hit FA. I do believe though that Grimes and Clabo should be priority signings.
RE: Falcons' free-agency plan: business as usual - g-dawg - 02-17-2011 05:13 PM
(02-17-2011 04:56 PM)Radical Wrote: If we can get them back for the right value, we should. Just because you have solid depth doesn't mean you just throw away your starters the first time they hit FA. I do believe though that Grimes and Clabo should be priority signings.
I'm not wanting to just "give away" Blalock/Dahl" - but you gotta be realistic, Radical. We have great depth on the offensive line and - most years - the depth is never used. I would not be suprised if Mike Johnson/Joe Hawley/Jose Valdez could outperform both Blalock and Dahl.......Blalock/Dahl are decent players but neither are irreplacable.
Falcons have serious deficienies in many areas - CB, DE, WR, RB, Future TE - and we don't need to tie up extra monies in the middle of our offensive line - when those guys are not difference makers.
Falcons need to use their resources wisely and these guys - Blalock/Dahl - are gonna get overpaid somewhere else - we don't need to overpay to retain them in the A-T-L.
RE: Falcons' free-agency plan: business as usual - Paprika Neck - 02-17-2011 10:51 PM
gotta re-sign at least 1 or we'll be atupid thin i dont really care which one theyre all about the same clabo has the size and strength advantage though
RE: Falcons' free-agency plan: business as usual - The Falcon Jedi - 02-18-2011 01:47 AM
I dont care what we do this off-season, I just want this regime to win 1 Playoff game.
RE: Falcons' free-agency plan: business as usual - g-dawg - 02-18-2011 01:04 PM
(02-17-2011 04:56 PM)Radical Wrote: If we can get them back for the right value, we should. Just because you have solid depth doesn't mean you just throw away your starters the first time they hit FA. I do believe though that Grimes and Clabo should be priority signings.
agreed.....Grimes/Clabo are "must" signings - everybody else, some Falcons would want to re-sign but nobody else is irreplaceable.
RE: Falcons' free-agency plan: business as usual - The Falcon Jedi - 02-18-2011 08:46 PM
(02-18-2011 01:04 PM)g-dawg Wrote: agreed.....Grimes/Clabo are "must" signings - everybody else, some Falcons would want to re-sign but nobody else is irreplaceable.
^^^ what he said