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Thursday, February 5, 2009
Falcons lose a real pro
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
NFL offensive linemen, because of their job description, get a bad rap.
But there was not a finer person in the Falcons locker room than Todd Weiner.
It’s a sad day for Falcons fans as Weiner arrived at the facilities in Flowery Branch around 9:30 a.m. Thursday to turn in his cleats.
He was set to retire. He battled through last season like an old-school heavyweight fighter going 15 rounds after coming back from microfracture surgery. He played in all 17 games and had 11 starts.
The real pros don’t play the game for money. They play for the love of the game.
Weiner was a real pro.
He’s leaving because he thinks his time is up. He could have tried to stick around and cash some more checks. He was set to make another $11 million if he somehow could have finished out the last three years on his contract.
The Falcons will pick up $4.75 million under the 2009 salary cap with the retirement of Weiner. He was set to make base salaries of $3.25 million in 2009, $3.75 million in 2010 and $4 million in 2011. The effect on future salary caps are not certain because under the current labor impasse 2010 is set to be an un-capped year.
Weiner’s salary cap number for 2010 was set, before the labor impasse, to be $5.25 million and $4 million in 2011.
Weiner’s retirement also leaves the Falcons thin behind starters Sam Baker and right tackle Tyson Clabo. The remaining tackles on the rosters are veteran Wayne Gandy, Renardo Foster, who’s coming off a knee injury, and reserves Quinn Ojinnaka and Pat McCoy.
I always thought Weiner did a great job of Carolina’s much-hyped Julius Peppers.
What are some of your thoughts on his retirement? How will the Falcons replace his toughness and skill? Do they need to get some insurance in the draft or free agency?
Let’s wish one of the swell guys in the NFL a happy retirement, as he plans to spend more time with wife Sunny, coaching his kids and working in the banking industry.
