FLOWERY BRANCH -- The Falcons released veteran running back Steven Jackson today, the team confirmed.
The team will save $3.75 million against the salary cap with the move. His cap number was slated to be $4.9 million and the dead money against the cap is his prorated signing bonus of $1.1 million.
Jackson, 6-foot-3, 229 pounds, formerly played with the St. Louis Rams. He voided his contract in order to become a free agent and signed a three-year deal worth $12 million with the Falcons on March 13, 2013. A total of $4 million of the contract was guaranteed.
The Falcons hoped that Jackson would help replace Michael “The Burner” Turner, who was released after spending five productive years with the team.
Jackson’s pass-catching ability was lauded by the Falcons, but a dropped touchdown pass in first game with the Falcons in New Orleans foreshadowed that his stay with the team would not be very productive.
He was beset with injuries in 2013 and 2014, playing 12 and 15 games respectively. He had 347 carries for 1,250 yards (3.6 yards per carry) and 12 touchdowns. He caught 53 passes for 339 yards and one touchdown.
Before joining the Falcons, Jackson has rushed for 10,135 yards and 56 touchdowns in the NFL since being taken in the first round (24th overall) of the 2004 draft. He also has caught 407 passes for 3,324 yards and eight touchdowns with the St. Louis Rams.
The release of Jackson was expected after both general manager Thomas Dimitroff and coach Dan Quinn sang the praises of another running back, Devonta Freeman, at the combine recently.
“Yes, no question,” was Dimitroff’s response when asked if Freeman could be a full-time running back in the team’s new outside-zone blocking system.
Quinn said: “My first impression of him is that you can feel the quickness. In our outside-zone-system, I feel like this is tailor-made for a guy who can really explode off the edge.”
New coordinator Kyle Shanahan is also a fan of Freeman’s running style.
“Devonta is someone that I loved coming out of college last year,” Shanahan said. “Then the guy from Oregon State (Jacquizz Rodgers), I loved him coming out of college.”
The Falcons re-signed fullback Patrick DiMarco on Tuesday. Running backs Jacquizz Rodgers and Antone Smith are set to enter free agency if they don’t have reach contract extensions with the team by March 10.
The running back class for the upcoming draft is considered to be deep.
Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon and Georgia's Todd Gurley are considered the top running backs available. Alabama's T.J. Yeldon, South Carolina's Mike Davis, Northern Iowa's David Johnson and Indiana's Tevin Coleman are also considered strong NFL prospects.
Jackson plans to continue playing, according to a statement posted on his website.
Now that the Atlanta Falcons and I have parted ways, I want to say thank you to the organization, and the entire city of Atlanta.
In terms of what we hoped to accomplish as a team on the field, my time as a Falcon was a disappointment, but I will always be grateful for how the city and franchise treated me while I was there. Mr. Blank is one of the classiest owners I've been lucky enough to meet, and I feel fortunate to have played for him. I was also fortunate enough to make some tremendous new friends while I was there, and I'll continue to be a big brother to everyone I shared the backfield with. I wish the Falcons nothing but the best moving ahead.
A lot has been written lately about my future. There are questions about my age, and what I have left in the tank. Of that, I will simply say this. For the first nine years of my career, I was used like a battering ram, punishing opposing defenses over four quarters of a game. Maybe you stopped me the first five times I got the ball, but by the 15th or 20th time I got it, late in a game -- let's just say you were really feeling me at that point.
Make no mistake: I can still punish a defense. I still have a warrior's heart. There are 1,000-yard seasons left in these legs. I know what I am still capable of, and I have every intention of proving it.
FALCONS STORIES
Falcons to focus on adding another cornerstone
Quinn-Dimitroff partnership off to a strong start
Q&A with Falcons head coach Dan Quinn at the combine
Falcons coach Dan Quinn fired up to watch pass-rushers
Q&A with Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff on moving forward
Falcons to keep character filter on draft picks
Falcons close to re-signing kicker Matt Bryant
Falcons LT Jake Matthews recovering from offseason surgery
Falcons plan to extend WR Julio Jones contract
Falcons could target Denver TE Julius Thomas in free agency
Falcons' roster gutting could have big names (i.e. Steven Jackson)
Cutting the Falcons roster -- Should they stay or should they go?
COMBINE STORIES
Todd Gurley speaks about autograph-signing caper
Bucs appear set to cast future with Jameis Winston
Todd Gurley intriguing prospect to NFL teams
Chris Conley puts on a dazzling show at the combine
Waller, Smelter out to prove NFL standing at the combine
VIDEO DEPARTMENT
Watch: D. Led -- Falcons news at the combine
Watch: NFL Network's Mike Mayock at the combine
Watch: Todd Gurley has interviews set up with 24 NFL teams
Watch: Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff at the combine
Watch: Falcons coach Dan Quinn at the combine
Watch: Rams GM Les Snead on the pass-rush talent at the combine
FALCONS COMBINE MEETINGS
Oregon DE Arik Armstead talked scheme with the Falcons
Falcons met with Alabama quarterback Blake Sims
Falcons to meet with Florida DE Dante Fowler Jr.
Falcons met with Wake Forest CB Kevin Johnson
Falcons met with Alabama safety Landon Collins
PHOTO GALLERIES
Photographs from the 2015 NFL scouting combine
