Falcons defensive end Osi Umenyiora no longer has to endure uncertainty for next season.
Umenyiora will return and no restructure of his contract is planned, according to general manager Thomas Dimitroff. Also, defensive end Kroy Biermann will be back and there is no restructure planned for his contract, either.
There was one of those unsourced reports that the team wanted him to take a pay cut.
The Falcons were pleased with Umenyiora's mentorship of the young defensive ends last season. As the team's playoff hopes slipped away, Umenyiora moved into a designated pass rusher role.
Here's a column from Jeff Schultz on Thomas Dimitroff (subscription required).
Umenyiora has a salary cap number of $4.75 million and a base salary of $2.5 million for 2014.
Biermann, who’s coming back from torn Achilles tendon surgery, has a salary cap number of $4.08 and a base salary of $3.05 million for 2015.
"I'm a team guy, especially right now," Umenyiora said. "For the team, I don't think it's been quite as good this year. Hopefully, we can get this thing corrected next year. But for me, you know, I just didn't help this team (enough). Right now, my whole focus is going in there and doing the best I can."
Umenyiora said he plans to focus on rushing from both the right and left sides, although he's mostly been used from the right side for most of his career.
Against Washington, Massaquoi played 58 of 68 defensive snaps (86 percent). While rookie defensive ends Malliciah Goodman (27) and Stansly Maponga (10 snaps) got some action, too.
"It was not a demotion," Smith insisted. "I basically wanted to put him on a pitch count in terms of number of snaps."
With main free agent signee Paul Soliai, a defensive tackle, clogging up the middle, Umenyiora and Biermann should have more one-on-one rush opportunities when the Falcons are in their 4-3 and 3-4 defensive alignments.
The Falcons will likely play their stouter ends, Tyson Jackson, Jonathan Massaquoi, Malliciah Goodman in run situations. Also, Peria Jerry and Jonathan Babibeaux, 4-3 tackles and have also been used as ends in the 3-4.
The Falcons are not switching the 3-4. They have already been running it for the past two seasons.
FALCONS REWIND
--Blog: Falcons awarded three compensatory picks
--Blog: Lamar Holmes was a performance-pay leader in 2014
--Blog: Umenyiora will return in 2014, no restructured deal
--Blog: Falcons release FB Bradie Ewing
--Blog: Falcons WR Roddy White owes Mercer fan some prime tickets
--Blog: Falcons owner Arthur Blank engaged to be married.
--Blog: Former Falcons WR Kevin Cone to work out for Carolina
--Blog: Falcons re-sign defensive tackle Peria Jerry
--Blog: NFL to move forward on cleaning up 'on-field' language
--MyAJC ($): Falcons spend $80 million in free agency to buy toughness
--Las Vegas doesn't like Falcons' free agency moves
--Falcons Free Agency Tracker -- Falcons have committed $107.36 million to salaries
--Q&A with PR/KR/WR Devin Hester
--Q&A with Falcons right guard Jon Asamoah
--Q&A with Falcons defensive end Tyson Jackson
--Q&A with Falcons defensive tackle Paul Soliai
2014 NFL DRAFT CENTRAL
--Mock Draft 1.0: Falcons trade out of sixth spot to land Pryor and Ebron
--12 teams who could draft UGA star Aaron Murray
--Louisville LB Preston Brown to work out for the Falcons
--Louisville DE Marcus Smith to work out for the Falcons
--MyAJC ($): OT Greg Robinson, DE Dee Ford shine at Auburn's Pro Day
--VIDEO: Tackle Greg Robinson on Auburn's Pro Day
--VIDEO: Running back Tra Mason on Auburn's Pro Day
--Blog & VIDEO: Clemson QB Tajh Boyd has stellar Pro Day showing
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