Once the NFL lockout was lifted on Monday, the activity picked up at 4400 Falcon Parkway and went well into the night.
Falcons head coach Mike Smith met with his assistant coaches, worked through logistics, polished off the training camp schedule and got ready for the first team meeting.
General manager Thomas Dimitroff was down the hall with the personnel men, trying to work deals with the team's latest draft class, sign undrafted rookies and talk with representatives of their 11 free agents.
“It’s back to football and back to work,” Smith said. “I look forward to getting back out there on the practice field with my coaches and our players.”
The Falcons, the defending NFC South champions, will return to the team facilities Tuesday and turn to the practice field on Friday.
Dimitroff and his staff have to fill out the camp roster. They are allowed 90 players. Currently the Falcons have 54 players under contract and those 11 free agents.
The Falcons will focus on re-signing their own players with a goal of keeping the offensive line together. Right tackle Tyson Clabo, right guard Harvey Dahl and left guard Justin Blalock are unrestricted free agents.
Kicker Matt Bryant, punter Michael Koenen, running backs Jason Snelling and Jerious Norwood, and linebackers Stephen Nicholas and Mike Peterson are unrestricted free agents. Cornerback Brent Grimes and receiver-returner Eric Weems are restricted free agents.
The Falcons, with so many free agents and players they’d like to consider for contract extensions during the season, likely won't sign a high-priced free agent from another team.
The players were scrambling, too.
“Coy Wire sent out an email to everybody and I called a couple of the guys personally,” said Clabo, the team’s player representative. who participated in the conference call that ended the lockout. “At this point, I would anticipate that the guys would be getting a lot of phone calls from the coaches.”
Clabo, Dahl and Blalock have been mainstays on the offensive line that has protected quarterback Matt Ryan and helped Michael Turner put up two 1,300-yard rushing seasons.
They would all like to return.
“It’s come up,” Clabo said. “We will be really happy if it works out that way.”
Clabo, who was the team’s point man during the labor negotiations, knows that free agency is a business.
“I’m just going to have to really sit back and make a pros and cons list and make the best possible decision for my family,” Clabo said.
After making his first Pro Bowl last season, Clabo is not sure if he’d give the Falcons a so-called “home-team discount” and turn down more money from another team.
“There is give-and-take in every situation,” Clabo said. “There are a lot of positives that could come with me staying here, just the familiarity. I have a good routine here.
“I’m just going to have to weigh those positives against money and all of that stuff. I’ve always said that I love it here. I want to stay. I’m going to have a difficult decision in front of me.”
With most of the players living in the area, the Falcons were able to hold twice-a-week practices in May and June at Buford High School. Most of the team took part in a strength and conditioning program with Jim Launer of Ignite Elite Athletic Training.
“It was vital because we weren’t around to be with Jeff Fish and his staff,” said Wire of the Falcons' training staff. “The aim for our offseason program was to go back to him and be in good shape.”
About the Author
