Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff continued to push the notion that the team is not strapped under the NFL’s salary cap.
The Falcons have just $4.09 million under the cap, according to NFLPA documents.
They have $4.1 million, according to overthecap.com, and $4.5 million, according to spotrac.
If the new collective bargaining agreement passes, the Falcons can use post-June 1 designations on their salary cap casualties. Also, they can re-structure contracts and pay some signing bonuses to spread out over the remaining years for some key players. Due the union situation, they have not been able to make those moves.
When asked to describe the situation during an appearance of the team’s flagship radio station, 92.9 FM The game on Friday, Dimitroff tried to characterize the salary cap situation.
“Take this the right way,” Dimitroff said. “I was doing my own research on the definition of hell and it’s perpetual fire. We are not in an un-ending or perpetual fire (situation). We are in a situation, as I alluded to earlier, when you spend money on the people that you’re spending money on, you’re in a situation from year to year ... where every year is the same in the sense of we really look at our players.
“We look at where we are spending our money and we try to decide how we are going to adjust. Sometimes, it takes more creativity in a year where you sign a lot of players to high contracts coming into a year verses another year when things are a little less active and it becomes a little easier to navigate.
“This year happens to be one of those years with the players that I suggested earlier that we have signed (Matt Ryan, Julio Jones and Grady Jarrett) that it makes it more complicated. Again, not perpetual.
“I feel we are in a really good spot. Meaning that I understand, and Dan (Quinn) understands and so does (president) Rich McKay and (owner) Arthur Blank, where we are with this team. Where we need to continue to grow. How we need to continue to build and where we need to put our money and maybe not put our money.
“So, again, it will take creativity. In no way is it cap hell. We are in a solid situation that is going to continue to get better as we make some tough decisions into this offseason.”
While the Falcons insisted they are not in salary cap hell, they have already allowed tight end Austin Hooper, linebacker De'Vondre Campbell and guard Wes Schweitzer to enter free agency. Their current available salary cap space would be needed to sign the 2020 draft class.
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