Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff and his personnel lieutenants are ready to spring into action if the labor talks produce a much-anticipated settlement.
The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Friday that the lockout was legal, which led to the NFL and NFLPA issuing a joint statement calling for a negotiated settlement that could lead to a “full 2011 season.”
If a settlement is reached, a signing frenzy will follow.
Teams must address free agency by signing their own players or eligible players from other teams, and they must sign their own draft picks and undrafted free agents before the opening of training camp.
Some teams are scheduled to report July 22, and the first exhibition game, the Pro Football Hall of Fame game between Chicago and St. Louis, is scheduled for Aug. 7.
The Falcons, have 11 free agents, and their status as restricted or unrestricted will depend on the new agreement. The team could be hit hard along the offensive line, at running back, at linebacker and on special teams.
If the new rules allow for players with four, five and six accrued years to become free agents, right guard Harvey Dahl, left guard Justin Blalock and right tackle Tyson Clabo could be unrestricted free agents. All three are starters and played key roles in the team’s rise to becoming the reigning NFC South champions.
Also, running backs Jerious Norwood and Jason Snelling are free agents. The Falcons attempted to add depth to the backfield by drafting Jacquizz Rodgers of Oregon State in the fifth round of this year’s draft.
Norwood is a five-year veteran, but has been slowed by injuries. He has played in 57 regular-season games (out of a possible 80) over five seasons
“With them drafting a back, they are going in a different direction, I would guess,” said Bus Cook, Norwood’s agent. “Jerious is a good football player. Somebody is going to pick him up.”
Snelling, who was a seventh-round draft pick in 2007, is a four-year veteran. He has been extremely productive with 872 and 627 yards from scrimmage during the past two seasons.
Starting linebackers Mike Peterson and Stephen Nicholas are free agents. Peterson, who turned 35 on June 17, is a key cog in the run defense. Nicholas, a four-year player, has started 25 games over the past two seasons and has played in 65 games in his career.
Kicker Matt Bryant and punter Michael Koenen are free agents. Bryant practiced with the team during their player-led workouts over the offseason at Buford High. Koenen did not attend the practices. Perhaps he was unhappy with the selection of punter Matt Bosher in the sixth round of the draft.
Pro Bowlers Brent Grimes and Eric Weems are the remaining free agents, but they have only three accrued years apiece. Grimes, a cornerback, has signed with super agents Tom Condon and Ben Dogra of Creative Artists Agency and is looking for a lucrative long-term contract.
Weems, a returner-receiver who displayed big-play ability last season, has a chance to earn more playing time in the passing attack. “They want him,” said James Christopher Martin, Weems’ agent. “I don’t suspect there will be any arm wrestling to get a deal done. I don’t think they look at him as a one-trick pony.”
After making decisions on their own players, the Falcons must determine if they can improve their talent by signing free agents from other teams.
The Falcons will look hard at the top defensive ends. Charles Johnson (Carolina), Ray Edwards (Minnesota), Cullen Jenkins (Green Bay), Mathias Kiwanuka (New York Giants) and Jason Babin (Tennessee) are rated as the top five defensive ends “in order of ability” by Mel Kiper. The Falcons likely have Edwards rated higher than Johnson, a former Georgia standout who had 11.5 sacks last season.
Dimitroff’s commitment to “fiscal responsibility” likely will keep the Falcons out of the bidding for Oakland cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, Kiper’s top-rated cornerback. Asomugha will command a deal much larger than the six-year, $57.5 million deal the Falcons signed Dunta Robinson to last season.
In addition to dealing with free agency, the team must sign their rookie draft picks.
The Falcons moved up 21 spots in the draft to select wide receiver Julio Jones. His contract potentially could be affected by the new agreement, which may include a rookie-wage scale. He is represented by SportsTrust Advisors, which was created when Pat Dye Jr. and Jimmy Sexton merged firms.
Once all of the players are under contract, coach Mike Smith and his staff will take over. If time permits, he would like to bring in the rookies first to get them acclimated to their new environment.
“I won’t get into specifics, but we have used this time in the offseason to our benefit,” Smith said.
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