Falcons defensive end Dwight Freeney, who signed a one-year contract possibly worth $4 million, arrived at the team’s facilities on Thursday.
Freeney will not practice with the team until Sunday or Monday, according to coach Dan Quinn.
“Well, I’m excited,” Freeney said. “This is a team that for the last few years, I’ve always look at this team as having a lot of potential to do some great things. They have a lot of talent, definitely offensively, and defensively we are getting it together now.”
Freeney, who has 119.5 career quarterback sacks, visited the Falcons in June.
“We are excited about having him here,” Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff said. “We think he’s going to be a nice addition to this defensive front that’s going to work together. Everyone is going to be rotating properly. We think the he can be a nice contributor not only on the field, but a leader by example as well.”
He also visited the Cincinnati Bengals this offseason. He starred for the Indianapolis Colts for 11 seasons. He played two seasons with San Diego and last season with Arizona.
“I wanted to come here because I see that the possibilities are endless, especially with a coach like (Dan) Quinn,” Freeney said. “He has the right attitude. He’s a standup guy. I’m just here to help them turn that corner.”
Falcons owner Arthur Blank was pleased with move.
“What you’re interested in is can a player still produce,” Blank said. “Last year in Arizona he played in 11 games and he had eight sacks and three forced fumbles. He had a high level of production. We think he’s got that capacity left in him.”
The Falcons hope that Freeney can help their dormant pass rush. The Falcons had just 19 sacks last season, which was last in the league.
“Dwight can still get up and around the corner,” Dimitroff said. “He has the ability to spin as we all know. His patented spin move is special. We are hoping that he can add to our repertoire of getting upfield.”
Last season, Freeney had eight sacks over 255 snaps in 11 games.
“There is a lot that I would like to bring,” Freeney said. “Obviously, make some plays here on the field. I think I still have a lot left to give from an on the field perspective also some leadership for a guy who’s been around for 14 now going on 15 years. It’s just being able to help the young guys maybe avoid some of the issues or help them grow as a player a lot better.”
Freeney is aware that the Falcons have the highly touted linebacker/defensive Vic Beasley, who’s set to enter his second season in the league.
“I’ve seen a little bit and I’ve heard about him,” Freeney said. “He has a lot of potential and a lot of talent. Hopefully, I can help him out and teach him some moves here. Maybe, I’ll have him spinning, you never know. But I think having a guy like that with so much youth and energy is going to be good. It will probably motivate me, too.”
Freeney, an avid golfer, considered retiring before the 2015 season.
“I got the call from Bruce Arians last year he was like ‘awe, give it another try,’ ” Freeney said. “I said, ‘Ok, we’ll see what happens.’ I had so much fun last year. They understood me and knew how to use me the right way. I wasn’t back covering (Patriots tight end Rob) Gronkowski 30 yards down the field.”
Over the offseason, Freeney stated that he was 90 percent sure that he’d play one more year.
“I talked to Hall of Famer Howie Long and he said, ‘look, play as long as you can because when it’s over, it’s over,” Freeney
said.
The Falcons plan to use him as a nickel rusher. He doesn’t know how many snaps he can play on a weekly basis.
“If it’s 45 or 50 (snaps), they’re going to have to give me an IV,” Freeney quipped.
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