FLOWERY BRANCH – It's expected to be a battle of former front office mates and former defensive coordinators in the quest to sign Seattle linebacker Bruce Irvin.
The first shot was fired on Tuesday when Jacksonville general manager Dave Caldwell, a former assistant under Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff, hired away personnel executive DeJuan Polk.
Jacksonville is coached by Gus Bradley, who was Irvin’s initial defensive coordinator in Seattle in 2012. Falcons coach Dan Quinn was his coordinator in 2013 and 2014 before landing the job with the Falcons.
Polk, who was a pro personnel scout for the Falcons, was set to be demoted to a college scouting position. He has all of the information from meetings on the team view Irvin and other pros.
Irvin has repeatedly stated to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he wants to play for the Falcons.
ESPN salary cap maven John Clayton projected that the Irvin should get close to $9.5 million a year from Jacksonville or Atlanta.
That’s going to be a little on the high side for the Falcons, who are $30.6 million under the cap while Jacksonville is $73.6 under.
Look for Irvin to land with the Jags, unless the Stone Mountain native gives the Falcons a home-town discount.
