Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan was incredulous at the mere thought of a football team without wide receiver Roddy White.
“I’m hoping it keeps going a long time,” Ryan said.
White, the team’s 34-year-old all-team leading receiver, said has no plans to retire and wants to play at least two more years timed to the opening of new Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
But realistically, with how the Falcons have cut veterans in the recent past to save salary cap room, Sunday’s game against White’s most-hated team, the New Orleans Saints, could well be his last at the Georgia Dome.
“I plan on being a Falcon forever,” White said Wednesday. “That’s what they told me. That’s where my heart is. That’s where my mind’s at.”
After the 2012 season, the Falcons waived running back Michael Turner, even though he still had a year on his contract. Last season, wide receiver Harry Douglas, left tackle Sam Baker, left guard Justin Blalock and running back Steven Jackson all became salary cap casualties.
White, who signed a four-year, $30 million contract in July 2014, has been frustrated with his role in the new offense.
He is set to make a base salary of $2.75 million with $1.5 million roster bonus in 2016, but his salary cap number is slated to the sixth-highest on the team at $6.1 million. He is set to make $3 million in base salary with $1.5 million roster bonus in 2017.
“I have no idea how next year is going to be,” said White, a four-time Pro Bowler. “I’m just going to take it in and try to finish as strong as possible and get myself ready to go for next year. Whatever happens after that, happens.”
Ryan and White became one the league’s most productive duos from 2008-2012, when White averaged 96 catches per season. He led the league with 115 catches in 2010 and followed up with 100 catches in 2011.
“He’s the best,” Ryan said. “Has been for a long time. Since I’ve been here. Not only on the field, he’s second to none. He’s as great of a competitor that I’ve ever been around.”
Finishing his 11th season, White was drafted in the first round in 2005 from Alabama-Birmingham. After a bumpy start, he started to flourish in 2007 to become the franchise’ leader in catches (807), receiving yards (10,853) and touchdowns (63).
White let it be known he was disgruntled with his role early on. Eventually, the woes of the team — the offense in particular — led to a team meeting early this month before the Tampa Bay game. The team has since embarked on a two-game win streak.
Last Sunday, he played a major role in the stunning upset of Carolina with five catches for 67 yards, including a key third-down pickup in the fourth quarter.
Last year, White was targeted 113 times through 15 games and has been targeted just 66 times entering Sunday’s finale. He has just 41 catches.
Despite the lesser role under new offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, White, who also takes pride in his blocking, wants to return next season.
“Every time that somebody comes, there is going to be change,” White said. “My adjustment has been my role, just adjusting to what he wants me to do on each and every Sunday. That’s been the biggest adjustment for me and just doing what he asks me to do and what he believes that I can do in football games.”
White, a state champion wrestler in high school, personifies the toughness that coach Dan Quinn wants in the team. However, the Falcons may have to make a difficult business decision in the offseason.
“I want to play until the new stadium comes up,” White said. “That would be ideal to come out of that locker room and come out of the tunnel in the new stadium and play a game there. That would be great.”
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