Before Ricardo Allen and the Atlanta Falcons agreed upon a three-year, $19.5 million contract extension Monday, Allen was cut by the Falcons in 2014.
But he didn’t let that experience discourage him.
During training camp four seasons ago, Allen was called into a meeting and told he was cut by former coach Mike Smith and general manager Thomas Dimitroff.
“I knew coming into this business you got to be one of the top guys and I didn’t come with my A-game this time, but I will keep working and I’ll get better,” Allen said on Hard Knocks. “I’m 22 years old. I’m still young. I’m not the first person to be cut in this League and I’m not the last person that’s going to be cut. I’m just (going to) keep developing, I’m (going to) get stronger and show them that I can play in this League.”
Allen was put on the Falcons practice squad and eventually made his way back on the active roster to become one the Falcons starting safeties.
Watch the entire clip from the Falcons season of HBO’s Hard Knocks below:
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