Dimitroff Confident Devonta Freeman Extension Coming
A Devonta Freeman extension became a talking point during Super Bowl week, just before the running back became eligible to sign one as a fourth-year player.
Freeman wants “elite” running back money after putting together back-to-back Pro Bowl seasons that each featured 1,500-plus yards from scrimmage. The Falcons appear to be in stride with their starting running back regarding an extension. After owner Arthur Blank voiced support for Freeman remaining in red and black long-term, GM Thomas Dimitroff believes he could make that happen.
“We want him here and he’s a very important part of our organization. Contrary to what people were saying around the Super Bowl time with what came out, we’re ready in the relatively near future to have some discussions with their representation,” Dimitroff said during a radio interview with Adam Schein (via Jeremy Bergman of NFL.com).
“Devonta, he’s a really good guy. He’s really — as far as his personality — he’s so hyper competitive. … He’s an urgent, angry runner, which we want and we know is important for us. We want him to be around for years to come and we’re confident that we’ll be able to get it done.”
Dimitroff targeted training camp as a window for this extension to potentially occur. The Falcons have also expressed desire to extend Matt Ryan, although two years remain on the reigning MVP’s contract, and recently reached a long-term agreement with Desmond Trufant. Freeman’s position doesn’t demand that kind of money, but given the ball-carrier’s age (25) and production coming into Year 4, he is in position to be paid like a top-tier running back.
Freeman could well target LeSean McCoy‘s $8MM-per-year deal. The running back market also could be different by then, should the Steelers extend the franchise-tagged Le’Veon Bell by July 15.
The Falcons also have Freeman complement Tevin Coleman, who ate into the starter’s workload in the games he played. Coleman, 24, has two years remaining on his deal.
“We’ve talked about approaching these types of contracts and situations usually going into camp is when we start talking about them and really start having some discussions about it,” Dimitroff said. “That’s not a hard line for us, but in my mind, I like to make sure that we have those kind of things worked on. You know, look, he’s in a really good space here, he loves being here and he loves playing for Dan Quinn.”
Freeman is not planning to hold out and will make $1.8MM this year on his rookie contract, which will expire at season’s end.
Bryan Cox Attributes Firing To "Combine Incident"
- The Falcons let go of defensive line coach Bryan Cox back in February, and the former Pro Bowler believes his firing was attributed to his “incident” during the 2016 Combine when he reportedly shoved a Cardinals scout. “You go from your unit playing really well in the Super Bowl and sacking the quarterback five times and having [nine] quarterback hits . . . and [three] days later you get fired,” Cox told Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer (via Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com). “I wasn’t given an answer to why I was fired. I was left to go back and kind of play stuff over. And the only thing I can come up with is the Combine incident that kind of led to it.”
[SOURCE LINK]
Devonta Freeman Still Wants "Elite" Money
- While Falcons running back Devonta Freeman won’t hold out in hopes of landing a new contract, he continues to seek top-tier money relative to his position. “I want to be elite paid. Whatever that is, that’s where I want to be — straight up,” Freeman told Josina Anderson of ESPN. Freeman is in lockstep with his agent, Kristin Campbell, who declared prior to Super Bowl LI that the 25-year-old should be in line for “elite” money. As of now, Freeman’s not on track to approach the NFL’s highest-paid backs in 2017, the final year of his contract, as he’s slated to make $1.8MM. There’s still plenty of time for an extension to come together, of course, and both Freeman and the Falcons have made it clear that they want to work something out.
Falcons Hosting OL Andrew Gardner
The Falcons are hosting free agent offensive lineman Andrew Gardner today, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
[RELATED: Falcons Meet With DT Sean Lissemore]
Atlanta failed to land a high-profile guard during the free agent period to replace the retired Chris Chester, so the club is now seemingly throwing several possible solutions against the wall to see what sticks. Internal option Ben Garland is a candidate to take over at right guard, while the Falcons also spent a fourth-round pick on Oregon State product Sean Harlow. Additionally, Atlanta signed former Bears interior lineman Cornelius Edison on Wednesday, and he could conceivably be in the running for a starting gig.
Gardner, 31, has bounced around since entering the league in 2009, and most recently spent time with the 49ers at the tail end of last season. His most notable experience, however, came with the Eagles, for whom Gardner started 11 games from 2014-15.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/17/17
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: LB Mikey Bart
- Waived: DT Collin Bevins
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: OL Cornelius Edison
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: G Dan Skipper
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: P Toby Baker
- Waived: T Mason Zandi
Minnesota Vikings
- Waived: DT Toby Johnson
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: WR Canaan Severin
- Waived: LB Akil Blount, QB Nick Schuessler
Falcons Meet With DL Sean Lissemore
The Chargers met with defensive lineman Sean Lissemore on Wednesday, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets. 
Lissemore, 30 in September, appeared in 41 games for the Chargers between 2013 and 2015 and made 13 starts during that span. Unfortunately, in August of 2016, he suffered a major injury which ended his season before it even began. Presumably, the William and Mary alum is now healthy enough to play.
Before his time with the Bolts, Lissemore spent three years with the Cowboys. For his career, he has 135 tackles, 6.5 sacks, and one interception to his credit.
Lissemore could be a depth option for Atlanta’s newly revamped defensive line. This offseason, the Falcons made three significant additions by signing free agents Dontari Poe and Jack Crawford and drafting UCLA’s Takkarist McKinley.
Falcons’ Devonta Freeman Won’t Hold Out
Devonta Freeman‘s desire for a new deal is well-documented, thanks in large part to the public approach his management team has taken in the last year. However, the running back says that he won’t be a holdout this summer in an effort to spur talks. 
[RELATED: Eagles DE Brandon Graham Won’t Hold Out Either]
“I’m going to play,” Freeman said (via ESPN.com’s Vaughn McClure). “Like I said, business is going to get handled regardless of what, so I just come to work. I’m going to play regardless. I love football. I love to compete. It doesn’t matter about what I did last year, how many Pro Bowls I got, a thousand yards. I want to do it again and even get better, hopefully one day be a Hall of Famer. I want to leave a legacy. And holding out, that’s not going to leave a legacy, because if I hold out, I’m behind. I don’t want to be behind. I want to gain.”
Freeman also indicated in April that he would not stay home during offseason activities, but this is strongest assertion to date. Freeman is definitely underpaid as he’s set to earn $1.8MM in 2017, but he’ll remain solely focused on football as he gears up for the final year of his rookie deal.
“It ain’t hard at all, because I’m good,” said Freeman. “I play football because I love it. … I spoke to other guys about being in similar situations that I’m in right now. The main thing I can do right now is focus on my business, and my business is being the best Devonta Freeman I can be. And business will get taken care of outside of what I do and what I bring. I can just focus on me. When it happens, it happens. It’s going to be a surprise. I’m just patient.”
Freeman’s agent said he would be seeking “elite” money back in January and the running back himself hinted that he was frustrated about splitting carries with 2015 third-round pick Tevin Coleman. If he’s still demanding “elite” money on his next deal, that could mean something that resembles or even exceeds LeSean McCoy‘s five-year, $40.05MM deal signed back in 2015. McCoy’s yearly average of $8.01MM is second only to Le’Veon Bell‘s one-year, $12.12MM tender and his $18.25MM total guarantee is the highest of any non-rookie running back in the league.
Falcons owner Arthur Black is on record as saying that he wants to retain Freeman for years to come, so a new deal could come together this summer without any brazen tactics from the running back or his camp.
Falcons Sign QB Matt Simms
The Falcons have signed quarterback Matt Simms, as D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution tweets. To make room, the team waived wide receiver Garrett Scantling.
Simms, the son of former NFL great Phil Simms, appeared in a handful of games for the Jets between 2013 and 2014. He also had a previous stint with the Falcons as well as the Bills, but those unions did not result in live action. The quarterback, who turns 29 in September, currently represents the fourth QB on the Falcons’ depth chart with Matt Ryan, Matt Schaub, and UDFA Alek Torgersen slotted ahead of him.
Scantling, a University of Georgia product, is a former decathlete. The Falcons were hoping to channel his raw ability into football talent, but he’s apparently not there just yet.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/14/17
Today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: WR Reggie Davis, DL Taniela Tupou
Chicago Bears
- Signed: WR Titus Davis
- Waived: WR Levonte Whitfield
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: T Victor Salako
- Waived/injured: QB Jerod Evans
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: TE Phazahn Odom (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle)
Falcons Sign Takkarist McKinley
The Falcons have now signed their entire 2017 draft class. First round defensive end Takkarist McKinley, third round linebacker Duke Riley, fifth round running back Brian Hill, and fifth round tight end Eric Saubert are all under contract, the team announced. 
The Falcons traded up to the Seahawks’ No. 26 pick during the first round in order to select McKinley, a former star at UCLA. McKinley went viral for his outpouring of emotions on the stage, but the Falcons believe that he’ll be known more for his play on the field before long. The 6’2″, 250 pound athlete has been widely praised for his high motor and his big wingspan should allow him to fend off blockers at the next level. In his senior year at UCLA, McKinley racked up 61 total tackles, 18 tackles for a loss, and ten sacks – all career highs.
Here’s the complete rundown of the Falcons’ draft class:
- 1-25: Takkarist McKinley, DE (UCLA)
- 3-75: Duke Riley, LB (LSU)
- 4-136: Sean Harlow, OL (Oregon State)
- 5-149: Damontae Kazee, CB (San Diego State)
- 5-156: Brian Hill, RB (Wyoming)
- 5-174: Eric Saubert, TE (Drake)