Player Cut List Could Grow By End Of Day... Big Names..*Merged*

[HardHittingRoy31]

Kendrell Bell and Eddie Kennison:

The Chiefs could realize further cap savings by releasing linebacker Kendrell Bell (reducing his cap number from $5.2 million to $3.5 million), safety Greg Wesley (from about $4.7 million to about $1.7 million), wide receiver Eddie Kennison (from about $3.9 million to about $533,000), offensive lineman Chris Bober (from about $2.2 million to $425,000) and tight end Jason Dunn (from $1.22 million to $900,000). Running back Priest Holmes, who retired during last season, currently counts almost $4 million against their cap. Once the Chiefs place him on the retired list, he will then count only about $2.7 million. -- KC Star



Other obvious targets to be released include several of their highest-priced players. Cornerback Ty Law has the Chiefs' highest individual salary-cap figure at $9.05 million. But Law would cost the Chiefs only $3.15 million against their cap if he is released before June 1. -- KC Star



Among the veterans who could be released is strong safety Lawyer Milloy, said one NFL official. Such a move would strip the Falcons of their most respected leader and leave the team without either of last season's starting safeties. Free safety Chris Crocker's contract is expiring, and the Falcons don't plan to re-sign him. -- Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The offense could be in for a complete makeover as offensive linemen Wayne Gandy, Kynan Forney and Todd Weiner, wide receivers Joe Horn and Brian Finneran, tailback Warrick Dunn and quarterbacks Joey Harrington and Byron Leftwich all have had their futures debated. -- Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Five-time Falcons Pro Bowl linebacker Keith Brooking could be among those released to the defense. ... Adding at least one defensive tackle is a priority, but it might not come at the expense of cutting players. Brooking isn't expected to play middle linebacker again � for the Falcons � and if he is back with the team, he probably would be moved to his natural weakside position. -- Atlanta Journal-Constitution

 

[big dog cowboy]

Five-time Falcons Pro Bowl linebacker Keith Brooking could be among those released to the defense. ...

I always wished we would have drafted him.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

I always wished we would have drafted him.

Hey, to the guys (and ladies, WG) who want a fiery, intense, hard-working leader but think Zach Thomas is too old.... Here's a name. Wade's already coached him in ATL, where he improved their D immediately.

Might cost too much, though. Everyone knows what a good player he is.

 

[superpunk]

Hey, to the guys (and ladies, WG) who want a fiery, intense, hard-working leader but think Zach Thomas is too old.... Here's a name. Wade's already coached him in ATL, where he improved their D immediately.

Might cost too much, though. Everyone knows what a good player he is.

Brooking is only two years younger than Thomas, FWIW. I guess that's a significant difference. That's the type of player I'm talking about, and this might be more likely for the reasons you pointed out.

That's IF he gets released.

 

[TheCount]

I'd definitely love Brookings, I think Bell might be nice too if he realizes he's not going to see a huge payday.

 

[WoodysGirl]

Hey, to the guys (and ladies, WG) who want a fiery, intense, hard-working leader but think Zach Thomas is too old.... Here's a name. Wade's already coached him in ATL, where he improved their D immediately.

Might cost too much, though. Everyone knows what a good player he is.

Intriguing and he did have his best years under Wade, even tho it was five years ago.

Brooking is only two years younger than Thomas, FWIW. I guess that's a significant difference. That's the type of player I'm talking about, and this might be more likely for the reasons you pointed out.

That's IF he gets released.

The biggest difference is health.

Still not a big fan of signing a 30+ LBer, but this sounds a bit more logical to me... Of course, that's if he's released and the numbers tossed around was reasonable.

BTW, ATL just cut Rod Coleman.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Wow, I didn't realize he'd been around that long.

Maybe that means he'd rather play for a contender, though.

Did some searching and found quotes from him like "I love Wade Phillips" but also how he thought he was better suited to the 43. But then there's also this:

"People don't understand the subtle ways he helps our defense," says defensive coordinator Wade Phillips. "We were fourth in the league in sacks last year. When we blitzed, we never had to worry about leaving Keith in single coverage, because he can cover just about anybody."

After playing middle linebacker in a 4-3 set in his first three years in the pros, Brooking made a seamless transition to Phillips's 3-4 in 2001, leading the Falcons with 127 tackles from his inside position. His teammates, however, were slower to make the adjustment. In training camp last year Phillips simplified his schemes, running only a handful of fronts and coverages until the players became more comfortable with his system. Though the Falcons ranked only 19th in total defense, they finished second in the league in takeaways (39) and were eighth in points allowed. In their two playoff games they held the Packers and the Eagles to seven and 13 points, respectively. "At the end of last season," Brooking says, "I don't think anybody was playing better than our defense was, except for Tampa Bay."

Like you say, he's not even free yet, and may not be. But I bet Wade's ears would perk up if he were released. Atlanta wasn't really built to be a 34 team up front, whereas ours is.

 

[WoodysGirl]

CL, in that quote you posted, this is what I found most interesting...

His teammates, however, were slower to make the adjustment. In training camp last year Phillips simplified his schemes, running only a handful of fronts and coverages until the players became more comfortable with his system.

Could it be Phillips held back a bit last year?

 

[Yeagermeister]

I always wished we would have drafted him.

Did we even get a chance to draft him? I thought he was already gone.

I'd rather have Brooking than Thomas.

 

[superpunk]

The biggest difference is health.

Still not a big fan of signing a 30+ LBer, but this sounds a bit more logical to me... Of course, that's if he's released and the numbers tossed around was reasonable.

I agree this is a better fit. I was not adamantly pro-Thomas (as seen in the other thread). I am however adamantly in the pro-Thomas-like-player camp.

 

[Dcowboy84]

just saw this on NFL.com

just found it quite interesting that the Falcons would cut such a key piece to their offense

 

[Yeagermeister]

just saw this on NFL.com

just found it quite interesting that the Falcons would cut such a key piece to their offense

WOW

 

[Chocolate Lab]

CL, in that quote you posted, this is what I found most interesting...

Could it be Phillips held back a bit last year?

I know that about mid-year, he said they were just then running new wrinkles, because when putting in a new defense you had to establish the basics first...

But like with most systems, we should be better in the second year as the players are now familiar with it.

From what I read (and remember, some), the Falcons were just very small up front and so the 34 wasn't the best fit for them. But obviously, KB did well (127 tackles?). And on a team with better and bigger linemen, he'd probably do even better. At least he knows the system already, and he and the coach seem to admire each other.

There'd be heavy demand for him, though, and he'd probably get decent coin.

 

[Fletch]

Big names, but none worth bringing in. Need to stay young, not get older.

 

[joseephuss]

I could see the Packers jumping to sign Crumpler. A TE could help that offense.

 

[Vintage]

just saw this on NFL.com

just found it quite interesting that the Falcons would cut such a key piece to their offense

He was terrible last year.

That probably had a lot to do with it. Plus, he is getting older. And his salary was high.....

 

[speedkilz88]

Why would they cut Crumpler, he just turned 30 and has been one of the better TEs in the league?(Though last year was a down year but understandable with the qb problems) I understand purging and starting over, but giving away a good player. Did he have an injury or problem I don't know about?

 

[Vintage]

Why would they cut Crumpler, he just turned 30 and has been one of the better TEs in the league?(Though last year was a down year but understandable with the qb problems) I understand purging and starting over, but giving away a good player. Did he have an injury or problem I don't know about?

Injury problems, he sucked last year.....(as in, he was dropping catches all over), he did that last year too.....supposedly, he wasn't a great locker room influence THIS year, high cap number, rebuilding, etc.

 

[InmanRoshi]

I guess Wade would know better than anybody how well he fits in his defense, but Atlanta tried him as a 4-3 MLB last year and it didn't work out well, so they are moving him back to weakside OLB. He's got good size, but they decided he's more of a sideline to sideline pursuer. I wouldn't mind bringing him in at all, but I wonder if the Cowboys have really signified that as an area of upgrade.

 

[montgod]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3247718

Official tally of players cut by Atl today.

Weren't we interested in Gandy at one time?? Or maybe he was just highly regarded... but didn't pan out?