Since Atlanta is the biggest threat to sign CJ

[MHS831]

July 13:

"According to NFL.com, the Falcons are not as interested in free agent pass rushers as we've been led to believe. That includes everyone from Ray Edwards to Charles Johnson"

http://www.thefalcoholic.com/2011/7/13/2272973/could-the-falcons-be-bypassing-free-agent-pass-rushers

July 14:

"Is It Possible The Atlanta Falcons Won't Sign A Defensive End?

Well, that's at least what Jason La Canfora over at NFL.com seems to believe.

In his article, he argues that with the team trading up to get Julio Jones, the move shows that Falcons brass has little faith in this year's free agent class. Rather than bringing in the long-speculated free agent D-end, the Falcons would refrain from signing one, electing to save money and wait from a better free agency crop.

Clearly La Canfora isn't a big believer in either Ray Edwards or Charles Johnson as solutions to the Falcons' DE needs"

http://atlanta.sbnation.com/atlanta-falcons/2011/7/14/2275170/atlanta-falcons-free-agency-defensive-end-ray-edwards-charles-johnson

NOTE: ATLANTA is sitting at $103 million, expected to be about $20 million under the cap. It will take $8 million to sign their draft picks and re-signing Tyson Clabo is a priority. Other players they feel that the must re-sign are OL Blalock and Dahl (protecting Ryan), RB Jason Snelling (unlikely Norwood is re-signed), and even P Keonen, who averaged nearly 43 yards per boot last year. In fact, All pro CB Brent Grimes is a RFA, so they will probably allocate resources to lock him down this year, without risking UFA in 2012.

Now, does this sound like a team willing to go $10 million per year to land Charles Johnson? If CJ agrees to a contract that pays him very little in 2011 maybe, but how do you walk away from millions of dollars and job security in Charlotte to head down 85 into the unknown?

[Proudiddy]

Bro hater.

[chknwing]

who gives a crap about Atlanta?

[pantherclaw]

Like I said in the debate last month, or whenever it was...

Atlanta will have to over pay johnson to get him johnso is worth more to the panthers. The panthers are going to be able to out bid anyone for johnson. The falcons simply don't have the funds to even get in a bidding war.

[MHS831]

who gives a crap about Atlanta?

If they are the biggest threat to take Charles Johnson, I do and you should. For months there have been rumors and Tweets about CJ being recruited by Falcon players. Some say he would take less money to go there so he could be at home and win a championship. If that does not at least concern you, what is your reason for opening this thread?

[MHS831]

FWIW, Denver (Fox connection) could use a DE, but Fox will probably have to address RB first. Switching back to a 4-3, the Broncos have many needs and they are currently over the cap. I do not see them signing DW or CJ.

[theDIRTYcode]

La Confora knows as much about the Falcons as my mother-in-law. How moving up for a WR in the draft says anything about Dimitroff beliefs in the FA DE class is beyond me. We can't outbid the Panthers, but we can afford 10 million a year (Dahl won't be back and neither will Claybo if he gets what everyone is speculating). The Panthers will have to overpay to keep him, not the other way around.

[jtnc]

I just LOVE the Falons, traded all their picks away for not AJ Green. Takes a DE in the 7th round are kidding me? Can't develop their own talent so they rely on FA.

[Davidson Deac II]

Fwiw, I haven't seen much of an indication that they are the biggest threat to take him, except on message boards, and a handful of opinion pieces.

They may want him, but that is a long way from being a threat to get him.

[MHS831]

La Confora knows as much about the Falcons as my mother-in-law. How moving up for a WR in the draft says anything about Dimitroff beliefs in the FA DE class is beyond me. We can't outbid the Panthers, but we can afford 10 million a year (Dahl won't be back and neither will Claybo if he gets what everyone is speculating). The Panthers will have to overpay to keep him, not the other way around.

There were two sources, not just one.

The Falcons and CJ's agent know the Falcons will not even enter a bidding war because they cannot afford it. So, why would CJ wait beyond the 72 hour window to take a chance. Maybe they will overpay, as you say, but you don't know what he is worth. Nobody does. If he gets double digit sacks for the next 6 years, did they overpay?

[jramsey4]

I just LOVE the Falons, traded all their picks away for not AJ Green. Takes a DE in the 7th round are kidding me? Can't develop their own talent so they rely on FA.

AJ Green wouldn't have been worth what they gave up to me.

I don't see CJ going to Atlanta. You would have to pay me a ton more money to live in that hellhole. I deliver furniture all over the east coast and I have never been to a city that I hate as much as Atlanta.

[MHS831]

Fwiw, I haven't seen much of an indication that they are the biggest threat to take him, except on message boards, and a handful of opinion pieces.

He is only worth big money as a 4-3 DE, which eliminates over half of the teams in the NFL. Several others cannot afford him unless they cut a bunch of salary. Tampa Bay could afford him, but not many other teams.

I agree that the message boards and the Tweets are the only thing stirring the pot. I also have to believe that they have a pretty good idea that he will re-sign, or they would have franchise tagged him. I mean, if they tag the center and lose a top DE, we should all tar and feather Hurney.

[C47]

AJ Green wouldn't have been worth what they gave up to me.

I don't see CJ going to Atlanta. You would have to pay me a ton more money to live in that hellhole. I deliver furniture all over the east coast and I have never been to a city that I hate as much as Atlanta.

If AJ wasn't worth it then Julio damn sure wasn't....

[MHS831]

La Confora knows as much about the Falcons as my mother-in-law. How moving up for a WR in the draft says anything about Dimitroff beliefs in the FA DE class is beyond me. .

I didn't get that either.