The Falcons have been very quiet during free agency. They've watched cornerback Dominque Foxworth leave, cut loose linebacker Keith Brooking and watched Lawyer Milloy head to free agency.It seemed to me that the Falcons have decided to keep a long-term approach having decided that there weren't many appealing free agents in what was a pretty sparse free agent crop. Now there is another explanation, as ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas theorizes that the Falcons are hamstrung by Michael Vick's still massive contract.
As long as Vick is suspended, the Falcons are not on the hook for his $9 million base salary for 2009. But if he's reinstated, that $9 million immediately goes back on the Falcons salary cap. The Falcons could cut Vick, which is still a highly likely result of all this, but until they get Vick off the books, he's a $15 million cap hit just hanging over their heads.
At some point, the Falcons will be rid of Vick, but until they do, his bonus continues to be a brake on the team's future plans.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
3-30-2009 @ 3:19PM
bkind7x said...
It'd be nice if the NFL would reinstate him as soon as the correctional system says he can work - that way it helps the Falcons for next season, and any other team that would be interested in him. The Falcons have a good quarterback - but they need the money issues resolved so they can fill in other positions on the field.
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3-30-2009 @ 3:44PM
bkind7x said...
Oh yea - I think he should budget his money the way that works best for him.
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3-30-2009 @ 4:36PM
ManChildX73 said...
Yeah, budgeting is all well and good, but keeping $750,000 every year is a bit excessive. Even if he took $100,000 a year, he'd be living just fine, thank you very much. The rest of us slobs live off of $40-50k a year just fine. I think he could handle paying off those he owes debts to a little easier.
Especially because he's not going to make hardly any money this year. If at all.
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