After Super Bowl 51, Dwight Freeney said he wasn’t sure if he wanted to continue playing in 2017. After some thought, the veteran has decided to return for his 16th NFL season, Tom Pelissero of USA Today tweets. However, Freeney himself tells Jim Trotter of ESPN.com (Twitter link) that while he’ll “most likely” continue his career in 2017, he hasn’t yet made a final decision.
Freeney signed on with the Falcons in August 2016 and wound up helping the team to an NFC championship. After Atlanta’s unfortunate collapse in the Super Bowl, the 37-year-old apparently wants one more chance to leave the game on a high note. In 15 regular season games, Freeney totaled ten tackles and three sacks.
He’s no longer a Pro Bowl-caliber defensive end, but he is still effective as a situational pass rusher. Last week, we ranked Freeney as one of the 15 best edge defenders scheduled for free agency. Still, teams might not want to commit guaranteed dollars to him while the free agent period is in bloom, so he might have to wait until the summer again before he signs.
Someone like the browns or bears who need someone to give their pass rushers or future pass rushers a spark should sign him. Obviously helped Beasley and the falcons improve.
He’s not going to a rebuilding team. He wants a ring.
You’re probably right, but at the same time, the falcons were mediocre at best the season before he came. But he HAS said that he’ll play if the falcons want him. Sounds like that’s the only way