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Allen Bailey

Falcons Release Ricardo Allen, Allen Bailey

February 18th, 2021 at 12:26pm CST by Zachary Links

The Falcons have released safety Ricardo Allen and defensive end Allen Bailey (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter). Together, the moves will free up $10.75MM in salary cap space for Atlanta. 

Allen agreed to a simple contract restructuring last year to give the Falcons additional breathing room last year. This time around, the Falcons chose to wipe his entire deal off of the books. Previously, the safety was set to play out the final year of his three-year, $19.5MM deal. Instead, the Falcons will save a pretty penny with just $2.125MM in dead money left on the books.

Allen, a 2014 fifth-round pick, cracked the starting lineup in his second pro season. After 77 games (76 starts), he’ll seek new employment elsewhere. In 12 games last year, the 29-year-old registered 25 stops and a pair of interceptions.

Bailey inked a one-year, $4.5MM extension in the 2020 offseason. After spending his first eight seasons with the Chiefs, he found a regular role with the Falcons in 2019, appearing in 15 games and making five starts. Last year, he had perfect attendance with four starts, but the Falcons are looking to go younger and cheaper on the edge. In total, Bailey has 133 regular season games and 22 sacks to his credit.

Falcons Sign DL Allen Bailey To Extension

March 25th, 2020 at 8:39am CST by Ben Levine

Allen Bailey is sticking in Atlanta through at least the 2021 season. NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reports (via Twitter) that the defensive lineman has signed a one-year, $4.5MM extension. The deal includes a $3.25MM signing bonus.

There were reports yesterday that Bailey (along with Matt Ryan and Jake Matthews) had restructured his contract. While this transaction did save the Falcons some money for 2020, it ended up being an extension instead of a pure restructuring.

The former third-round spent the first eight seasons of his career with the Chiefs, but he ended up sitting in free agency for much of last offseason. He eventually caught on with Atlanta, and he proceeded to play an important rotational role for his new squad. In 15 games (five starts), Bailey compiled 26 tackles and one sack.

In total, the 31-year-old has appeared in 117 regular season games, collecting 20.5 sacks.

Matt Ryan, Jake Matthews Restructure Deals

March 22nd, 2020 at 9:57pm CST by Sam Robinson

Up against the cap this offseason, the Falcons made three lower-level signings Sunday. They have also restructured a few contracts.

The Falcons restructured the deals of Matt Ryan, Jake Matthews and Allen Bailey, D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution notes. This marks an interesting move for Ryan, who restructured his deal at the end of last season. He was already set to have cap figures north of $39MM in 2021 and 2022.

Ryan was to comprise $24.1MM of Atlanta’s 2020 cap, while Matthews was to account for $16MM of it. Bailey’s two-year deal included a $5.9MM 2020 cap number.

The Falcons and Ryan agreed on a five-year, $150MM extension in May 2018. He is under contract through 2023. Prior to the revised figures from this latest restructure, Ryan’s 2023 cap number sat at $34MM. Signed to a five-year extension worth $72.5MM in July 2018, Matthews is also under contract through 2023. His next four cap numbers are north of $16MM, so it should be expected some of them will rise as a result of this adjustment.

Atlanta added Laquon Treadwell and offensive lineman Justin McCray on Sunday and also re-signed Blidi Wreh-Wilson. They added Todd Gurley on Friday and authorized a $16MM-AAV deal for Dante Fowler. Considering the Falcons’ minimal cap room, these Ryan and Matthews restructures were surely necessary to accommodate the Fowler pact. The Falcons also cut Desmond Trufant and Devonta Freeman to clear space.

Falcons To Sign DL Allen Bailey

July 22nd, 2019 at 9:33pm CST by Sam Robinson

Allen Bailey‘s lengthy stay in free agency is over. The Falcons reached an agreement to add the veteran defensive lineman on a two-year deal, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.

The former Chiefs defensive end did fairly well this late in free agency, with Schefter reporting (via Twitter) the two-year pact is worth $10.5MM. Bailey will receive $3.5MM guaranteed and $6MM in 2019.

This news comes hours after Falcons D-lineman Michael Bennett suffered a broken ankle. Bailey worked as a 3-4 defensive end with the Chiefs and profiles as a player who could help the Falcons on the interior. Bailey visited the Falcons in June. He also met with the Seahawks, Panthers and Patriots. The Seahawks are also on the hunt for interior help, after Jarran Reed‘s suspension, perhaps prompting the Falcons to act quickly.

Breaking in as a backup in the early 2010s, the former Scott Pioli third-round pick was a starter for the past five Chiefs defenses. Interestingly, Bailey’s visit occurred after Pioli had stepped down from his post as Atlanta’s assistant GM. But Bailey continues a defensive line pipeline of Pioli-drafted defensive linemen from Kansas City to Atlanta, following Tyson Jackson and Dontari Poe. Neither player, however, is still with the Falcons. And Bailey, 30, is from Georgia.

This marks the second straight Monday the Falcons have agreed to terms with a defensive tackle, with Grady Jarrett signing a much more lucrative contract to start last week. Bailey, who finished with a career-high six sacks last season, stands to play a key role on Atlanta’s D-line. He has registered 19.5 career sacks.

Patriots Notes: Gordon, Berrios, Wynn

July 14th, 2019 at 9:27am CST by Rory Parks

A WR depth chart topped by Julian Edelman, N’Keal Harry, and Josh Gordon could make Patriots quarterback Tom Brady quite happy, but Gordon’s status obviously remains uncertain. Jim McBride of the Boston Globe writes that it would make sense for Roger Goodell to lift Gordon’s indefinite suspension and reinstate the troubled wideout in time for training camp, especially in light of the commissioner’s statement that he wants to get Gordon back on the playing field. After all, the nurturing environment and structured routine of training camp would theoretically be good for Gordon and may allow him to continue to keep his personal demons at bay.

There have been no reports suggesting that Gordon has actually applied for reinstatement, but there were earlier indications that the NFLPA may begin to “lay groundwork” for his return in May, and that there was a chance he could return by training camp. As of right now, though, Gordon is still in a holding pattern.

Let’s round up several more items from the defending champs:

  • Speaking of wide receivers, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com believes 2018 sixth-rounder Braxton Berrios will crack the 53-man roster and could give the Patriots the type of Danny Amendola-like slot option that Brady loves. On the heels of a strong performance this spring, Berrios, who spent his entire rookie season on IR, has already arrived at the team’s facility well in advance of training camp. His chances of making the team are enhanced by his ability to return punts.
  • Both Reiss and McBride discuss the importance of Isaiah Wynn, who is expected to become the Patriots’ starting left tackle in 2019. Like Berrios, Wynn missed all of his rookie season due to injury, though all reports this year have suggested that he would be ready for training camp. Per McBride, the coaching staff has been pleased with Wynn’s progress in the mental aspect of the game, and Wynn says he physically feels ready to go. However, Reiss says the 2018 first-rounder could still open camp on the PUP list.
  • The Patriots stayed out of the supplemental draft for the 20th year in a row, though Reiss suggests the team could have been intrigued by safety Jalen Thompson (who was the only player to be selected this year). But surrendering a 2020 mid-round selection to add to a position group that already has quite a lot of depth just did not make sense for New England.
  • Gil Brandt of NFL.com examines the best fits for some of the top remaining free agents, and he believes the Patriots would make the perfect landing spot for DE Allen Bailey. New England did meet with Bailey back in March, and the 30-year-old fits the profile of the type of versatile D-lineman that the Pats have a history of signing on the cheap.

Falcons Host Allen Bailey

June 5th, 2019 at 1:42pm CST by Zachary Links

Free agent Allen Bailey met with the Falcons on Wednesday, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The defensive lineman previously visited the Patriots, Panthers, and Seahawks, but left each meeting without a deal. 

Bailey, a third-round pick in 2011, has spent his entire career to date with the Chiefs. In late March, we heard that the Chiefs were still open to a Bailey return, but it’s not clear if that’s still the case after they used a third-round pick on defensive tackle Khalen Saunders.

Bailey has been a starter for most of his career, including 13 regular season starts and two playoff starts last season. He finished out the year with 38 tackles, six sacks, and two forced fumbles in the regular season while recording five tackles in the Chiefs’ AFC Championship Game loss to the Patriots.

The Falcons have some past experience with ex-Chiefs linemen, including Dontari Poe and Tyson Jackson.

Compensatory Pick Formula Ends Today

May 7th, 2019 at 8:51am CST by Zachary Links

Starting at 4pm ET/3pm CT, any unrestricted free agent that signs with a new team will not count towards the 2020 compensatory draft pick formula, as Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. This should quickly accelerate the market for several free agents of note, including:

Compensatory picks are given to teams that lose a greater number of compensatory free agents (or, a greater quality of free agents) than they acquire. The complicated formula that dictates how the picks are dispersed is not disclosed to the public, but teams are wary of signing even lower impact UFAs while it is in effect.

But, when the formula is turned off, veteran free agents should start flying off of the board.

Seahawks Meet With Allen Bailey

April 16th, 2019 at 10:51am CST by Zachary Links

Chiefs free agent defensive end Allen Bailey will visit the Seahawks on Tuesday, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Bailey previously visited the Patriots and Panthers, but remains unsigned. 

[RELATED: Seahawks, Russell Wilson Agree To Extension]

Bailey, 30, has spent his entire career to date with the Chiefs. Last year, the 2011 third-round pick put up a big season as just the right time – his six sacks, 38 tackles, and two forced fumbles put him on the radar for multiple contenders this offseason. But, for what it’s worth, Bailey ranked as just the No. 91 interior defender among 112 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus.

The Seahawks mostly use a 4-3 scheme, but as head coach Pete Carroll likes to say, they do so with 3-4 personnel. That would work for Bailey, who could offer support at defensive end while also contributing on the interior alongside Jarran Reed. Reed, who broke out with a career-best 10.5 sacks last season, should be bookended by Quinton Jefferson and Frank Clark next season, provided that Clark is not traded in the coming weeks.

Panthers Meet With Allen Bailey

April 8th, 2019 at 11:55am CST by Zachary Links

Chiefs free agent defensive end Allen Bailey will visit with the Panthers on Monday, a source tells ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). The incumbent Chiefs are still in the mix for Bailey and the defending champs may also have interest. 

Bailey cracked KC’s starting lineup in 2014 and has started in virtually all of his games over the last five years. Last year, he registered six sacks, 38 tackles, and two forced fumbles across 16 games. The advanced metrics weren’t high on Bailey (No. 91 ranked interior defender out of 112 players), but the sacks and game film show that he is an effective lineman.

The Panthers may employ a 3-4 scheme next season, which would suit Bailey well. With Carolina, he’d stick at DE, but he’d play on the interior with the Chiefs. Meanwhile, defensive tackle isn’t necessarily an area of need for Kansas City since they already have Chris Jones, Derrick Nnadi, and Xavier Williams in that group.

Bailey just wrapped up a four-year extension that paid him $6.25MM annually. His next deal may pay him in a similar fashion.

Chiefs Still In Mix For DL Allen Bailey

March 27th, 2019 at 6:44pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Free agent defensive lineman Allen Bailey is still considering a return to the Chiefs, while the Patriots — who met with Bailey earlier this month — are also still in the mix, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN.com (Twitter link).

Kansas City is moving to a 4-3 defense under new coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, and that shift would likely entail a minor position change for the 6’3″, 288-pound Bailey if he re-signs with the Chiefs. After playing defensive end in the Chiefs’ 3-4 scheme, Bailey would play tackle in a 4-3 look. Defensive tackle isn’t necessarily an area of need for Kansas City, which already boasts Chris Jones, Derrick Nnadi, and Xavier Williams in the middle of it defensive line.

The Patriots have made one addition at defensive tackle this offseason by bringing in free agent Mike Pennel, but they’ve also lost Malcom Brown to the Saints and could potentially be without free agent Danny Shelton, who has yet to sign a new contract with any club. New England will also be without defensive end Trey Flowers — who had the ability to rush from the interior on passing downs — after he inked a massive deal with the Lions..

Bailey, 30, has spent his entire career with the Chiefs after entering the league as a third-round pick in 2011. He became a full-time starter in 2014, and last season posted six sacks, 38 tackles, and two forced fumbles across 16 games while ranking as just the No. 91 interior defender among 112 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus. Bailey just wrapped up a four-year extension that paid him $6.25MM annually.

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