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Osi Umenyiora

Umenyiora, Biermann To Stay With Falcons

March 22nd, 2014 at 12:19pm CST by Matt Feminis

Falcons defensive ends Osi Umenyiora and Kroy Biermann will be back with the team in 2014 without having to restructure their contracts, reports Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

There had been speculation that Umenyiora, scheduled to count $4.75MM against the cap in 2014, would have to take a pay cut or be released, but Ledbetter says the team was pleased with the 32-year-old veteran’s mentoring of young players. Umenyiora became more of a situational pass rusher down the stretch, finishing the season with 47 tackles, 7.5 sacks, three batted passes and three forced fumbles.

Biermann, 28, is coming off Achilles tendon surgery which ended his season in Week Two. Primarily a situational player with the exception of 2010 when he started 14 games, Biermann has notched 16.5 sacks in 82 career games. He will count $5.1MM against the cap.

NFC Notes: Umenyiora, Sproles, Smith, Rudolph, Dietrich-Smith

March 8th, 2014 at 8:51am CST by Matt Feminis

A handful of Saturday morning notes from around the NFC leading up to the opening of free agency:

      • If Osi Umenyiora declines to accept a pay cut in Atlanta, a Giants reunion would be a possibility, writes Conor Orr of the New Jersey Star Ledger.
      • Darren Sproles would be an “outstanding fit for the Bears,” writes Dan Pompei, who says the former Saint could replace Devin Hester and be a dynamic change-of-pace back the team has been unable to field behind Matt Forte. Additionally, Pompei notes the connection between Sproles and offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer, who was with Sproles in New Orleans.
      • “Financially, it makes little sense” for the Panthers to release Steve Smith because the team would take a financial hit in each of the next two seasons, says ESPN.com’s David Newton. The writer thinks the decision isn’t so much about money as it is the effect in the locker room. If the veteran’s role is reduced, would he turn sour?
      • The Vikings have $41MM worth of cap space to play with, and ESPN.com’s Ben Goessling thinks a chunk of it will go to Kyle Rudolph, who is scheduled to hit free agency next year but has said he wants to remain in Minnesota long-term. It could behoove the team to act now, as Rudolph could see his production (read: value) increase under new offensive coordinator Norv Turner.
      • The Packers have expressed their desire to bring back center Evan Dietrich-Smith, says the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel’s Tom Silverstein, who compares Dietrich-Smith’s free agent situation to Scott Wells‘ in 2012. Back then, the team thought they could let Wells negotiate with other teams and still retain his services, but they miscalculated and lost him to the Rams. The Packers are taking the same approach with Dietrich-Smith, who, coincidentally, has the same agent as Wells.

Falcons Want Umenyiora To Take Pay Cut?

March 7th, 2014 at 1:04pm CST by Zachary Links

FRIDAY, 1:04pm: The Falcons won’t push Umenyiora to take a pay cut if he’s not inclined to accept one, says Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. According to Florio, the team’s inquiry into Umenyiora’s salary is part of a standard year-end procedure, and if the defensive end isn’t open to the idea, the club will make a decision on whether to keep him or cut him.

THURSDAY, 12:18pm: The Falcons want defensive end Osi Umenyiora, set to earn $3.5MM in 2014, to take a pay cut, tweets Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports. The veteran has a $500K roster bonus due on March 25th.

Recently, the 32-year-old expressed optimism that he would be back with Atlanta for this season even though he would count as a $4.75MM hit against the team’s salary cap. The Falcons another big-name defender in cornerback Asante Samuel last month to create more than $4MM in cap savings.

While Samuel struggled to stay on the field last season, Umenyiora saw time in all 16 games with 13 starts. The former face of the Giants racked up 47 tackles and 7.5 sacks, forced three fumbles, and returned an interception for a touchdown. Even if he can’t come to terms with the Falcons on a number for 2014, Umenyiora has said that he intends to continue playing and sees himself going for three more seasons.

Cohen Predicts Where Top Free Agents Land

February 23rd, 2014 at 7:01pm CST by Rob DiRe

Andrew Cohen of OverTheCap.com has been following free agency very closely, giving updates on the cap situations of every NFL team and details on current player contracts. Earlier today, he took a break from crunching numbers to examine the possible destinations on some of the league’s top free agents. After outlining the effective cap space of each NFL team, which takes into account the amount of money they would have to pay their draft selections, he shows a picture of where some of the biggest names could land.

Of his top ten free agents, he sees more than half of them returning to their teams in 2014, either via long-term contract or because of the franchise tag. Some of those players we already thought would end up with extensions or playing next year under the tag,

However, he does see a few key players changing uniforms this offseason, finding some big money with a new franchise:

  • Cohen predicts Panthers‘ star Greg Hardy finding a team that run a 4-3 defense and has some cap room, such as the Raiders or Jaguars.
  • The top receiver this offseason, Eric Decker has already been linked to Cleveland by Cohen earlier this offseason, and the Browns are still thought to be a front runner for his services, along with the Jets.
  • Bengals‘ pass rusher Michael Johnson played under the franchise tag in 2013, and is unlikely to be tagged again. Cohen could see the Falcons cutting Osi Umenyiora and plugging Johnson into his role.
  • Because of the Steelers‘ cap woes, Cohen does not think they will have the opportunity to offer Jason Worilds a contract comparative to what he would get on the open market. For that reason, he sees the pass rusher leaving for greener pastures. According to Cohen he might not have to leave the state, as he sees the Eagles 3-4 defense as a perfect landing spot for the outside linebacker.

Umenyiora Optimistic About Return To Falcons

February 11th, 2014 at 12:09pm CST by Luke Adams

The Falcons parted ways with one big-name defender last week for cap purposes, officially releasing cornerback Asante Samuel and creating more than $4MM in cap savings. Atlanta may not be done making moves, but veteran defensive end Osi Umenyiora remains optimistic about returning to the Falcons, in spite of his $4.75MM cap number for 2014.

“I would love to stay, and I think I am,” Umenyiora told Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com. “But you really never know what’s going to happen.”

While Samuel struggled through an injury-plagued 2013, Umenyiora remained fairly productive in his first year with the Falcons, recording 47 tackles and 7.5 sacks, forcing three fumbles, and even returning an interception for a touchdown. Still, although Umenyiora remains an asset, releasing him would create $3.5MM in cap space for the club, which could be put toward multiple young players. The Falcons figure to retool their defensive line this offseason in an effort to improve their pass rush, but even in a situational role, the 32-year-old feels like he’s earning his pay.

“To say that money is not a lot would be crazy because that’s a lot of money, period,” Umenyiora said of his cap number. “But if you look at it strictly in football terms and what the top-tier defensive ends are getting paid. … Mario Williams, who is making like, what, $16MM per year? It’s tough for me to answer that [money] question because it all depends on what my perceived value to the team is.”

Whether or not the Falcons ultimately decide to retain him for 2014, Umenyiora intends to continue his playing career through this season and beyond, telling McClure that he hopes to play three more seasons in the NFL.