NFL Free Agency Rumors: Michael Johnson-to-Falcons Talk Continues
By Jason Marcum
Nov 17, 2013; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Michael Johnson (93) reacts during the game against the Cleveland Browns at Paul Brown Stadium. Cincinnati won 41-20. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
30 days and counting.
March 8th is the first day NFL teams can begin negotiating contracts with upcoming free agents, and the 11th is when they can sign players to deals.
The NFL created this three-day window for teams to “begin” negotiations with other team’s free agents in order to speed-up the free agency process. There can be no in-person meetings, but rather, teams can talk with agents to begin negotiations.
Between now and then, plenty of NFL free agency rumors are bound to pop up, but this one has some merit to it.
Matt Miller of the Bleacher Report was present at the Senior Bowl, and he reported the Falcons plan to target Bengals free agent defensive end Michael Johnson in free agency.
Well, there’s more smoke to this fire, according to Vaughn McClure of ESPN:
"There was one intriguing name of a veteran pass-rusher thrown out at the Senior Bowl. Once again, this is not necessarily a player on the Falcons’ wish list, but he was brought up in a discussion regarding the Falcons and free agency. As I was told, this player wouldn’t mind “coming home’’ to Atlanta."
With Johnson having played college football at Georgia Tech, this has led to many wondering if he’d be open to coming home and signing with the Falcons, and it appears he’s very much open to that idea.
Oh, and for those saying the Falcons don’t have enough cap space, they just freed-up $6.5 million in salary cap room by cutting Asante Samuel and Stephen Nicholas.
Prior to that, they were projected have around $14 million in cap space, but all of the sudden, the Falcons will have around $21 million of available cap space and enough room to sign at least one big-name free agent.
If they want Johnson, there’s a good chance they’ll get him.
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