Falcon Notes: Snelling's Future in Holding Pattern

[g-dawg]

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Falcons notes: Snelling's future is in a holding pattern

By D. Orlando Ledbetter

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

FLOWERY BRANCH After four productive seasons, running back Jason Snellings NFL future appears to be in a holding pattern.

He could be a victim of the bottom dropping out of the running backs market in the frenzied free-agency period.

Former Pro Bowler Ronnie Brown of Cartersville accepted a shockingly low deal to sign with Philadelphia. After six seasons in Miami, he wanted to play for a winner.

Several running backs who were not rated higher than Snelling have received new deals. Snelling has an offer from the Falcons, but has not accepted it. He has had dealings with the Rams, Giants and Chiefs.

The Rams elected to sign former Falcons running back Jerious Norwood and former Tampa Bay running back Cadillac Williams. The Giants re-signed running back Ahmad Bradshaw. The Chiefs signed fullback LeRon McClain.

Snelling, 27, was a seventh-round draft pick out of Virginia in 2007. He has played in 51 games and rushed for 1,042 yards on 257 carries and scored seven touchdowns. He has caught 82 passes for 651 yards and four touchdowns.

He served as the Falcons primary back for half of the 2009 season as Michael Turner battled a high right-ankle sprain.

Snelling ran for 147 yards in the victory over Tampa Bay on Jan. 3, 2010, that secured the franchises first back-to-back winning seasons. Last season, he amassed 186 total yards (129 rushing, 57 receiving) against Arizona on Sept. 19.

Snelling has been durable, too. He has missed four games over the past three seasons.

Studious Blalock

Left guard Justin Blalock reported to the teams facilities after agreeing to terms, even though he couldnt practice until Aug. 4.

I wanted to be in the meetings because you get to see things schematically, Blalock said. Its just a matter of application when you get [on the practice fields.] Its also good to take mental reps with some of the younger guys.

Blalock also was elated to have the security of a six-year contract. Nothing is guaranteed, but the prospect of being here for a long time is very exciting to me, Blalock said.

Rule-change review

Members of the NFL officiating department will review the 2011 rules changes with the team and media Sunday.

The key rule change involves kickoffs. The ball will be kicked off from the 35-yard line, with no kicking-team player (except the kicker) lined up more than five yards behind the ball.

The rule, adopted in the interest of player safety, is designed to create fewer returns and eliminate the running start that players were getting pre-kickoff.

That rule will be effective early on in the year, special-teams coordinator Keith Armstrong said. I still think that guys who can run, thats what they are going to do, they are going to run.

The weather could also be a factor.

If youre in Cleveland in December or Chicago in November, you can put it on the 50-yard line, and its not going to the end zone, Armstrong said. As the season goes on, the weather will come into play. I know what they are trying to do, but there are going to be some balls returned.

The other key rules changes include prohibition against launching into a defenseless opponent and an expanded definition of defenseless players. Hits to the head of a passer will not be fouls unless they are forcible blows, and instant replay will be used for all scoring plays.

Personnel moves

The Falcons waived kicker Jacob Harfman and offensive tackle Rob McGill on Saturday. With Harfman gone, the battle to replace punter Michael Koenen is down to Matt Bosher and Ken Parrish.

It will be a really good competition, Armstrong said. Well try to rotate them and control their reps. In the exhibition games, they will have to be warmed up in both halves.

The team signed tight end A.J. Simmons on Friday to replace Robbie Agnone, who suffered a foot injury early in training camp. Simmons, a 6-foot-3, 255-pounder, played in 48 games and caught 21 passes for 238 yards at Arizona.

[g-dawg]

right now it seems to me like Jason is just pouting because the market did not go his way.

I see three choices for Jason:

1) Sign a 1yr deal for about $1million/yr with Falcons and test free agency again in 2012.

2) Sign a 2-3yr deal with Falcons for $1.5-2 million/yr

3) Don't sign with anyone and wait for some teams starting or tandem RB to go down and hope they are desperate to sign Jason for more money.

[g-dawg]

FFS1970 will come here and point out that I'm not an Orlando Ledbetter fan and yet I'm posting his article in 3,2,1....

[Guest Gritz]

right now it seems to me like Jason is just pouting because the market did not go his way.

I see three choices for Jason:

1) Sign a 1yr deal for about $1million/yr with Falcons and test free agency again in 2012.

2) Sign a 2-3yr deal with Falcons for $1.5-2 million/yr

3) Don't sign with anyone and wait for some teams starting or tandem RB to go down and hope they are desperate to sign Jason for more money.

I'm thinking if we get to Wednesday or Thursday of this week with no announced Falcon signing Snelling and his agent will opt for #3.

Very risky but obviously holds out the best chance for a larger payoff.

[muskokas finest ©]

I'm not sure Jason is "pouting". If the Falcons are low-balling him, he might as well drag his feet on signing and see if another team gets in the mix, either through injury or interest. It is also plain to see for Jason and his agent: Atlanta has nobody in camp who can compare to him for 3rd RB versatility.

[g-dawg]

I'm not sure Jason is "pouting". If the Falcons are low-balling him, he might as well drag his feet on signing and see if another team gets in the mix, either through injury or interest. It is also plain to see for Jason and his agent: Atlanta has nobody in camp who can compare to him for 3rd RB versatility.

If Falcons are offering $1mm or more then they are not low-balling him. Other RBs more accomplished than Snelling have accepted $1mm deal - specifically Ronnie Brown.

I'm not sure what Cadillac Williams and Jerious Norwood got but I would guess around $1mm.

Snelling is not DeAngelo Williams, not Ahmad Bradshaw - if you are not a star, then you are getting paid low money - that is the nature of the beast being a #2 RB in NFL.

[HouseofEuphoria]

It is also plain to see for Jason and his agent: Atlanta has nobody in camp who can compare to him for 3rd RB versatility.

I want to see a little more of Gartrell Johnson in pre-season before i agree with that statement.

I already agree the versatility that Snelling brings would be hard to match, especially at this point in the shortened off-season, but i like what i've seen from Gartrell so far this year.

He's got the size and speed to play the role.

Ultimately, having Snelling back would be ideal, but i am beginning to come to grips with the fact he might not be back. And the more i see of Gartrell, the more comfortable i am with it.

[g-dawg]

I want to see a little more of Gartrell Johnson in pre-season before i agree with that statement.

I already agree the versatility that Snelling brings would be hard to match, especially at this point in the shortened off-season, but i like what i've seen from Gartrell so far this year.

He's got the size and speed to play the role.

Ultimately, having Snelling back would be ideal, but i am beginning to come to grips with the fact he might not be back. And the more i see of Gartrell, the more comfortable i am with it.

not only that, but even if Snelling comes back, w/ presence of Jacquizz, Snelling will play a smaller role for falcons in 2011 than in 2010 - abscent a Michael Turner injury.

[midtownfalcon]

I hope we are able to get Snelling back for sure...a 1 year deal probably makes the most sense for him and it will give us an opportunity to see what we have with the rest of our backs and make an educated decision in next years off season...if he has an chance to get more playing time someplace else I certainly wouldnt begrudge him taking that chance.

[blackredfellow]

I hope we are able to get Snelling back for sure...a 1 year deal probably makes the most sense for him and it will give us an opportunity to see what we have with the rest of our backs and make an educated decision in next years off season...if he has an chance to get more playing time someplace else I certainly wouldnt begrudge him taking that chance.

I would certainly feel a lot better if Snelling was here for at least a season. If Turner went down, only having Quizz and Gartrell is not a situation I want to see as a Falcons fan.

[muskokas finest ©]

If Falcons are offering $1mm or more then they are not low-balling him. Other RBs more accomplished than Snelling have accepted $1mm deal - specifically Ronnie Brown.

I'm not sure what Cadillac Williams and Jerious Norwood got but I would guess around $1mm.

Snelling is not DeAngelo Williams, not Ahmad Bradshaw - if you are not a star, then you are getting paid low money - that is the nature of the beast being a #2 RB in NFL.

The 2nd round tender they put on Jason in March was for $1.91 million. I doubt the team is suddenly unwilling to give Jason a 1 year deal in that ballpark.

[pren226]

I would certainly feel a lot better if Snelling was here for at least a season. If Turner went down, only having Quizz and Gartrell is not a situation I want to see as a Falcons fan.

exactly, and in this shortened off season i like guys who know the playbook and how the team runs things instead bringing in a new player that would be of equal or lesser stature than snelling.

[AtlantaFalconPokerPro]

Snelling ran for 147 yards in the victory over Tampa Bay on Jan. 3, 2010, that secured the franchise’s first back-to-back winning seasons. Last season, he amassed 186 total yards (129 rushing, 57 receiving) against Arizona on Sept. 19.

The people who say Snelling hasn't had an impact need to reread the above stats. Snelling has shown up and produced whenever Turner has gone down for whatever reason. He's reliable, and does his job. I would hate to lose him.

[g-dawg]

Snelling ran for 147 yards in the victory over Tampa Bay on Jan. 3, 2010, that secured the franchises first back-to-back winning seasons. Last season, he amassed 186 total yards (129 rushing, 57 receiving) against Arizona on Sept. 19.

The people who say Snelling hasn't had an impact need to reread the above stats. Snelling has shown up and produced whenever Turner has gone down for whatever reason. He's reliable, and does his job. I would hate to lose him.

"The Market is the Market"....

Right now, the market is not valuing Jason Snelling - i agree that the market might be undervaluing Jason a little - but you are only worth what someone else is willing to pay - and it seems no one wants to pay Jason Snelling what he wants - otherwise he would be signed by another NFL team by now.

While you may feel with Jason's two big games in 4 years of football that he is deserving of a big contract - the market says he is not. Unlike when Falcons signed Michael Turner, Snelling is solid/tough/great all-around player - but he does not have the homerun speed and moves that NFL GMs look for in a #1 RB. Simply put, Jason is a #2RB in the NFL and an emergency FB - that is what he is.

If Falcons would still pay Jason Snelling on a 2nd round tender offer - $1.91 million per you - Snelling should jump all over that.

[bigdogg]

I agree, if his tender was close to 2 million a year then I think that is a fair deal for Snelling. He is a great all around back and I'm sure the Falcons value his versatility.

[The Falcon Jedi Knight]

right now it seems to me like Jason is just pouting because the market did not go his way.

I see three choices for Jason:

1) Sign a 1yr deal for about $1million/yr with Falcons and test free agency again in 2012.

2) Sign a 2-3yr deal with Falcons for $1.5-2 million/yr

3) Don't sign with anyone and wait for some teams starting or tandem RB to go down and hope they are desperate to sign Jason for more money.

^^^ this

Snelling thought he was worth way more than what he really is, and reality set in for him. His future, and his career is with Atlanta. And he kind of screwed himself, because if he had just gone to the Falcons first instead of trying to shop himself around he would have ended up with a much better contract than the 1 year deal he got.

[Finally]

Snelling thought he was worth way more than what he really is, and reality set in for him. His future, and his career is with Atlanta. And he kind of screwed himself, because if he had just gone to the Falcons first instead of trying to shop himself around he would have ended up with a much better contract than the 1 year deal he got.

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