Long-time Falcons LB Keith Brooking and the Atlanta Falcons have finally parted ways after contract negotiations broke down prior to the midnight deadline - making Brooking a free agent.
Brooking is just the latest veteran player to be let go by Atlanta, following S Lawyer Milloy. The combination of big-money contracts, declining ability and quality young talent has led to their release. Its safe to argue that they weren't released at the same time as Alge Crumpler and Warrick Dunn last season because the team needed some veteran holdovers to help facilitate a smooth transition. Now a year later, the veterans are gone, and the pressure now squarely lies on the young players, mostly in their second and third seasons. That's not to say GM Thomas Dimitroff won't acquire new talent via free agency or the draft, but overall its clear that the team is going younger.
LB Michael Boley, CB Domonique Foxworth and DE Chauncey Davis also became free agents.
Looking around the league, Brooking wasn't the only high-profile name to become a free agent last night. Former Falcons Pro-Bowl CB DeAngelo Hall will return to the Washington Redskins for an estimated $54M over six years. This makes Hall one of the highest paid cornerbacks in the NFL. This is the second time in two years that Hall has struck a monster deal, following his disastrous half-season with the Raiders. Oakland released Hall after eight games, and he was picked up by Washington a week later. He tallied two interceptions with the 'Skins in seven games, tied for the team lead. Hall put aside his personal conduct problems when he arrived in Washington, but his history of off-field distractions in Atlanta and in Oakland (coupled with his declining on-field production) certainly doesn't warrant one of the largest contracts in the league. Typical Redskins.
Speaking of which, the 'Skins threw even more money at DT Albert Haynesworth. The All-Pro tackle was the center of a flurry of rumors by Falcons fans about whether owner Arthur Blank would open the checkbook to sign him. Last week the team made it clear they wouldn't be writing any $100M checks, which kept Haynesworth out of the picture. Now he'll suit up alongside DeAngelo Hall, Jason Taylor and a high-priced Redskins team that started last year on fire before fading away by December. Haynesworth was signed this morning to a 7-year deal worth $100M (or up to $115M including performance bonuses). $41M is guaranteed, the bulk of which he'll earn in the next calendar year. Certainly too rich for many teams, Haynesworth landed exactly where many analysts predicted.
The free agent signing period has only been open for nine hours, and the Redskins have already agreed to spend over $150M. Owner Dan Snyder has built a reputation of over-paying for veteran players, something he stepped away from last season by largely keeping the checkbook closed (they traded for Jason Taylor). But this offseason, and during a recession, he seems bent on becoming the Yankees of football by spending the cash he thinks will put his team over the top and come out of the best division in the NFL. I think their success still relies on the ability of Jason Campbell and the health of Clinton Portis. If their offense clicks next season, they could certainly be a threat to the Giants, Eagles and that other team.
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