The Atlanta Falcons saved a fair amount of cap space after they got quarterback Matt Ryan signed to a nice contract extension last week. The team now has around $7 million in salary-cap space, meaning they could go out and sign one more free agent to complete the roster. After toying with defensive lineman Richard Seymour for almost three months now, the Falcons could make a move for him with the extra cash. However, general manager Thomas Dimitroff is officially putting the idea to rest.
While speaking with Atlanta sports radio station 790 The Zone, Dimitroff said the Falcons are no longer interested in signing the veteran. He recognized that there has been a lot of talk surrounding Seymour since Ryan signed his extension, but Dimitroff said that at this point discussions are off the table and the team is moving on.
"There is some room, but we also have to keep in consideration that if injuries come about that we have some money to make sure that we help ourselves if something does come about," Dimitroff said. "We're not jumping right in. We're not jumping in to spend money because we have a few bucks in our pocket right now."
Seymour is a seven-time Pro Bowl player who has been a defensive standout for plenty of years, but even $7 million is a lot to hand out to the former Oakland Raiders star. Dimitroff did drop the "never say never" line and considering Seymour lives full-time in Georgia, he is right to say that. However, Dimitroff is stressing that right now the team is focused on the current roster and developing those players instead of eyeing others.
Seymour continues to sit on the free agent market since getting released from the Raiders. The Atlanta Falcons have been the primary team interested in the veteran, attempting multiple times to get him signed to a deal to add to their veteran corps in place. Seymour noted on SiriusXM NFL Radio that the Falcons were a "model organization" and he appreciated their interest in him, but he recognizes that it might be time to call it a career.
Seymour told the radio station that if he remains unsigned, he will retire from football. Seymour pointed out that he could have signed with a team by now but he is looking for the right offer. Translation, Seymour wants more money than he really can earn. The free agent market has been rough on veterans and Seymour continues to learn that lesson the hard way. With the Falcons pulling their interest off the table, it looks like the defensive star will hang up his cleats.
