Bucs to contact Falcons free agents

Falcons defensive tackle Rod Coleman is on the Bucs' radar, according to his agent.

Pat Dye, Jr., said he expects to begin discussions with the Bucs regarding Coleman later today. The same is true with Falcons tight end Alge Crumpler. The Falcons announced Friday that both players were among seven the team planned to release. However, those transactions won't be official until today because the NFL office was closed Monday for President's Day.

"I expect to speak to Bucs soon on Rod,'' Dye said. "Officially, (he was) waived today.''

The Bucs defense ranked second overall last season and improved their sack total to 33 in 2007. But it wasn't good enough and Coleman would be a welcome addition. He has recorded 31 of his 58.5 career sacks in the last four seasons with the Falcons and would likely rotate at under tackle with Jovan Haye.

But last season, Coleman, 31, was plagued by injuries and played in just five games, recording two sacks before finishing the year on Injured Reserve. Coleman injured his right quadriceps muscle during a jet ski accident last April. He later suffered injuries to his kneecap, right triceps and right pectoral muscles.

If he checks out healthy, expect Jon Gruden and Bruce Allen to move quickly on Coleman. They drafted him with the Raiders in 1999.

Crumpler has been making big plays against the Bucs for years. The 6-foot-2, 262-pound tight end has more than 4,000 career receiving yards and 35 touchdown passes. He caught 42 passes for 444 yards and five scores last season.

The Bucs are in the market for a tight end with Anthony Becht and Jerramy Stevens expected to become unrestricted free agents Feb. 29.

In other news, linebacker Cato June is rehabilitating from foot surgery to repair an injury that forced him to miss the Bucs' wildcard playoff game against the Giants. He is expected to be fully recovered in time to participate in the off-season program.

Comments

[Ray]

I got a question. How come the Bucs can contact these players as soon as they are released? I thought when they are released, they are official FAs.Shouldn't they have to wait till the start of FA in March? Thanks.

[Stephen Holder]

Ray, the guys who are off limits until the start of the free agency period are the guys whose contracts haven't yet expired. The 2007 league year doesn't officially end until next week. That's when everyone who is scheduled for free agency is actually free. In this case, these players were cut by the Falcons, so their contracts are voided and thus they are free agents right off the bat. Make sense?

[Anthony Gironda]

All Right!! Let's go for Donte Stallworth too, because the Patriots are thinking about releasing him.

[Jay]

Stephen,

Isn't there a league rule about free agent veterans who have at least 4 years of playing time, not having to wait until the end of the season? I believe the Panthers already contacted Algae Crumpler as well, and the Saints were interested in Coleman. Theoretically, couldn't both of those players have signed with another team before the beginning of free agency?

[JOhn]

Hey Gruden, Randy Moss is an ex-raider, what about him? Wasn't D. Stallworth a Raider too? ha Just tell Gruden he was and he's as good as here!

Go Bucs!

[Stephen Holder]

Jay, you're missing one important point: these guys were under contract. They weren't going to be free agents, but Atlanta cut them. As a result, the years they had remaining on their contracts are simply voided. And the rule you're referring to is the one that prevents veterans from having to go through waivers. If you're a vested veteran, you immediately become a free agent when cut (like these guys), rather than having to clear waivers first. That way, you have more control over your destiny. The player wouldn't have any say if a team put in a waiver claim for him. But that's a whole other story. We'll tackle that process some other time.

[jersey buc]

Coleman fits the profile alright...Ex Raider, over 30, coming off a bad year, with injury problems. Add in the large paycheck he will likely ask for, and sounds like a definate BUC in 08 to me. Only thing missing is an arrest record...

[Oliver]

Stallworth or Berrian would be top signings. Plus, an experienced UT can only help the growth of Haye, and Crumpler is a top quality player.

[Matt]

You guys must have all forgotton Jerry Porter is a Free Agent. Its almost a guarantee he'll be in Pewter & Red in 08 before any of these other guys.

[Krutch]

It's been a while, but Gruden did not use Jerry Porter to his full potential when he was with the Raiders and I don't expect Porter to want to play for him again. I'd like Stallworth for the right money though. He's not a #1 and doesn't exactly strike me as a West Coast WR, but he is FAST.

[Mr. S]

These would be nice pick ups. Yay. Now we need to grab Turner from SD, a WR or twom and someone to play outside for Ronde in passing downs.

[John P]

Berrian in Chicago was a very solid receiver with highly mediocre QB's throwing to him. If there's one WR to chase (who has gas left in the tank) - it's him.

Glad to see Coleman might be coming over. He's a good player when healthy, and will do better platooning at this point in his career.

Dumping Crumpler might be more attitude than talent related on the Falcons side of things. If he's not poison in a locker room, getting him would be a very good deal.

don't understand the continue need to bring in players over 28 years of age.

why not draft a young DT? or go after Dallas Clark?

[Ib]

Dallas Clark has been tagged....off limits unless you want to give up a bunch.
to draft a young DT is like flipping a coin, he could be good, or NOT.....

Coleman is old, but he is a proven Vet who could bring leadership, and nastiness to that D-Line. give it a chance.

[Randy]

With the rotation in Bucs defensive line system, the addition of Coleman could only strength this young line. With a reduced amount of snaps, the amount of injuries should reduce and keep this guy fresh and he should have a positive influence on Haye, similar to Kevin Carter's influence on Adams. Plus, he's definitely an immediate upgrade with respect to depth and starter competition than any rookie could be. As for Crumpler, he's a good upgrade over Becht or Steven who might both be lost.

That said, i find it unlikely that the Bucs will sign Crumpler because the contract to sign him will likely be absurd (although to keep him from Carolina or N.O. still might be worth it). Lately, the bucs have been tight in wallet...i.e. if you want to sign with the Bucs you will have to except less than others would offer. thank goodness for no state income tax...it does make a big difference.

[Matthew Cox]

yeah! go get Stallworth - he'll be great for the first 3-5 games of the season before getting hurt and missing 5-8 games...

[Frank]

Crumpler and Stallworth would be tremendous additions to the offense next year. A name i would love to see is Bryant Johnson from Arizona. Coleman wouldnt be awful if they dont break the bank, but def get that stud CB or DT in the draft.

[Yansen]

all i know is that galloway cant do anything getting double teamed all the time since he's the only receiver that actually is a threat on this team so yeah, go for a reciever first. and i hear berrian is going to be off limits(maybe) so i like stallworth.

and Coleman is a good pickup too because im almost positive the bucs are going to get Left Defensive End, Derrick Harvey for their first round pick this year. plus he has tremendous speed.

imagine, Gaines Adams coming on the right, derrick Harvey from the left, Coleman and hovan through the middle.

i like it...

[Tony G]

Wow, some of you just can't get over yourselves! Was Garcia a Raider? Galloway? June? Pittmann? Jurevicious? McCardell? You guys still hung up on giving Darrell Russell a shot? Charlie Garner, who by the way injured his healthy knee as a Buc. Last I looked Buchanon had taken Kelly's job and doesn't look to give it back. Didn't Rickey Dudley help in reaching the Super Bowl? Seriously haters, move on already.

[derrick]

nice comment tony g.

[IMISS_No47]

no more geriatric FA's on the defense! The Bucs have switched gears and went for youth last year and it paid dividends. Keep it up.

[Ty Guy]

I'd definately sign Crumpler, give a shout out to Coleman, and most definately push all of my chips towards Randy Moss or a CB such as Asante Samuel and Marcus Trufant (if he dosen't ge the franchise tag from SEA). Go Bucs!

[mkurbo]

Coleman is going into his 10th year as a pro and will be 32 this year. As we found out with Kevin Carter last year, these guys do wear down in their double digit years. We most likely will release Carter (13 yr exp) and Spires (10 yr exp) this off-season. Why not go after Corey Williams (27) or Randy Starks (24) in free agency and maintain the youth movement ?

[Darth Raider]

no doubt guys ... and the last I checked Todd Steussie never played for the Raiders either!

[Tony G]

You mean that same Todd Stuessie that led the way for Steven Jackson's 1500 yd season in 2006?