The Atlanta Falcons apparently are preparing for the possibility that veteran defensive tackle Grady Jackson, one of the team's steadiest players in 2007, will not participate in any of the voluntary offseason conditioning sessions. Atlanta officials quietly visited with tackle Seth Payne, released by the Houston Texans earlier in the offseason, this week. Then the Falcons played host to Ian Scott, most recently of the Chicago Bears, and one of only three players listed among ESPN.com's top 30 unrestricted free agents who remains unsigned. Both left Atlanta without contracts, but the Falcons will stay in touch with them. Atlanta probably would prefer Scott, who also is drawing interest from Minnesota, but has yet to meet his asking price. Jackson played for the league minimum base salary of $710,000 in 2006, and proved a bargain at that price, demonstrating once again that, even at age 34, he remains one of the NFL's top interior run-stuffers. He is scheduled to earn $1.5 million in base salary for 2007 and 2008 under his current contract, but the suspicion is that Jackson wants a new deal. First-year coach Bobby Petrino and defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer don't figure to see much of Jackson this spring. And that's never a good thing. Because left to his own devices, Big Grady tends to become, well, Too Big Grady.
Not good enough to be able to pull off a holdout. If I were the Falcons and he was giving me such a big headache, I'd just cut him and make an example out of him.
Agreed. And funny sig, though his play on the field regresses any thoughts I have of him being "dumb" though he does sound stupid sometimes and make mistakes but so does everyone else.And Grady will probably be dead by 37 and Ian Scott is younger so it wouldn't be all that bad.
I hope they don't get rid of Grady. He was one of the few consistent Falcons last year, and is an excellent run stopper.
The Denver Post reports defensive tackle Grady Jackson could be cut by the Falcons before training camp to save salary cap space.This would explain Atlanta's interest in Ian Scott. Jackson is currently recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery and questionable for OTAs.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Vicktimized7 @ Mar 24 2007, 10:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I hope they don't get rid of Grady. He was one of the few consistent Falcons last year, and is an excellent run stopper.</div>Agreed.
You have to remember, that was last year. Grady is another year older, his bones and muscles are weaker due to his massive frame and his knees are already bad and he JUST had knee surgery this off-season. Before we know it, he's gonna be in a Hippo-sized coffin from cardiac arrest. He tires to easily and if anything, Grady needs to step away from football and check himself into a weight loss clinic and save him self before he is dead in 5 years.I love Grady, and I love what he did to the Falcons. But no one deserves special treatment in the NFL and if he's going to be missing work-outs and practices and hurting team chemestry then it's best he leaves.
