BRYANT, 42, EAGER TO KEEP KICKING IN ATLANTA

Falcons kicker Matt Bryant is pleased that the franchise wants to retain his services and is hopeful that a deal can be worked out before he becomes a free agent on March 14.

“They’ve started,” Bryant told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Thursday during a post-career business seminar. “They’ve been talking on and off for a couple of weeks now. So, I’ll just let the process take its way. Hopefully, we can get something done.”

Bryant, 42, is coming off a strong season and wants to keep playing.

“I’ve been asked that question a bunch, just from the people back in my hometown and just across the whole spectrum,” Bryant said about how long he wants to play. “For me, my initial feeling is as long as I can be significant.

“I guess somebody would say what’s the definition of being significant. I would say last year was a very good example.”

Bryant became the franchise’s all-time scoring leader when he scored his 806th point in 2016, surpassing Morten Andersen.

Bryant scored his 1,000th point with the franchise last season on a game-winning 52-yard field goal to beat the Saints in December. In 2017, Bryant was 38 for 38 on extra points and 39 for 44 on field goals, including going 10 for 11 on attempts over 50 yards.

“So, as long as I can keep doing that, I want to be an asset. I don’t want to be just going through the motions,” he said.

CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@ AJC.COM Matt Bryant, who has played nine seasons with the Falcons and is their alltime leading scorer, hopes to resign before free agency begins.