The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Falcons may have to address safety first
With Allen’s release, expiring contracts, team has openings.
If the Falcons’ 2021 training camp began today, only one safety would report to the team facility.
The only player at the position under contract is Jaylinn Hawkins, a hard-hitting safety selected by the previous regime in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL draft. Hawkins saw mostly rotational time last season, though he did get starts against the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers because of early-season injuries.
Hawkins suffered a concussion against the Packers, however, and missed three games before returning to rotational and special teams duties.
Otherwise,threeoftheother Falcons safeties have contracts expiring, and another was released last week.
Ricardo Allen was the veteran
safety the new coaching staff decided to part ways with. Allen was to make $6.25 million in 2021, with the Falcons cutting him to trim that figure from the salary cap. Allen has been with the Falcons his entire career, beginning in 2014. Falcons coach
Arthur Smith hinted the salary cap played a major role in this decision.
“Ricardo Allen, he was a heck of a player here,” Smith said. “The circumstances, having to release him, we have all the respect in the world for Rico. We’re going to have to adapt.”
The two safeties set to be free agents are Keanu Neal and Damontae Kazee. Neal played a lot near the line of scrimmage in the previous coaching staff ’s defensive scheme and was able to tally 100 total tackles, a sack and three quarterback hits. Neal’s speed and tackling should make him a fit for many teams. The New York Jets, where former Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich holds the same position, would seemingly be a good fit for Neal.
And as the league has shown over the years, all it takes is one team to pay a price too high for another. The Falcons also are in a tough situation where they have to cut more than $20 million to ensure they are under a 2021 salary cap that is expected to be between $180 million and $185 million.
As valuable as Neal has been, a good possibility exists he becomes priced out of what the team can afford.
Kazee was able to play in only four games before suffering a season-ending Achilles injury. As a free safety, Kazee was on his way to being a rising star in the NFL, especially following a 2018 season that saw him tie for the league lead with seven interceptions. A speedy defender who plays the game with a physical presence, Kazee could be a different story than Neal since he’s coming off of a serious injury. While he could command a decent market, the Falcons may have a decent shot at keeping Kazee.
Sharrod Neasman has been a rotational safety and special teams contributor over the past three seasons and could be someone the Falcons consider bringing back on a one-year deal. Neasman started two games late during the 2020 season when Allen suffered a concussion. Neasman has enough game experience to warrant a closer look by the new staff.
Cornerback Isaiah Oliver also is an option to move to safety. He played outside at corner before moving to nickel midway through the year.
“Isaiah’s a guy who’s played inside. We feel good about him,” Smith said. “We’re going to value versatility. But we’re still in the early stages of how we’re going to build this roster in 2021.”
Given the current situation, safety is a major need for the Falcons. Given general manager Terry Fontenot’s preference to draft the best player available, his front office is likely to seek some players to add at safety in the second and third tiers of free agency.
“Youalwaysworkreallyhard in free agency to bring in playersandfillsomeneedsasmuch as you can,” Fontenot said. “(You) bring in players that fill those needs because that gives you more confidence to move forward with the right approach in the draft.
“You never want to reach for needs in the draft, but when you address some of those needs prior to the draft … you feel better about going about the right approach in the draft.”
The Braves extended manager Brian Snitker’s contract through the 2023 season with a club option for 2024, the team announced Friday morning.
“It feels good,” Snitker said. “I appreciate (general manager) Alex (Anthopoulos) reaching out and getting it done. I’m not one who worries about that, honestly. If this was my last year or whatever, I’m going to give it everything I have always. But it’s nice, obviously, that someone thinks enough of you to extend that kind of a package. It makes you feel good.”
Snitker has guided the Braves to three consecutive National League East titles. He led the team to the NL Championship Series last October, helping the franchise snap a 19-year drought without advancing in the postseason. He’s the only manager in franchise history to reach the postseason in three of his first four full seasons.
“I am thrilled that Brian will continue to lead our club on the field and in the clubhouse,” Anthopoulos said in a news release. “Three consecutive division titles speak to the impact of Brian and his staff, and we are pleased that he will continue to guide our club
through 2023.”
Snitker, 65, is in his 45th season with the organization. A longtime minor league manager and assistant coach,
Snitker became the interim manager in May 2016, was named the full-time manager five months later and has accrued a 353-317 (.527)
record since.
After overseeing the Braves’ 18-win improvement in 2018, Snitker was named NL manager of the
year by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. This past winter, Baseball America named Snitker its 2020 manager of the year, crediting how he navigated injuries throughout the campaign. The Braves, despite a decimated rotation, finished 35-25 in the shortened season.
Snitker ranks fourth in Atlanta-era Braves victories, trailing Bobby Cox (2,058), Fredi Gonzalez (432) and Luman Harris (379). He’s one of two Braves managers to earn BBWAA manager of the year, joining Cox, his close friend and mentor.
Notably, Snitker is a players’ manager. His clubhouses have been renowned for their togetherness and chemistry. Snitker is a primary reason the Braves’ culture is so commonly praised.
“He’s been there at every level, seen it from every angle possible,” shortstop Dansby Swanson said. “Whether it’s Double-a, Triple-a, third base coach here, now the manager. He’s seen it from so many angles, you get perspectives from every which way. It allows you to think and know what players like to do, how they see things. He’s grown as comfortable with us as we have him. The willingness to ask us about certain things, the direct dialogue. It’s been a fun working relationship.
“I know he cares tremendously about us off the field as people, which I think is a common characteristic for anybody who can connect with people.”