The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Defensive end Fowler agrees to adjust deal to help with cap
Falcons defensive end Dante Fowler agreed to re structure his contract, according to a person familiar with the situation.
The Falcons’ news alar y-cap executive, Chris Olson, had been working feverishly to get the team under the $182.5 million salary cap by a 4 p.m. deadline Wednesday. The Fowler move was anticipated. He had a salary- cap number of $ 18.5 million after signing a three- year deal worth $ 45 million last season.
Fowler had a tumultuous first season with his third NFL team in 2020. Things did not go well for Fowler after signing with the Falcons on March 25. He played in 14 games and made 13 starts. He finished with 23 tackles, three sacks, eight quarterback hits, four tackles for losses, a pass defensed and a forced fumble.
“Time waits for no man,” Fowler said in late December. “I just have to get better. That’s what I’m going to do. I’m going back to the lab. Go back to the drawing board and come back better than what I did this year.”
Last season’ s master plan called for Fowler and Takk Mckinley to perform at optimal pass-rush levels and secure sacks by the bushel. That plan failed on both fronts. Mckinley was released Nov. 9 after tweeting about wanting a trade.
He bounced around to the Bengals ( f ailed physical), the 49ers ( failed physical) and the Raiders. Mckinley is set to sign with Cleveland in free agency.
Fowler was a model citizen while trying to play through an ankle injury, hamstring strain and then a return from the reserve/ COVID- 19 list. He suffered an ankle sprain in early September and wore a knee brace at practice. He answered the bell for the season opener, but clearly was hobbled.
A speed rusher with a bad ankle sprain is pretty obvious to notice. He kept playing and was on the injury report as questionable for the third game against Chicago. He played 79% of the snaps in the opener against Seattle, 70% against Dallas before a dip to 34% against Chicago in Week 3.
Overall, he played 601 defensive snaps ( 56%). In 2019 with the Los Ange - les Rams, Fowler played 880 snaps ( 80%) and had a career- high 11.5 sacks. After the big season with the Rams, he landed the deal with the Falcons that included a $ 14 million signing bonus and $ 29 million guaranteed.
“It’ s definitely been a rough season, but I really don’t like to make excuses,” Fowler said before the regular- season finale. “My standard is to be a double- digit sack guy, an elite pass rusher. I was pretty injured and banged up this year, but that’s no excuse. I’m still held to a standard, and this year ... I don’t feel that I played up to my standard.”
On Oct. 29 against Carolina, Fowler suffered a hamstring strain, perhaps compensating for the ankle. He then didn’t play against Denver on Nov. 8, the Sunday before the Falcons’ bye week. When it appeared things couldn’ t get any worse, Fowler went on the reserve/ COVID- 1 9 list Nov .14. He missed the 24- 9 loss to the Saints on Nov. 22 before he was activated on Nov. 25.
Fowler said he felt pretty good going into the Carolina game. “But I ended up straining my hamstring,” Fowler said. “So it’s kind of like I took 10 steps forward and 20 steps back.”
Fowler said not having a structured off season program led to his body breaking down .“It’ s definitely going to be really different the way I work out,” he said. “Coming back bigger. Coming back stronger and be ready to hone in on what I can do and play my role the way I’m supposed to play it.”
Former Falcons interim coach Raheem Morris, who had to manufacture a pass rush after cutting Mckinley and playing with a hobbled Fowler, believes Fowler can bounce back next season. “In order to play in this profession you have to be known for something,” said Morris, who was named the Rams defensive coordinator after the Falcons didn’t retain him. “Right now, he just hasn’t had the numbers that you’ve got to have. ... He’ll be disappointed in what happened this season. I’ve got a feeling that he’ll look forward to next year and absolutely getting after people.”