Monday, February 11, 2013
The Falcons' RB picture
By Tim Kavanagh
For some time now, the rumor has been that the Atlanta Falcons would move on from long-time lead RB Michael Turner this offseason, as he's too expensive for what he provides at this point in his career. There's yet to be any report that diminishes that feeling.
In fact, on Sunday, Dan Pompei of National Football Post adds fuel to the already roaring fire, adding the notion that the Falcons will be looking to get younger at the position.
Atlanta already has Jacquizz Rodgers on the roster, but it's not believed that he's a player they envision as an every-down type of player. Their options, then, are to find another downhill rusher in free agency or the draft. The veterans available this offseason include Rashard Mendenhall, Ahmad Bradshaw, Reggie Bush, Shonn Greene and Peyton Hillis. In this year's draft class, there are some intriguing rushers, including UNC's Giovani Bernard, Wisconsin's Montee Ball and Alabama's Eddie Lacy, all three of whom could be available at No. 30 overall given the relative lack of value assigned to RBs in recent drafts.
The comment from Pompei that Atlanta wants to get younger at the position would seem to indicate the drafting someone is more likely than signing one of the high-mileage vets on that list of free agents, but that attitude could change in the coming weeks.
