Feb. 26, 2008

New Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff started the offseason by cutting seven veterans — including TE Alge Crumpler, DT Rod Coleman and QB Byron Leftwich — and team owner Arthur Blank said Atlanta will target $23 million in cap space to spend on free agents and draft picks. The Falcons have no shortage of holes, but the top priorities in the offseason will be to find a quarterback, running back, offensive tackles and defensive tackles. There is just one free agent from their roster whom the team is intent on bringing back — OLB Michael Boley, who is restricted. In the first round of cuts, Dimitroff trimmed the roster mostly of players who had missed time with injuries in 2007, but highly paid veterans like RB Warrick Dunn and MLB Keith Brooking may be the next to go. With new coach Mike Smith’s experience as defensive coordinator in Jacksonville, and Dimitroff’s as the Patriots’ director of college scouting, the emphasis could be on rebuilding the defense, starting with the D-line, although the offensive line has to be a top priority as well.