Falcons Sign Linebacker Mike Peterson
by Dave the Falconer on Mar 9, 2009 11:55 PM EDT
in Falcons News
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via static.nfl.com
The Falcons didn't waste any time bringing Mike Peterson into the fold, signing the linebacker to a three year deal. Hey, we wanted free agents, right?
The former Jaguar reunites with Mike Smith, who was his defensive coordinator over there for a bit. At age 33, Peterson isn't three quarters of the player he used to be and would probably best be used as a backup at all three spots. More than likely, though, the Falcons will put Peterson and Stephen Nicholas into the two outside spots and let whatever rookie(s) they pick up in the draft learn under him. Less likely is the possibility that he'll be called upon to play inside, forcing talented rookie Curtis Lofton outside. I think I'd be a lot less happy with that possibility.
His familiarity with Smith's defense makes him a good stopgap, I guess, but I'm going to wait and see how he's deployed before I declare this a great signing. Used as a backup or as a short-term starter outside, there isn't much to complain about here. It highlights the Thomas Dimitroff and Smith way of doing things, as Peterson has experience in the scheme, likely came relatively cheap and isn't going to block any young players who catch fire in 2009.
Let's hope he regains the Peterson form of old.
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"Damn you Smitty ... "
"He's getting better, but he's not there yet ..."
- Bobby Cox (talking about Boyer)
by FrankyWren on Mar 9, 2009 11:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
OMG A SIGNING!
But…at what cost?
I’ll be surprised if many are ultimately pleased with this move, but I can see the logic in it.
At 33 though, I don’t see him at his peak.
"If the Falcons ever manage to win a Super Bowl in my lifetime, I'll french kiss a toilet." - a friend.
by tlozwarlock on Mar 10, 2009 12:00 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
ill reserve full judgement till i see some figures...
go hard or go home
by TO falcon on Mar 10, 2009 12:08 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Fair enough ...
but I wouldn’t worry about it. TD isn’t going to throw out a ridiculous contract for a 33-yr-old on the decline.
"He's getting better, but he's not there yet ..."
- Bobby Cox (talking about Boyer)
by FrankyWren on Mar 10, 2009 12:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
your right
i should have also said ill reserve judgment till i hear something from a coach on where they plan to compete in training camp
go hard or go home
by TO falcon on Mar 10, 2009 12:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Makes ya think ...
Peterson had some serious issues w/ Del Rio last fall. He celebrated by flexing his muscles after a shoe-string sack in a game the Jags lost by 18. Del Rio called him out, Peterson defended himself … then the Jags suspended him.
That’s the first time I’ve seen a coach and player just disagree in front of everybody to the extent that they did," defensive end Reggie Hayward said Thursday. "It’s extremely surprising, but this is a business and when things aren’t going right, tempers flare.
"He's getting better, but he's not there yet ..."
- Bobby Cox (talking about Boyer)
by FrankyWren on Mar 10, 2009 12:12 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Here's the article re: his suspension
http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=483343
To be fair, I’ve read mixed reviews about Del Rio.
"He's getting better, but he's not there yet ..."
- Bobby Cox (talking about Boyer)
by FrankyWren on Mar 10, 2009 12:15 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Here’s Peterson laying the hurt on Bledsoe back in the day (2006): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wg0U17CMUcU
"He's getting better, but he's not there yet ..."
- Bobby Cox (talking about Boyer)
by FrankyWren on Mar 10, 2009 12:19 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Franky...
Just make a fanpost with all this stuff in there with some of your analysis. I’ll rec it if you do :-D
"If the Falcons ever manage to win a Super Bowl in my lifetime, I'll french kiss a toilet." - a friend.
by tlozwarlock on Mar 10, 2009 12:30 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Bah!
I know, I probably should have gone that route. Not sure there’s much else to say about the guy though. I haven’t posted a fanpost in a bit though. Hmm …
"He's getting better, but he's not there yet ..."
- Bobby Cox (talking about Boyer)
by FrankyWren on Mar 10, 2009 1:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm cool with Peterson.
He will be solid. I was pulling for Cato June, but Peterson will be no worse than Brooking whose return many of us advocated. Now TD just needs to pluck a stud OLB out of the 1st or 2nd round and we will have a solid linebacking corps.
Falcon Fans UNITE!
by Blue Falcon on Mar 10, 2009 2:43 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
we shoud srill go after cato
imagine getting cato and still drafting an LB in the 2nd or 3rd! we could run some 3-4 or atleast have very good depth.
by TheFranchiseis#2 on Mar 10, 2009 3:53 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Huh?
This is one of those moves that makes you scratch your head. I can understand the Falcons wanting to get younger at LB, that would make sense. To replace a longtime Falcon in Keith Brooking becasue he’s 33 and replacing him by signing a 33 year old LB to a 3 yr deal is a bit confusing.
"Just want the Falcons to win a bowl before I'm gone!"
by Edgecrusher211 on Mar 10, 2009 8:55 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
not when you consider how poorly Brooking has played for the last few seasons
and Peterson is obviously Mike Smiths kind of guy
go hard or go home
by TO falcon on Mar 10, 2009 9:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
whatever
Hey, you lose one old LB and pick up another one who may be just a hair better…? Okay, I will wait until I see what they guy does to pass final judgement. I am happy they finally signed a LB, but I was hoping for someone younger.
Life is a garden. Dig it!
by Hardcore Falcon on Mar 10, 2009 9:14 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
It's all about the $$$.
Falcon Fans UNITE!
by Blue Falcon on Mar 10, 2009 12:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ugh...
I was just thinking about how old Peterson was – and then I realized he’s four months younger than I am. Dammit.
by joshmassey on Mar 10, 2009 9:28 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I have a conspiracy thoery
that we are shifting to a 3-4 defense without announcing it.
go hard or go home
by TO falcon on Mar 10, 2009 9:40 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I dunno....
That makes me kinda nervous. If we couldn’t stop the run with 4 down linemen last year, I’m not quite positive how we’re going to do it with 3.
If my mother put on a helmet and shoulder pads and a uniform that wasn't the same as the one I was wearing, I'd run over her if she was in my way. And I love my mother.
-Bo Jackson
by Pregame with Pabst on Mar 10, 2009 10:11 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I like the move...
At the very least it gives the Falcons some veteran leadership at the LB position. I’ve got a feeling that if we would have re-signed Brooking we would not have signed Peterson.
by Bonhoffer on Mar 10, 2009 11:29 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
how do you work that out?
Brooking signed for the Cowboys BEFORE we even sniffed Peterson
go hard or go home
by TO falcon on Mar 10, 2009 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He still led the Jags with 84 tackles last year
by LetsGoFalcons on Mar 10, 2009 11:55 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
And he is notably quicker than Brooking. Better in coverage, still aggressive against the run. He isn’t moving inside, they’ll keep him outside.
Obviously this isn’t our linebacker of the future, but he fosters competition, provides some depth, and adds a veteran presence. Plus the contract is only for two years and likely had very little in guaranteed money, which means that should he not pan out it won’t be expensive to cut him.
by LetsGoFalcons on Mar 10, 2009 12:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
LetsGoFalcons understands.
Again Peterson will be everything (maybe more) that Brooking was last season. Injuries are a concern, but I expect coach to rotate the rookies into the system more and more as the season goes progresses.
Keep in mind that Peterson was on pace to make 115 tackles in ’07. Then he had his falling out the Del Rio last season which skewed his production.
If Peterson racks up 90 tackles in a heavy rotation I will be more than satisfied with his signing.
SIDENOTE: In addition to the money we saved by letting Brooking and Boley go, we will get compensatory draft picks in ‘09 that we wouldn’t get otherwise. Don’t think that little detail escaped Dimitroff who plans on milking the draft each and every year to turn the Falcons into Champions.
Falcon Fans UNITE!
by Blue Falcon on Mar 10, 2009 2:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It was a good sign I guess. It’s not like there are 80 linebackers just sitting in the fa market. We needed a veteran linebacker and he was the best out there.
"The only time the Mets win is in the offseason"
by Falconzfan284 on Mar 10, 2009 2:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Peterson
From a Jaguar fan perspective you guys are getting a quality guy and linebacker. Don’t let the Del Rio thing sour you on Mike Pete. He can still run but was out of place in Gregg Williams defense last season. He’ll fit nicely in Smitty’s D once again. Quality player and quality man and leader. Nice signing.
Jim Brown, Barry Sanders, Fred Taylor. Sounds about right.
by JvilleJag2 on Mar 10, 2009 6:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Good stuff ...
I trust TD/Smitty, so I’m sure his beef w/ Del Rio was isolated stuff.
"He's getting better, but he's not there yet ..."
- Bobby Cox (talking about Boyer)
by FrankyWren on Mar 10, 2009 9:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Details
ESPN is reporting 2 yrs/6.5 million. That ain’t bad IMO. For comparison, that’s less money than Abe, Anderson, Redman, and Coleman will make. It’s only half a million more than Hutchins will make.
"He's getting better, but he's not there yet ..."
- Bobby Cox (talking about Boyer)
by FrankyWren on Mar 10, 2009 11:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
That'd be a very, very good deal
Even if I’m a bit wary of what he can actually do on the field, that’s chump change for a starting linebacker in this league. Nice deal.
by Dave the Falconer on Mar 11, 2009 1:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If my numbers are correct...
I’m curious how Peterson’s 2yr 6.5 mil deal stacks up in terms of value to Brooking’s 3 yr deal worth about $6 mil (with about $2.5 million guaranteed)???
I like Peterson, but it doesn’t seem like we accomplished a whole lot. He’s not a major upgrade over Brooking and we’re not saving a truck load of coin. So I’m scratching my head. All I can theorize is TD and Smitty are anxious to sever all ties to the Falcons past to cement in everyone’s mind who the new leaders of this team are…otherwise the move makes no sense to me.
Falcon Fans UNITE!
by Blue Falcon on Mar 11, 2009 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think ...
there’s some disparity between what TD saw as Brook’s market value versus what he saw as Peterson’s market value. I’m not so sure it had anything to do w/ establishing the regime, if only because Brook wasn’t any kind of “obstacle” (to establishing the new regime) from what I could tell.
"He's getting better, but he's not there yet ..."
- Bobby Cox (talking about Boyer)
by FrankyWren on Mar 11, 2009 1:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Brook wasn’t any kind of "obstacle"
I agree, but my conspiracy theory is that TD is stripping away all icons of the Falcons sorted past (like Brooks) to get everyone focused on the present and future.
Again cutting Brooks and signing Peterson is not salary cap related and not about field production. So what was it about? Leadership and/or Marketing.
Falcon Fans UNITE!
by Blue Falcon on Mar 11, 2009 5:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well ...
Depending on who you ask, Peterson will be slightly better in coverage. So there’s that. But I feel ya.
"He's getting better, but he's not there yet ..."
- Bobby Cox (talking about Boyer)
by FrankyWren on Mar 11, 2009 7:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You have to remember
that not everything is black and white. Its not madden. TD wont have had Brooking sat with the contract he got in Dallas and Petersons contract and then pick between the two. Peterson visited a good time after Brooking left and it would be silly not to sign the best LB available because we may be in a slightly ‘worse’ situation.
Thats even before you consider we cant comment on who is better until AFTER Peterson plays and shows what he has left in the tank.
As for now, Brooking has been bad the past few seasons, so thank you and good luck but im all for this move.
go hard or go home
by TO falcon on Mar 11, 2009 10:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Don't get me wrong...
…I like Peterson. I’m glad we signed him.
I’m just pointing out the obvious. TD did not make this decision based solely on numbers. That’s even more obvious when you consider the fact that Peterson is more of a health risk than Brooking.
Falcon Fans UNITE!
by Blue Falcon on Mar 12, 2009 12:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Good point ...
Let’s just hope he kicks butt and takes names.
"He's getting better, but he's not there yet ..."
- Bobby Cox (talking about Boyer)
by FrankyWren on Mar 12, 2009 12:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
but my point is
that we are comparing with hindsight. TD didnt have the two contracts to compare like we do.
go hard or go home
by TO falcon on Mar 12, 2009 1:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Look I'm usually a homer, but...
…I don’t believe that TD simply rolled the dice by cutting Brooks and then just had bad luck reeling in a more talented replacement. He’s to smart for that.
I believe he’s got a plan and releasing Brooks was a strategic part of that plan.
Falcon Fans UNITE!
by Blue Falcon on Mar 13, 2009 1:49 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Just can't get my head around $6.5 million being called chump change
while I work my butt off for a fraction of that. Its the main reason, I just bury my head in the sand during free agency. Hope he works out – sounds like a solid replacement for Brooking
"When I played pro football, I never set out to hurt anyone deliberately - unless it was, you know, important, like a league game or something"
-Dick Butkus
by zooker on Mar 11, 2009 11:39 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
gotta go with you on this one zooker
$6.5 million is so much money to your regular joe that it means nothing more that “a lot”
Its almost obscene. Than again, what did Hainesworth makes $100 million of 7 years?
If my mother put on a helmet and shoulder pads and a uniform that wasn't the same as the one I was wearing, I'd run over her if she was in my way. And I love my mother.
-Bo Jackson
by Pregame with Pabst on Mar 11, 2009 4:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I could live the rest of my life on 6.5 million.
I doubt I’ll ever make that much money.
and I’m only 24, with my most of my adult life still ahead of me.
Gotta love this economy and what it does to dreams! :-D
"If the Falcons ever manage to win a Super Bowl in my lifetime, I'll french kiss a toilet." - a friend.
by tlozwarlock on Mar 11, 2009 6:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
By NFL standards, it's pretty reasonable
Believe me, I’m with you on the expense. I make absolutely jack at my day writing job, and $6.5 million would sustain me forever. But when I’m talking NFL salaries and there are guys making ridiculous coin, that kind of money is a decent deal for a starting linebacker.
by Dave the Falconer on Mar 14, 2009 1:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Guys
when you can get thousands and thousands of people to come and pay top doller to watch you work then you too will make that kind of cash. these are elite athletes that deserve the money because we like them and will have web pages with blogs for them and adore them and pay to see them on work on Sunday. we make crap because no one gives a dam what we do.
by andrew783 on Mar 15, 2009 11:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Not true!
My mom care … A LOT. So there.
"He's getting better, but he's not there yet ..."
- Bobby Cox (talking about Boyer)
by FrankyWren on Mar 16, 2009 1:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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