Report: The Falcons Sniffing Around The Running Back Market

Michael Turner was always unlikely to return in 2013. A $6.9 million salary, the wrong side of 30 years of age and being a poor fit for the current offense have been conspiring against him for the better part of a year now.

What we didn't have up until this point was more than rumors and speculation that made sense to us. According to Dan Pompei of The National Football Post, though, the Falcons have confirmed interest in running backs in free agency and the draft. This jibes with the running theory, and if true, it all but confirms Turner is gone.

The reasons for that remain obvious. Jacquizz Rodgers is a useful back who is excellent at catching passes, and he's on a team-friendly rookie deal. Jason Snelling can fill in at fullback, catch passes and carry the ball and carries an affordable cap number, as well. The Falcons still need a true featured back—or at least one who can take the majority of carries and thrive—and saying goodbye to one of the franchise's greatest running backs will free up quite a bit of cap space.

Given how necessary that cap space is, I expect the move within the next month or so.

Who's your preferred running back?