Report: Falcons want to re-sign Sean Weatherspoon, even with more rehab ahead

The Atlanta Falcons were without star linebacker Sean Weatherspoon again last season. He tore his achilles in a June pre-season workout, a devastating blow after he missed nine games because of a foot injury in 2013. He's managed to play in just 20 games over the past 3 seasons, and as a result, some of his shine has worn off. Many are wondering whether the Falcons will attempt to re-sign the former first round draft pick.

If Thomas Dimitroff has anything to say about it, the Falcons will likely try to re-sign Weatherspoon.

"Sean Weatherspoon is going to be an important part of building this defense and building this team," Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff said. "He has that side of him and that leadership that we need across the board."

"He's a guy that's really, really focused on his rehab," Dimitroff said. "We need him back in this organization to help us go to another level. He's starting to move around."

The preferred scenario here is one that resembles the Falcons' recent treatment of Corey Peters. Peters got a very team-friendly (read: league minimum) deal from the Falcons on a one-year, prove it contract last off-season. I have absolutely no problem with Weatherspoon receiving a similar deal.

In the 2011 and 2012 seasons, Weatherspoon accrued 7 sacks, over 200 tackles, a forced fumble, and an interception. He had a fantastic season in 2011, rating positively in 12 of the 17 games in played in. In 2012, he rated positively in 7 of the 13 games he played in, logging almost 1,000 snaps. His critics like to rave about how overrated he is, and that's fine, but let's be honest about the state of our linebacking corps. We need help, even if comes from an oft-injured, slightly above-average at worst guy like Weatherspoon.

Pull the trigger, Dimitroff. It's the right thing to do.