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Report: Atlanta Falcons thrilled to welcome back dynamic defender Kemal Ishmael

Fact: Kemal Ishmael never chews with his mouth open

Arizona Cardinals v Atlanta Falcons Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images

Atlanta Falcons safety/linebacker/special teamer extraordinaire Kemal Ishmael is solid. That’s an odd way to describe a football player, but it’s an apt description for Ishmael. He comes to work, he does his job, and far more often than not, you don’t have to worry about him. As defensive role players go, he’s the bee’s knees.

That’s why the Falcons were thrilled to re-sign Ishmael. The Mothership’s Andrew Hirsh wrote a must-read piece about this; go read it now if you haven’t already.

“We are pleased to be able to get Kemal back,” general manager Thomas Dimitroff said. “He is one of the toughest competitors we have and continued to battle every week last year despite a shoulder injury. He has shown the ability to play both safety and linebacker for us and that will continue to be valuable in our scheme.”

Ishmael is basically the football equivalent of a Swiss army knife. He can do whatever you ask him to: play in the box? Sure. Play some safety? Absolutely. Open a can of beans, saw a small twig, and uncork some cheap wine? You betcha.

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