Report: Atlanta Falcons to release Thomas DeCoud
By Mike Dyce
Yahoo! Sports’ Rand Geitlin is reporting that Atlanta Falcons safety Thomas DeCoud will be released by the fourth day of the league year, possibly sooner than that.
#Falcons safety Thomas DeCoud will be released by the 4th day of the league year, if not before, per a league source.
— Rand Getlin (@RandGetlin) February 26, 2014
The Falcons signed DeCoud to a five-year contract just two years ago and he went to the Pro Bowl in 2012. The reason for cutting him by that date is to avoid a huge portion of that contract becoming guaranteed.
From NFL.com:
"The move will save the Falcons $3 million against the salary cap, and create another hole on their paper-thin defense. We expect Atlanta to be very active over the next few weeks."
Essentially this is a cap casualty, but it just creates more work for the Falcons to replace him. He’ll generate some interest around the league though.