Earlier today, Adam Schefter reported that the Falcons were launching Ricardo Allen and Allen Bailey, which has always been a possibility, but the speed with which it happened surprised me.
Falcons reported CB Ricardo Allen and DE Allen Bailey, by source.
– Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 18, 2021
Schefter made a mistake, Allen is a safety, but the two saved the Falcons about $ 11 million against the limit in 2021. This leads us to why the beloved Ricardo Allen was cut. These ex-Falcons were the biggest savings the team could make; it was a no-brainer for Terry Fontenot, even with all that Allen did for the organization.
Rico was one of the most beloved players in the Falcons locker room due to his integrity. He always praised his teammates after the victories and spoke openly about them after the defeats, remaining optimistic regardless of the result or the way he played. Allen was influential with his high IQ in football and attention to detail, which will surely earn him a spot as a coach whenever he hangs up. I can’t imagine anything but good luck to him and his family from across the organization and fan base.
That optimism was on display a few years ago, before Rico signed his extension. Without any contracts, he still showed a positive attitude through a different perspective of dealing with adversity. Climbed, cut, trained squadron, switched positions and reached a second contract; Rico is inspirational to many and will always be a favorite of Falcons.
#Falcons Ricardo Allen on the prospect of a long-term contract before the training camp: “If I could write the contract, I would have done it a long time ago … if this is my last year, I will do it the best that I can do. ” pic.twitter.com/Rzieg1wyuj
– Justin Felder (@ Justin_FOX5) June 13, 2018
The most remarkable memory I have of Rico is when he suffered an Achilles injury. The stories about how he couldn’t stay out and basically became a coach. Even so, the headline that didn’t draw much attention was that of Rico’s college colleague Joe Gilliam – who was diagnosed with spinal glioblastoma, a rare form of cancer; in early 2016, Gilliam passed away on September 11, 2018, after a long struggle.
“I think being able to watch and learn from him throughout this period made me a much stronger man,” said Allen. “He never complained about his situation. He never asked ‘Why me?’ He probably did it alone, but he did a very good job of staying strong in front of us. “
Allen’s loss will really hurt the locker room, but on the field, perhaps not so much. Rico was the best at supporting the race this year, but even that was just useful. He struggled to protect himself, and when he advanced against the passer, he was not as effective as in the past. I think it was a low year and I believe in the right system for it to return to the level of play that we remember.
That’s why I thought keeping Allen could be in the cards, however; it is literally a perfect fit for Dean Pees’ defense. As he plays smart, Allen could have made learning a new system easier for others, especially with the versatility of the old boiler maker Purdue. He can play a single security game, spin down in the box or on the slot machine, attack and support the race from anywhere. Allen was not elite in any area, but he did well in all of them.
It is now known that Fontenot patrolled and prepared game plans for Sean Payton; he is clearly familiar with Allen. For him to conclude that the $ 6 million in savings and $ 2 million in dead cap has overtaken Allen’s presence, you have to trust him.
Allen went from the training team to the team captain. He personified what the Hawks have endeavored to be in recent years, but the organization is going in a different direction and he is not off plan. However, due to its versatility, experience and leadership, there will certainly be a market for someone like Rico.
–
Thank you, Rico, for seven memorable years in Atlanta. pic.twitter.com/G9WaNOHn8E
– Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) February 18, 2021