Atlanta Falcons Say Goodbye to Abraham, Turner, and Robinson

Original Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Not so stunning news out of Atlanta, as three veterans were cut today by the Falcons.

Michael Turner, John Abraham, and Dunta Robinson were all released earlier this morning by the club, this first reported by ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter. The team would later confirm this via their Twitter account. 

The trio of Falcons were set to earn a lot of money in 2013. NFL Network reporter Albert Breer tweeted that Robinson would be owed $9 million this upcoming season, Turner would be owed $8.9 million, and Abraham would be owed the least: $7.25 million. With this in mind, the math would estimate that Atlanta cleared roughly $18.65 million in cap space by letting these veterans go. 

It's a cost-cutting move for sure, and certainly shows the business side of the National Football League holds no boundaries.

The only true surprise out of this series of cuts is John Abraham. Michael Turner's regression was very easy to notice. After racking up 1,699 yards and 17 touchdowns in his debut season with the Falcons in 2008, the back was never the same. He put on weight, lost his burst, couldn't get through the holes his linemen were creating for him and was hampered by the injury bug a few times. Many felt that Jacquizz Rodgers' emergence was supplanting Turner as the main man in Atlanta, and it would appear that they are right. 

Although, the Falcons have been linked to the Rams' Steven Jackson, who is set to become a free agent on March 12.

Dunta Robinson's play, ever since he came to Atlanta, has never been anything short of unspectacular. Robinson was granted a hefty contract and truly never lived up to it. The statistics would indicate that he has been by far the Falcons' worst cornerback since arriving on the scene in the 2010 season. There were questions on whether or not he would be released after last season, but granted another chance in Atlanta he still did not perform up to par even under Mike Nolan's defensive direction. Unfortunately for Dunta, it is nothing short of a failed experiment. 

Now the question is whether or not the Falcons will bring back Brent Grimes who is set to hit the market, as well as safety William Moore, perhaps the best safety on the market. General Manager Thomas Dimitroff made it clear that signing his free agents are the top priority, so take that as you will. 

Abraham, though, has been nothing short of great in his tenure in Atlanta. He has certainly crawled up in age, obviously, but he is still a very good pass-rusher and is, depending on who you talk to, the only sense of pass-rush that the Atlanta Falcons possessed. With understudies and project defensive ends not getting the job done, one has to wonder where the Falcons will be turning now that Abraham is gone. Will John be back with the Falcons? Abraham was on the Doug Gottlieb Show on CBS Sports Radio, and seemed to indicate that his tenure in Atlanta was over. He came back last season after taking a pay cut, but all signs are pointing to him hitting the market. 

Free agent pass rushers Dwight Freeney and Osi Umenyiora have both been rumored to be targets for the Falcons, and the USA TODAY writer appears to believe Osi will become a Falcon.

No matter what happens, this is the end -- and beginning -- of a new era for the Falcons with several pieces gone now and a new outlook on this offseason. Michael Turner and John Abraham and, to a lesser extent, Dunta Robinson, all made contributions to the Falcons in their time spent. Turner was at the forefront of the changing of the guard in Atlanta in the awake of the abhorrent Michael Vick scandal that hung over them. He also became the Falcons' all-time Rushing TD leader this past season. John Abraham was the team's best pass rusher for the last several years, and one of the best that the entire franchise has ever had.