Les Snead will spend his 11th season in the Atlanta personnel department as the Director of Player Personnel. Among his duties will be evaluating and assessing free agents and providing oversight on scouting for college and other professional leagues.
“Lee continues to distinguish himself as an adept evaluator in our business,” said general manager Thomas Dimitroff. “His work ethic, evaluation and detailed oriented approach to all aspects of personnel clearly set him apart.”
Snead will have a challenge ahead of him this offseason. He must look to work with Dimitroff and assistant director of player personnel Lionel Vital in improving the team, especially on defense where the team ranked 24th in yards surrendered per game, 25th in rush yards allowed, and 21st in pass yards.
The trio will also be among those who must decide the fate of veterans Keith Brooking and Lawyer Milloy, both unrestricted free agents, after each appeared to show their ages at times this season.
Snead and company will be happy to know that they have money to spend. Dimitroff opted to cut or trade many of the higher-paid veteran players last offseason, slicing the Falcons’ payroll down to just below $96 million, the 26th lowest team salary in the entire league.
FALCONS HONORED
In their preseason predictions, the Sporting News picked the Falcons to go 1-15. Now the publication is joining many others in singing Atlanta’s praises after its surprising 11-5 season. Last week, they handed out several honors. Head coach Mike Smith was named Coach of the Year by the national magazine, while quarterback Matt Ryan was awarded the Rookie of the Year. Running back Michael Turner was recognized as an All-Pro. Ryan and linebacker Curtis Lofton were named to the All-Rookie team.
But those were only a few of the accolades that the Falcons earned over the 2008-09 season. Michael Turner and Roddy White were both named to their first Pro Bowl (Feb. 8). Turner ran for 1,699 yards, second best in the NFL, and also scored 17 times on the ground. Turner was also named to the Associated Press All-Pro First Team, while defensive end John Abraham was named to the Second Team. Quarterback Matt Ryan was also named Rookie of the Year by the AP, and garnered Rookie of the Month honors in October.
Three Falcons won NFC Player of the Week during the regular season. Turner amassed an incredible three of the same award for his performances at running back. Ryan also notched one player of the week award, and fellow rookie Harry Douglas also took home the award once.
CAPTAINS NAMED
Per the team rules of Smith, the Falcons voted for captains before taking off for the offseason. Center Todd McClure and quarterback Matt Ryan were selected as offensive captains, defensive end John Abraham and safety Lawyer Milloy as defensive captains, and punter Michael Koenen and linebacker Coy Wire as captains of the special teams. The team will be back together in late March. Offseason conditioning begins on March 23.
Bagriansky can be reached at jbagriansky@scoreatl.com.
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