A Veteran Move

The Falcons have signed LB Mike Peterson, of Jacksonville, to a two year deal, addressing two pressing team issues - pass coverage and defensive leadership. With the departures of safety Lawyer Milloy and LB Keith Brooking, the only player remaining from the Falcons' only Super Bowl appearance in 1998, team experience came quickly into question. Of the two elected defensive captains from last season, only eerily-silent John Abraham, the Predator, remains, with Milloy testing the free agent market. Peterson brings 15 career interceptions to the table in his 10 years in the NFL, as well as a prior five-year working relationship with head coach Mike Smith (formerly DC of the Jags). The signing of Peterson gives the team a great deal of leeway on how to deal with other defensive needs. A safety no longer has to be a pass coverage stud, as Peterson and free safety Erik Coleman, along with the current squad of corner backs make a demonstrable improvement over last year's coverage squad,. The strong safety spot can now be filled with a good rookie, or a free agent who has a past in run-stopping, such as Dallas' Roy Williams or even Milloy. So, where does that leave us? The Falcons will still be seeking a strong safety to round out the defensive backfield, and possibly another corner. Additionally a DT is still needed, and the team probably needs some more depth at LB, to bolster the team of Peterson, Curtis Lofton and Coy Wire. Stephen Nicholas is still an unproven commodity, but some of the under-the-radar moves thus far may yet prove to be the answer here. On the flip side of the ball, there is also still a need for a pass catching tight end. Falcons have also signed center Brett Romberg, who will play backup on this line that hopes to continue its success from 2008. Romberg, formerly of the Rams, will hopefully serve as an unused insurance policy, but his name is similar enough to an infamous character from Office Space to serve as potential comedy fodder ("...yeah....I'm gonna need you to come in this Saturday...That'd be great...").