The Falcons made a surprise move this week when they cut their starting right tackle, Tyson Clabo, for salary-cap reasons. Clabo told Bob Papa on Sirius Radio that he had a conversation with Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff and was told he was willing to restructure his contract, but a few days later he was released.
Clabo is an interesting player and I could make the case 15 teams need to think about signing him.
Clabo is a 31-year-old tough guy who brings his lunch pail to work every day. He said he never missed an offseason workout in his career. Beyond that he has started 16 games a season for the last five years and has 101 starts as a Falcon. In those starts he has been whistled for seven holding calls and just two false starts in the last four years.
If your favorite team needs an attitude guy who brings a lot of passion to the field, not only on Sundays but at practice, Clabo is your guy.
Now, take a look at the starting right tackles for the following 15 teams and the salary-cap space these teams have to get a deal done. There’s no doubt Clabo's entry into the free-agent market will affect the pursuit of employment for two other right tackles, Andre Smith and Eric Winston.
Arizona, Bobby Massie, $9.7 million in cap space
Buffalo, Erik Pears, $15.4 million
Carolina, Byron Bell, $6.3 million
Cincinnati, Dennis Roland, $25.9 million
Dallas, Doug Free, $5.0 million
Detroit, Corey Hilliard, $6.2 million
Houston, Derek Newton, $3.8 million
Jacksonville, Cameron Bradfield, $27.2 million
Kansas City, Donald Stephenson, $4 million
Miami, Will Yeatman, $9.2 million
NY Jets, Austin Howard, $12.5 million
Philadelphia, Todd Herremans, $22.9 million
San Diego, Jeromey Clary, $6.3 million
St. Louis, Rodger Saffold, $829,000
Tampa Bay, Demar Dotson, $25.4 million
Saffold is in the last year of his deal and doesn’t really want to play right tackle. The Chiefs have Donald Stephenson pegged as a starter right now, because Branden Albert has a $9.8 million franchise tag and will not show up for the offseason program. Herremans is a very good guard and the Eagles line would be solid with him back at OG.