Both Brooking, Foxworth gone
Linebacker played 11 seasons with Falcons
By D. Orlando Ledbetter
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Linebacker Keith Brooking, the last remaining player from the Falcons’ 1998 Super Bowl team, is no longer on the roster.
The Falcons also lost cornerback Domonique Foxworth to free agency when he agreed to a four-year deal with the Baltimore Ravens on Friday.
Also, Friday, the team retained backup safety Jamaal Fudge, who was a restricted free agent.
Brooking became a free agent at 12:01 a.m. Friday after negotiations for a new contract broke off.
“There will always be a huge place in my heart for the Falcons and the city of Atlanta regardless of what my future holds,” Brooking wrote in an e-mail to the Journal-Constitution.
Brooking, a five-time Pro Bowl player, led the team in tackles for eight consecutive years.
“We have had ongoing dialogue with the Falcons, but we are both seeking more clarity on his market value,” Brooking’s agent, Pat Dye Jr., wrote in an e-mail to the AJC. “At this juncture, it appears we will try to find that clarity by exploring the free-agent marketplace.”
A playing-time requirement last season triggered a clause that made the last year of Brooking’s contract voidable.
The NFL free-agency period began Friday. Brooking is free to sign with any team without the Falcons receiving compensation. Brooking also could re-sign with the Falcons.
Brooking has played his entire career in Georgia. He went to East Coweta High and Georgia Tech before his 11 seasons with the Falcons. He was selected in the first round (12th overall) in the 1998 NFL draft.
The Falcons would not comment on Brooking on Friday, but general manager Thomas Dimitroff told the AJC two weeks ago: “Keith has been a longtime vital contributor on this team and in the community of Atlanta and is respected a great deal.
“We as a staff are still contemplating what may be in the best interest of this football team, both from a fiscal and team-building standpoint.”
Foxworth completed a four-year deal with Baltimore worth $27.2 million, $16.5 million guaranteed, according to his agent, Brian Mackler.
The Falcons acquired Foxworth in a trade with Denver before the start of last season. He took over at left cornerback and started the final 10 games, with 11 passes defensed and one interception.
Dimitroff wanted to retain Foxworth but knew that his price tag might end up outside of the team’s range.
Foxworth was helped by the Houston Texans, who placed their franchise tag on Dunta Robinson ($9.5 million) and the Oakland Raiders’ Nnamdi Asomugha and the Indianapolis Colts’ Kelvin Hayden, who were re-signed to lucrative contracts this offseason.
That made Foxworth, St. Louis’ Ron Bartell and Pittsburgh’s Bryant McFadden the top available cornerbacks.
“Let’s face it, the corner market is going to be a lucrative market,” Dimitroff said earlier this month.
Fudge has agreed to a one-year contract, according to his agent David Wyatt.
“Jamaal has been with coach [Mike] Smith since his days in Jacksonville,” Wyatt said. “He called to tell Jamaal that he was important to the team’s plans.”
Fudge, 25, backed up Lawyer Milloy last season. He played in 12 games and started one game. He played mostly on special teams.
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