It is now certain that defensive end Osi Umenyiora, who was one of the biggest offseason moves last year, will return to the Atlanta Falcons in 2014.
Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that Umenyiora will return, and no restructuring of his contract is planned.
"Osi did a very good job for us this past season," Smith said. "Led the team in sacks, had 7.5 sacks. Did a good job in the leadership role as well. He was a great mentor to some of our defensive ends. I'm never going to say never. This is the time of the year that you are recalibrating your roster. But Osi did an outstanding job for us in 2013, and looking forward to continuing to work with him."
Umenyiora has a salary cap number of $4.75 million and a base salary of $2.5 million for 2014, as reported by AJC, but the Falcons will not ask the two-time Super Bowl champion to take a pay cut.
While replacing John Abraham on the defensive line, Umenyiora posted 7.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, 47 tackles, one interception (which he ran back 68 yards for a touchdown) and three pass deflections.
"I'm a team guy, especially right now," Umenyiora said. "For the team, I don’'t think it's been quite as good this year. Hopefully, we can get this thing corrected next year. But for me, you know, I just didn't help this team (enough). Right now, my whole focus is going in there and doing the best I can."
During a game against the Washington Redskins last season, Jonathan Massaquoi handled 86 percent of the snaps on defense, Malliciah Goodman played 27 percent and Stansly Maponga had 10 percent. Although Umenyiora has still able to force a fumble along with a sack.
"It was not a demotion," Smith insisted. "I basically wanted to put him on a pitch count in terms of number of snaps."
Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that Umenyiora will return, and no restructuring of his contract is planned.
"Osi did a very good job for us this past season," Smith said. "Led the team in sacks, had 7.5 sacks. Did a good job in the leadership role as well. He was a great mentor to some of our defensive ends. I'm never going to say never. This is the time of the year that you are recalibrating your roster. But Osi did an outstanding job for us in 2013, and looking forward to continuing to work with him."
Umenyiora has a salary cap number of $4.75 million and a base salary of $2.5 million for 2014, as reported by AJC, but the Falcons will not ask the two-time Super Bowl champion to take a pay cut.
While replacing John Abraham on the defensive line, Umenyiora posted 7.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, 47 tackles, one interception (which he ran back 68 yards for a touchdown) and three pass deflections.
"I'm a team guy, especially right now," Umenyiora said. "For the team, I don’'t think it's been quite as good this year. Hopefully, we can get this thing corrected next year. But for me, you know, I just didn't help this team (enough). Right now, my whole focus is going in there and doing the best I can."
During a game against the Washington Redskins last season, Jonathan Massaquoi handled 86 percent of the snaps on defense, Malliciah Goodman played 27 percent and Stansly Maponga had 10 percent. Although Umenyiora has still able to force a fumble along with a sack.
"It was not a demotion," Smith insisted. "I basically wanted to put him on a pitch count in terms of number of snaps."