Update:
The Falcons have already confirmedย both moves.
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Alex Marvez of Fox Sports reports that the sources have informed him that the Falcons have releasedย CB Asante Samuel and LB Stephen Nicholas on Wednesday.
There has been speculation thatย Samuel could be on the chopping block for a few weeks now, and he even mentioned that he wasn’t sure if he’d be back with the Falcons this season.
Samuel, 33,ย had a base salary ofย $3.5 million to go along with a $1.75 million roster bonus. His cap figure for next season is $5.25 million, according to Albert Breer.
- Breer adds that the Falcons should free upย $4.5 million by releasing Samuel and another $2 million fromย Nicholas.
- Brian McIntyre confirms that the Falcons will free up $6.5 million in cap space as well as $7.5 millionย in cash this season.
Samuewas benched in favor of rookie CBย Robert Alfordย this season, and the Falcons appear to be pretty happy with fellow rookieย Desmond Trufantย playing the other corner position.ย Pro Football Focus has Samuel rated as the No. 56 cornerback in the league this season.
Nicholas, 30, appeared inย 14 games this season and totaledย 36 tackles, one sack and a forced fumble. According to Pro Football Focus,ย Nicholas played justย 132 snap in 2013, but graded out as a solid run-defender.
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