Getty ImagesBrent Grimes will play the 2012 season for a guaranteed salary of $10.3 million after signing the franchise tender.
The Falcons have announced that Grimes, a cornerback who has played his entire five-year NFL career in Atlanta, signed the tag today.
The timing is curious: When Grimes first got the franchise tag, his agent said he had no plans to sign it. His decision to sign the tag just hours after news broke that the Falcons were discussing a trade for cornerback Asante Samuel raises the question of whether Grimes was worried that the team could trade for Samuel and then yank the tag.
That would make Grimes an unrestricted free agent, but there’s no guarantee, now that the money has dried up in free agency, that Grimes would do any better as a free agent than he can do signing the franchise tag this year and testing free agency again next year. And so that’s what Grimes will do.
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If your name is “Grimes” and someone offers you $10 million for one year, you take it and don’t ask questions.
Chicago Bears: “what did you do? how did you make him sign???”
Now that’s what you call “not so subtle” pressure. Kudos to the Atlanta front office and for Grimes and/or his agent in being smart enough to see the potential handwriting on the wall.
nothing like a little trade for a cornerback rumor to get Grimes’ attention – “What? I’m about to lose a guaranteed $10 million? where is my pen?”
That’s a lot of money for an undersized CB……you did the smart thing Brent.
Good ole Grimesy.
First time I heard this dude’s name in a game I thought the announcer said it was Frank Grimes.
As in the character on the Simpsons that had horrible luck.
Would’ve bought his jersey on that premise alone.
Good ‘ol Grimey.
with grimes on board my falcons wish list is:
a) get asante samuel anyway.
b) draft the best o lineman available in 2nd round.
c) draft d linemen with every remaining pick.
d) pick up running back and tight end from the undrafted college free agents.
maybe they would win 11 games.
Agent: Falcons about to to trade for Assante
Grimes: What?!
Agent: Falcons about to trade for Assante
Grimes: WHAT!!!
Agent: Do you have a pen?
Grimes: Miko, where is my pen?
Hangs up the phone, signed franchise tender arrives in Flowery Branch 5 minutes later.
He isn’t worth the $10 mil. I’m sorry.
If the Falcons were close on a trade with Samuel they’d of pulled the offer.
Brent Grimes, or Grimey, as he likes to be called…
Awesome! We still need Asante though. Having three solid CB’s would help our meager pass rush.
As Homer told Frank “Grimey” Grimes, don’t ask me how the economy works.
HAHAH well played Mr. Dimitroff. Here I thought you were nuts for wanting Asante, but it was a “TARP” for Grimes.
Atlanta front office public reaction to his signing will be very positive. Not so much behind closed doors if they were close to the reported trade.