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AP Source: Falcons Hope to Acquire Asante Samuel

A trade for Samuel would provide a highlight to what has been a relatively quiet offseason for the Falcons, who have worked to retain their free agents instead of making a splash through trades or free agency.

The Falcons have six picks but no first-round selection in the NFL draft. They hope to acquire Samuel before the draft, according to a person familiar with the talks.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity on Tuesday because the deal, which may include a draft pick, is not complete.

Samuel, 31, is a four-time Pro Bowl pick. He would give the Falcons’ new defensive coordinator Mike Nolan a strong trio at cornerback with Dunta Robinson and Brent Grimes, who Tuesday signed his franchise tag tender. Grimes will make $10.262 million this season.

Grimes’ agent, Ben Dogra, said the cornerback would like a deal that lasts beyond the 2012 season.

“We will continue to talk and the goal is to hopefully reach a long-term deal at some point,” Dogra told The Associated Press.

Samuel’s contract calls for him to earn $9.9 million in 2012 and $11.4 million in 2013. He might rework the deal to help the trade fit the Falcons’ salary cap.

The Falcons began their offseason program on Monday.

Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff was New England’s director of scouting when the Patriots selected Samuel in the fourth round in 2003. Samuel set a career high with 10 interceptions for the Patriots in 2006.

Samuel signed a six-year deal with the Eagles in 2008. The Eagles acquired cornerbacks Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie before the 2011 season, creating a trio that didn’t mesh.

An Atlanta trade of one or more draft picks for an established veteran such as Samuel would be another sign Dimitroff’s focus is on 2012 instead of the future.

That’s fine with quarterback Matt Ryan.

“I’m certainly in a win-now mode,” Ryan said Tuesday. “I think that’s the only way you can approach the NFL. Every time you suit up and every time you play, it’s for one reason and that reason is to win.”

Ryan said Samuel, who had 30 tackles and three interceptions in 2011, has been a difficult opponent.

“As far as Asante Samuel, I can only speak for having played against him a number of times and I know that’s he’s been extremely difficult to play against and has done a great job against us when we’ve played him in the past,” Ryan said.

The Falcons were 10-6 last season and 13-3 in 2010 but lost their first playoff game each season. An improved secondary would boost the team’s hopes for 2012.

Falcons linebacker Sean Weatherspoon called Samuel “a player who would improve anyone’s defense.”

Samuel has 45 career interceptions in nine seasons. His three interceptions in 14 games last season was his low total since 2005.

Dimitroff was preparing for the draft and was not available for comment on Tuesday.

Throw Toward Falcons CB Grimes at Your Own Risk

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga.. Brent Grimes is easy to pick out, even though he’s usually the shortest guy on the field.

He’s the guy every opposing quarterback tries to pick on.

The Atlanta Falcons cornerback is only 5-foot-9 — “five-foot-nine-and-a-half,” he’ll quickly correct, making sure one doesn’t forget that extra half-inch — and his resume is hardly the kind one expects from an NFL starter.

Grimes went to a Division II school, Shippensburg State. He was overlooked in the NFL draft. He spent time playing in Europe. He’s been cut or waived at least three times.

He just kept coming back for more.

Now, Grimes is an established starter in the Falcons secondary, a guy with a short memory and a knack for making big plays. Throw his way at your own risk.

“You have to be careful when you go at him. I’ve learned from experience in practice,” Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan said Wednesday. “You’re thinking you can fit some things in. He’s not the tallest guy. But his athleticism is impressive. He can jump and make plays.”

Grimes said he doesn’t think teams pass at him anymore than they do the rest of the secondary, but the statistics tell a different story. He’s got three interceptions, broken up another 11 passes and made 45 solo tackles, many of them after giving up the inevitable completion here and there.

The other corner is Dunta Robinson, the Falcons’ major free-agent signing during the last offseason and considered one of the league’s best at his position. With teams rarely throwing in his direction, he’s broken up just three passes, has yet to make an interception and has 28 solo tackles.

“I don’t think they target me anymore than they do anyone else,” Grimes said. “But if that’s what it is, fine. It just gives me a chance to make plays.”

He’s made plenty of big plays for the first-place Falcons (8-2), such as knocking down a season-high three passes in last week’s 34-17 victory over the .

Not bad for a guy no one gave much a chance to ever make it to the NFL.

“Of course, I heard that I was from a small school, that I was too small to play in the pros,” Grimes recalled. “I could make plays, but they didn’t really believe in me because I was from a small school.”

A native of Philadelphia, he wound up at Shippensburg State because no major school even bothered to offer him a scholarship. He set a school record with 27 interceptions, which only made it more obvious to Grimes that he was capable of playing at the highest level.

“I feel like I could’ve played somewhere else. I could’ve played at one of the bigger schools,” he said. “But I was at a D-2 school and I made the best of it.”

Coming out of college, he earned a look from the Falcons in 2006 but failed to make the team. He re-signed the following year and was assigned to the Amsterdam Admirals of NFL Europa, which got him another shot in training camp. This time, he made the practice squad.

Grimes finally made his NFL debut for the final two games of the 2007 season, and the next year he started six games for a team that went to the playoffs as a wild card. He also began to impress his teammates with his prolific feats in the weight room and other tests measuring various athletic skills.

His determination wasn’t too bad, either.

“He’s feisty, there’s no question about that,” Falcons receiver Brian Finneran said. “With all the bigger receivers in the league these days, they’re going to try to attack him because of his size. But what he lacks in height, he more than makes up for with his athleticism, his ability to jump, his quickness, his ball skills. He’s fun to watch.”

Other teams have taken note, and not just because they think he’s an easy mark.

“He’s pretty short,” Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco said a couple of weeks ago, before the lost to the Falcons, with Grimes making his third pick of the season. “But he can go out and play. He can be a little aggravating, too.”

On Sunday, Grimes will be facing ‘s Aaron Rodgers, coming off a 301-yard, four-touchdown performance, and the Packers’ deep, talented groups of receivers.

Like Flacco, Rodgers went out of his way to bring up Grimes.

“He’s very impressive,” the quarterback said Wednesday. “Obviously, bringing in Robinson was a big addition. … But I’ve got to give Grimes his props. He’s the kind of guy you pull for. He’s been released a couple of times and been a practice squad guy. He’s paid his dues. Now, he’s playing very well.”

Just don’t forget that other half-inch.

He’s 5-foot-9 — and a half.

Weatherspoon Close to Returning to Healthy Falcons

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga.. Rookie linebacker Sean Weatherspoon is close to returning from a knee injury, just more good news for the healthy Atlanta Falcons.

“Yeah, that’s the key to winning in the NFL, just staying healthy,” receiver Roddy White said Thursday. “Having all your guys with you everyday in practice and in games is a big deal, man.”

The former Missouri star’s hopeful return Sunday in St. Louis would give the NFC-leading Falcons another boost. It would be the first time this season that all 22 current starters play in the same game.

Players and coaches rarely want to answer hypothetical questions about injuries, and linebacker Mike Peterson is no exception, but with the Falcons lucky to avoid catastrophic injuries this year, he does acknowledge that they’re blessed.

Thus so far.

“The thing about injuries, man, is that it’s around the league, and you can’t really prepare yourself for it,” Peterson said. “It’s something that happens to everybody. This year — knock on wood — we’ve been real fortunate. We haven’t had too many setbacks with guys as to when they can come back.”

Of the nine NFC teams either leading a division or trailing by one game, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Tampa Bay and Chicago are relatively healthy when you consider what and New Orleans — and to a lesser extent, New York, Seattle and St. Louis — have endured to stay in contention.

The (4-5) have lost receivers Donnie Avery and Mark Clayton to season-ending injuries, and franchise running back Stephen Jackson is playing with a broken left ring finger.

Atlanta’s problems have been less frequent. Cornerback Dunta Robinson missed just one game because of a concussion. Weatherspoon and receiver Michael Jenkins, sidelined the first five games with a bruised shoulder, are the only starters to miss substantial time.

White calls it an encouraging scenario.

“It’s a big part of the chemistry, too, when everybody’s out there on the field and everybody’s jelling together,” White said. “When you have to flip flop guys from week to week, one guy might not have the chemistry the group has with another guy.”

White, the NFL’s leading receiver, had a scare Nov. 7 in a narrow home win over Tampa Bay. Hit near the sideline after making a first-quarter catch, White lay on the field with a sprained knee before walking gingerly to the sideline.

He returned briefly before leaving again and getting fitted for a soft brace that helped him play the second half. Though he finished the game with his lowest totals this season in catches and yards receiving, White still caught a critical 9-yard pass to convert a third down and set up Atlanta’s last touchdown.

The Falcons hope Weatherspoon, the 19th overall draft pick, can play Sunday at St. Louis. Knee and ankle injuries sidelined him in five of the last six games, but Atlanta benefited from reserve Stephen Nicholas, who had 33 solo tackles in the games Weatherspoon missed.

“It’s a good problem to have when you’ve got guys that you’re confident can come in and play,” coach Mike Smith said. “We’re very excited about getting Sean back because of how he started the season off, so I think it’s just a really good situation for us.”

Weatherspoon’s speed, tackling and pass coverage skills should further bolster a defense that ranks second in interceptions, second in third-down percentage, seventh against the run and eighth in scoring.

Atlanta needs to improve its pass rush and ball pressure as the defense ranks 18th in sacks and fumble recoveries.

Weatherspoon had 26 solo tackles, a 9-yard sack and one pass breakup while starting the first four games, but his presence away from ball accounts for more than statistics as opponents often have to find another point of attack.

“I want to do my part,” Weatherspoon said. “I want to make plays and have fun out there. Sitting on the sidelines is not fun. It’s not the same when you wish you could be out there.”