Falcons owner Arthur Blank said he "loves" Devonta Freeman but acknowledged the team's salary cap is not "unlimited."
"This has nothing to do with love," said Blank. "It has to do with building a roster. The salary cap is not unlimited. It seems like it’s unlimited, but it’s not." Blank and the Falcons are taking a diplomatic approach to Freeman's likely release, attributing it to the team's valid salary cap concerns—only the Vikings, Jaguars and Steelers have less cap space than Atlanta. But this is much more than a cost-cutting measure. A perennial Pro Bowler early in his career, Freeman has been a catastrophe in recent years, limping to an anemic 3.66 yards per carry while battling a plethora of injuries the past two seasons. Now a month shy of his 28th birthday, all signs point to Freeman playing elsewhere in 2020.