RealGM

The Atlanta Falcons have started the process of changing the roster for next season by releasing veteran cornerback Asante Samuel and linebacker Stephen Nicholas. Nicholas, a fourth-round pick of the Falcons in 2007, was the team's leading tackler in 2012. The emergence of undrafted rookie linebackers Paul Worrilow and Joplo Bartu made Nicholas dispensable. Nicholas missed two games with a quad injury last season.

Releasing Samuel saved the Falcons $4.5 million in cap room. Releasing Nicholas made for $2 million in savings.

As the 2013 season progressed and the veteran cornerback fell deeper and deeper into obscurity in Atlanta, he never publicly complained about losing his starting role. He never boasted about being one of the best pick-six guys of all time. He never showed any animosity toward the guy who supplanted him, rookie cornerback Robert Alford.

In fact, Alford was the first to rave about how Samuel offered him guidance throughout the season, giving him pointers about how to play the position. With Alford and fellow rookie Desmond Trufant in position to thrive as the Falcons’ cornerback tandem of the future, there simply was no room for Samuel to finish out playing "two or three" more years, as he stated as his goal.