The Falcons have made it clear that retaining Brent Grimes is their top offseason priority. Atlanta general manager Thomas Dimitroff said serious talks had begun with the cornerback's agents and that the Falcons "aren't wasting time with our discussions."

It appears as though John Abraham will not return to the Falcons. Abraham's agent said he has been given indications by the team that Abraham will be allowed to test free agency. He was Atlanta's top pass-rusher with 9.5 sacks last season, but Abraham is 33 and played only on a part-time basis last season while dealing with lingering injuries.

The Falcons have no picks in the first round of this year's NFL Draft because they traded up to take Julio Jones last April. Atlanta's first pick with be No. 55 and the team has 18 unrestricted free agents to deal with this offseason. Thomas Dimitroff said he's "very comfortable" with last year's trade to acquire Jones, who posted 54 receptions for 959 yards and eight touchdowns in 13 games as a rookie. "We will never look back on our move as overly expensive. It was something we deemed was right for the organization at the right time," Dimitroff said. "Again, Julio was brought in to our organization not for the here and now only, but for the future of the franchise."

The Falcons plan to discuss a potential contract extension with Matt Ryan in the coming weeks, according to a team source. Ryan, 26, has two years left on his six-year, $72 million rookie deal, but Atlanta wants to be proactive and work out a multiyear extension this offseason if possible.

Mike Smith has indicated that Michael Turner will remain with the Falcons for the 2012 season. Turner's effectiveness has decreased and he has a $5 million salary coming up. "We want to keep [Michael] as our feature back, but we need to make sure we some of the other guys carries as well," the coach said. "I think the thing we have to do as Michael gets a little older is to start putting him on a pitch count in terms of the numbers of carries."

The Rams have hired Les Snead as their new GM, bringing in another front-office veteran as they try to get out of the NFL cellar. Snead spent the past 13 years with the Falcons, the last three as director of player personnel.

The Falcons have replaced former director of player personnel Les Snead with an internal candidate. Atlanta's director of college scouting David Caldwell will inherit Snead's title, according to a source. Caldwell has four prior seasons with the Falcons. Before that, he was a scout with the Colts for 10 years.

Roddy White doesn't understand why commissioner Roger Goodell makes so much money. White wrote on Twitter that he doesn't see how a non-player can be earning $10 million under a contract that will pay him nearly $20 million a year by 2019. "How in the hell can u pay a man this much money that cant run tackle or catch," White wrote. "Roger Goodell is getting over never seen anything like it 20 million for looking over the league with tremendous help I guess the NFL is banking." White added, "the players make this league dont ever forget that."

Jaguars coach Mike Mularkey knows a few things about what it takes to be a successful rookie quarterback in the NFL. Mularkey was Matt Ryan's offensive coordinator when Ryan first entered the league out of Boston College, and Mularkey helped coach Ryan to one of the better rookie seasons by a quarterback in NFL history as he led the Falcons to an 11-5 record and a wild-card berth. He now enters another relationship with a young signal-caller: Blaine Gabbert. Mularkey recently told The Florida Times-Union that Gabbert reminds him a little bit of Ryan. "With Matt, it was never good enough," Mularkey said. "Even when it was good, it wasn't good enough. I think he (Gabbert) wants to be good. It’s important to him."

Jim Mora, hired as UCLA's head coach a few months ago, has been trying to recruit players from in his old stomping grounds in the Atlanta area. As the coach the Falcons from 2004-2006, Mora has instant face and name recognition with many of Georgia's top talent. "The bottom line is this: The last time the Falcons won a playoff game, I was the head coach," Mora said. "Kids remember that game, the 47-17 victory over the St. Louis Rams. A lot of kids around Atlanta, the state of Georgia and the Southeast follow the Falcons. They know that was the last time that the Falcons have won a playoff game. "So kids are interested with that connection to the Falcons, and the parents are interested in that, too. They all wonder why the Falcons haven't won a playoff game since, and I can't answer that question. For all the success that the Falcons have had since we left, they still haven't won a playoff game -- and that resonates with people."