Asante Samuel, who was scheduled to make roughly $20 million over next two seasons in Philadelphia, will make less in Atlanta. The base value of Samuel's new contract, according to sources, is $14.5 million over three seasons with escalators that could push the number to $18.5 million.

The Falcons have acquired Asante Samuel from the Eagles for a late-round draft pick, according to sources. As part of the transaction, Samuel restructured his contract, agreeing to a three-year, $18.5 million deal with Atlanta. His contract with the Eagles had called for him to earn $9.9 million this season and $11.4 million in 2013.

The Falcons are on the verge of acquiring Asante Samuel from the Eagles. Philadelphia would receive a late-round pick for the multi-time Pro Bowl cornerback.

The Falcons and Eagles have engaged in trade discussions involving cornerback Asante Samuel, according to sources. Thus far, Atlanta has worked to retain their free agents instead of making a splash through trades or free agency. 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 under Atlanta's salary cap.

The Falcons will begin their voluntary offseason workout program on Monday without cornerback Brent Grimes. "The workouts or phase one, will be voluntary and that's something that we can't control," Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff said. "Obviously, we'd like to have him in the building, but those are voluntary." Grimes, who has played five NFL seasons, all with the Falcons, is looking for a long-term deal, though the team has not obliged.

The Titans and Falcons are among the teams that have expressed interest in veteran defender Antwan Odom, according to sources. Odom, who had become an elite pass rusher for the Bengals, missed all of last season due to a wrist injury.

The Falcons have declined the opportunity to appear on the HBO reality television series "Hard Knocks," according to a league source. Atlanta had extensive discussions at every level of the organization about appearing on the show, but eventually decided they wanted their focus for the 2012 season to be exclusively on the football field.

Roddy White trails Terance Mathis by just 44 receptions for first place on Atlanta's all-time list. White also needs just 13 touchdowns to surpass Mathis for first place in the record books. He has hauled in at least 100 receptions in each of the last two seasons and has 29 touchdowns over the last three years.

The Falcons have emerged as a strong contender for this season's version of the HBO's "Hard Knocks," according to sources. Following a 13-3 record and NFC South title in 2010, Atlanta went 10-6 in 2011 and lost to the eventual Super Bowl champion Giants 24-2 in the first round of the playoffs.

Arthur Blank is very happy with Matt Ryan as the quarterback of his Atlanta Falcons. "He's grown as a quarterback," Blank said. "He's grown as an individual. He's obviously a great team leader. People recognize that and identify with him. He's exactly what you would want in the CEO of a business. He's the first to work and the last to leave. He works the hardest and studies. He provides all kinds of leadership on and off the field. I'm thrilled where he is." Although Ryan had the best statistics of his career, the Falcons went 10-6 and lost in the first round of the playoffs in 2011. They have yet to win a playoff game since the arrival of Ryan and coach Mike Smith in 2008. "He understands this, that to become an 'elite' quarterback in the league, you've got to win playoff games," Blank said. "Smitty understands that. Thomas understands that. I think we've done a remarkable job the last four years considering it took us 42 years to have any back-to-back winning seasons. But there are three seasons in the NFL. There's a preseason, a regular season and a postseason. We haven't played well in the postseason. Smitty understands that, Thomas understands that and we need to change that. And Matt certainly understands that as well."