Well, after much speculation and rumors coming from every talking head in the media it’s official, Robinson is a Falcon.

As much as any other Falcons fan, I wanted to see them upgrade the secondary. I held out hopes for Chris Owens and Brent Grimes. They stepped it up at the end of the season but adding Robinson creates some much needed depth. Now when you have an injury in the secondary you can rely on either Grimes, Owens, Brian Williams or Chris Houston to be game ready. For a very young secondary, there is a lot of veteran experience now.

But what price did the Falcons pay to sign Robinson? Did they break the bank and limit themselves on other positions of need?  There is an uncapped year looming ahead so technically these are questions that have no immediate bearing on the 2010 season. However, without a CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement) in place it could result in a lockout in 2011. At that point, a system will need to be put in place which will include another form of cap mananagement.

The things you fear are overspending yourself to the point you have to disassemble the team to get it within in the confines of the next CBA. Teams like Washington and Chicago, who in the past two season dished out major cash to Jay Cutler and Julius Peppers, may find themselves in bad shape. So does the Robinson signing put the Falcons in a future financial crunch?

I don’t think so. Don’t get me wrong, the six-year, 57 million dollar contract is a true investment. And for a corner who isn’t a Pro-Bowler it seems like an exorbitant amount of money. It will all depend on how back loaded the contract was drawn up. Without a cap in 2010 it would make more sense to cover a large portion of the 25.5 million guaranteed in the first year.

Robinson signed a deal that will pay him that 25.5 million in three years. Since there is no cap, why not pay 15.5 million now and worry about five million a year over the following two seasons?  That’s a much easier number to factor in a cap related system.

If the contract details specified that addendum then kudos to Thomas Dimitroff and the staff. I’ve watched former GM and current Vice President Rich McKay throw money away and put the team in a position that limits thier ability to afford the pending needs. Need I remind any of you of Peerless Price and Ed Hartwell?

But I can’t help feeling like this deal was right. It was a need, it was a big signing and it was a guy that wanted to be here. All signs point to a good relationship ahead. I just hope Robinson can live up to his pay scale.

In the past year, he was known more for his antics than his actual on-field play. After spending the off-season attempting to iron out a long term deal with the Houston Texas that ultimately caused him to be hit with the dreaded franchise tag, he wasted no time sharing his displeasure.

Week one against the Jets, Robinson wrote “Pay me Rick!” (referring to Texans general manager Rick Smith) on his shoes. The Texans went on to lose and Robinson was fined $25,000 by the team.

“I got here today, and it was in my locker,” Robinson said about the official letter notifying him of the fine. “I knew it was coming. I talked to Rick (on Monday), and he said he was going to fine me, so there’s nothing to be surprised about.

“It was over a long time ago. I’ve moved on. Me and Rick don’t have a problem.”

That said, the problem was Dunta turned down twenty three million guaranteed to stay with Houston and that was the most they were willing to offer.

I guess that it surprises me a little he would take 25.5 million from Atlanta. He didn’t even price himself to the rest of the league. Either he really wanted to come to Atlanta or that Arthur Blank lasagne was delicious! Perhaps it’s both.

But ultimately he and Brian Williams provide solid veteran leadership to a young secondary. I like the move and believe that in 2010 the Falcons will benefit from his presence.

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