Possible Milloy extension shelved for now

Pro Football Weekly reports that the Falcons are not moving forward in attempting to extend safety Lawyer Milloy's contract until they can gauge the "team dynamic" after a few weeks of the upcoming season. Milloy is entering a contract year, meaning he will be a free agent next spring.

Milloy turns 35 in November, and per PFW is seeking to have his contract extended by at least one year. According to the report, if Milloy doesn't receive an extension by the end of the year, he'll likely decide to move on in free agency to a contending team.

Although none were explicitly mentioned, this could also be a stance the team is taking with other contract year players. That includes prospective unrestricted free agents linebacker Michael Boley, defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux, punter Michael Koenen, and wide receiver Michael Jenkins. Offensive linemen Tyson Clabo and Harvey Dahl both are set to become restricted free agents after this season.

No favorites on OL for Boudreau

Falcons new offensive line coach is virtually starting from scratch with the team's offensive line. Much of the off-season activities involving the line have been spent shuffling different players to different positions. The only player so far that has not been shuffled around is incumbent starting center Todd McClure, who's job security has been considered secure by AJC writer Steve Wyche.

"I have no pre-conceived notions. Right now guys are on a clean slate. Whether you were the coach's favorite before. Whether you weren't the coach's favorite. Whether you were on the practice squad I don't really care. My favorite guys are the guys who do everything right, do it on time and do it physically." -- Paul Boudreau

Right now, practice squad player Harvey Dahl has been working on the first time at right guard, ahead of Kynan Forney who has held that position since the middle of the 2001 season. Boudreau praises both Dahl and right tackle Tyson Clabo as being two of the team's nastiest players. Clabo is considered to be ahead at right tackle, but both his and Dahl's starting status is not fixed. Right tackle Todd Weiner is coming off a tough knee injury, but is expected to be 100% by the start of training camp. He could re-assume the starting spot at that position if that occurs. Clabo started 11 games last year in place for Weiner at right tackle.

Boudreau also praised rookie left tackle Sam Baker, who looks like he will have a good chance to hold the starting position there when the season starts.

Weiner out as well

The AJC reports that offensive tackle Todd Weiner is out 2-6 weeks after undergoing surgery on his right knee. Weiner injured the knee during last weekend's game against the Titans, missing a part of it, but managed to return at the end when left tackle Wayne Gandy went down with a torn ACL. On Tuesday the Falcons placed Gandy on injured reserve, ending his season. Now they will be without their right tackle for a lengthy period of time.

Reserve guard Tyson Clabo is expected to fill in for Weiner while he is out. Renardo Foster is expected to play for Gandy on the left side. Quinn Ojinnaka is expected to work as a swing tackle, backing up both positions. Clabo started 10 games last season, most of them coming at right guard, but has worked at tackle in the past.

The Falcons will miss Weiner against the Giants this upcoming week. In five career starts against the Giants going up against Pro Bowl defensive Michael Strahan, Weiner has only allowed one sack.