Dirty Birds are set to release Turner to avoid big cap hit.
After his worst season with the team, the Atlanta Falcons are finally ready to part ways with Michael Turner, who was part of the resurgence that helped put the team on the national stage for the last five years.
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Aged 30, he is already past his peak as a top end running back, and with his contract in 2013 to be at $8.9m, the Falcons will look in the direction of a cheaper, younger option, who will be more productive in their pass heavy system.
Turner rushed for just 800 yards this year, his lowest amount in Atlanta, and with the Falcons struggling to move the ball on the ground, a fresh set of legs may be the final piece of the jigsaw to a team that have missed out on the Superbowl for three years running.
Free Agent Running Backs Reggie Bush and Shonn Greene could be viable options to sign up as a stop gap for three to four years, but at a slightly higher price than they would like to pay, or they can look to hard-nosed, ground and pound Alabama Running back Eddie Lacy in the upcoming draft, who could still be available late in the first round, and would be a superb acquisition for a club on the cusp of a championship.
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