Saints fans in shambles after Atlanta Falcons steal Justin Simmons
Signing a Pro Bowl safety is always great, but signing him after your bitter rivals took him out to dinner makes it exponentially better.
The Atlanta Falcons did just that by signing Justin Simmons to a one-year deal. The veteran safety made his way from New Orleans to Atlanta and chose red and black over gold and black.
Also Read: Matthew Judon completely changes the Atlanta Falcons
This has left Saints fans in shambles. They are either claiming they never wanted him, denying his ability, or talking about how their team is going down the drain quickly. It is what all Dirty Birds fans want to see as the regular season rapidly approaches.
Falcons send the Saints into panic after signing Justrin Simmons
Justin Simmons' market started with the New Orleans Saints who brought him in intending to sign him. They reportedly rolled out the red carpet for the free agent safety only to see him leave on a flight heading for Atlanta after their time together wrapped up.
Not too soon after, they received the new that the Atlanta Falcons won the lottery and were signing him to a short one-year contract.
Former #Broncos perennial Pro Bowl S Justin Simmons is signing with the #Falcons. The top free agent visited ATL and the #Saints.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 15, 2024
He lands with the #Falcons on a 1-year contract worth $8M — with $7.5M fully guaranteed— in a deal done by Todd France of @AthletesFirst. pic.twitter.com/kGJ9urVSQt
As you might expect, Saints fans had their hopes up early in the week but now they are melting. Let's take a look at some of the best tweets from this excellent development.
I think the #Saints losing out on the Simmons sweepstakes speaks to something fans have believed for a couple years now:
— RevDeuce (@RevDeuceWindham) August 15, 2024
No one believes in Dennis Allen outside the facility. Can't tell me New Orleans couldn't match the contract the Falcons gave him.
He chose ATL over NOLA.
Man it's one thing for Justin Simmons to sign with the Falcons but to sign with the Falcons after the Saints wined and dined him first? Good lord. This Mickey Loomis-Dennis Allen era really gonna be looked at as a dark era for this franchise.
— Jono Barnes (@JonoBarnes) August 15, 2024
A day early and a dollar short...
Justin Simmons is a Saint ⚜️💰
— Kel ⚜️🤡 (@Kel27_) August 15, 2024
He wants to win
Not be 7-10 again
🫵😂 https://t.co/3YN407ovqx
Saints missing out on Justin Simmons while Jamaal Williams is playing on almost $4M guaranteed this year would be crazy.
— John Sigler (@john_siglerr) August 15, 2024
This is probably the worst I’ve seen the Saints move bro this is sick I’m almost close to not even watching , Simmons choosing Atlanta after he chose us first to visit says a lot about how he feels about what we’re building smh team sad as hell
— E ⚜️⚡️ (@therealej___) August 15, 2024
Sorry that Justin Simmons has more belief in Kirk Cousins and Michael Penix Jr. than he does in Derek Carr and Spencer Rattler...
Justin Simmons just made the biggest mistake of his career, believe me when I say this, Atlanta is a sinking ship, he will realize that by mid season and know that he made a mistake going to Atlanta when he could be with the division leading Saints. Dumb move #NFL #Saints
— Flame 🔥 (@FlameTimeFall) August 15, 2024
And then there is this; the classic thinking that cap space cannot be cleared up. The difference between the Falcons and Saints before the signing? The Falcons had plenty of potential moves to clear up cap space while the Saints exhausted theirs just trying to get under the cap. This is what happens when you aren't willing to punt a couple of years so you can clear the cap like Terry Fontenot did.
Worth noting (per Over The Cap):
— Trizzy Trace (@tracegirouard48) August 12, 2024
The #Saints have around $10.7 million in cap space
The Falcons have around $3.5 million in cap space
New Orleans could outbid Atlanta if they wanted to for Justin Simmons
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