Falcons offered tenders to two RFAs

With only two days left before the March 5 deadline, the Atlanta Falcons are among the several teams who began to take actions to retain free agents. On Wednesday, they offered tenders to two of their restricted free agents: tackle Tyson Clabo and punter Michael Koenen.

Having been a starter for the Falcons since the start of ’08 season, Clabo was tendered at the first-round level that will allow him to earn $2.521 million in 2010, a raise of 10 percent over his 2009 pay. Any team who wants to sign him away will have to offer a first-round draft pick to the Falcons. That offer actually indicates the team could keep him in Falcons jersey for the 2010 season.

Koenen played under a franchise tag for the Falcons and received a second-round tender on Wednesday and is set to earn $1.809 million in 2010 season. As it is unlikely that any team will present an offer to sign him away, Koenen is also likely to stay with the Falcons.

The Falcons still have seven more restricted free agents to deal with: running backs Jerious Norwood and Jason Snelling, offensive linemen Harvey Dahl and Quinn Ojinnaka, safeties Jamaal Fudge, Charlie Peprah and Antoine Harris.

After signing with Falcons in June, OL Newberry retires due to bad knee

The Atlanta Falcons will have to look for another offensive line depth player after veteran Jeremy Newberry, who they signed just in June, retired because of health problem.

Newberry's agent, Doug Hendrickson, told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the former longtime starting center for the San Francisco 49ers hurt his left knee. Hendrickson said Newberry's knee "just kind of went out on him recently when he was pushing hard to get ready for training camp."

At age of 33, Newberry was expected to provide depth at guard and center in the Falcons. He used to start three games the San Diego Chargers last season, feeling good in chargers jersey. Before that while he was playing for the Oakland Raiders in 2007, he started each of his 14 games.