Falcons Release WR Peerless Price

The Atlanta Falcons released wide receiver Peerless Price on Tuesday after the former free agent finished two disappointing seasons in a Falcons uniform.

Price signed a $37 million contract with Atlanta after they acquired him in a trade from the Buffalo Bills in March 2003 in exchange for a first round draft choice. Price received a $10 million signing bonus as part of the contract he signed.

Atlanta acquired Price to give young starting quarterback Michael Vick a top notch receiver. In 2002, Price had grabbed 94 passes for 1,252 yards and nine touchdowns in what was easily the best season of his career.

Somehow, Price never really meshed with Vick and was not all that productive in Atlanta. Last season, he managed only 45 catches and three touchdowns, hardly the Pro Bowl numbers the Falcons were expecting when they acquired him two years ago.

This pre-season, Price suffered a concussion which further limited his ability to compete for a starting job with Atlanta. He was in a battle with Michael Jenkins entering camp but Jenkins emerged as a the winner with a strong showing while Price was hurt.

Falcons coach Jim Mora refused to bad mouth his former wide receiver.

'It's just not a good fit here,' Mora explained. 'That's the bottom line. It's my hope that he'll go on and be productive with another team.'