Safety Dashon Goldson has found another home, signing a one-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons, according to NFL Media's Ian Rapoport. This will be Goldson's third team in three years after brief stints with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Washington.
Dashon Goldson signs with Falcons
The veteran safety will be on his third team in three years.
Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Goldson was once a mainstay on defense for the San Francisco 49ers, who selected him in the fourth round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He spent six seasons with the 49ers, making the Pro Bowl in 2011 and 2012. Goldson developed a reputation as a hard-hitting but reckless player, with a penchant for personal foul penalties.
After playing out 2012 on the franchise tag, Goldson left to pursue a big-money contract, signing with the Buccaneers for five years and $41.25 million. However, his play quickly tapered off and his aggressive style caught up to him, as he served a one-game suspension in 2013 for a hit on Roddy White. The Buccaneers traded him to Washington in the spring of 2015, but the new environment didn’t help Goldson, who continued being a major liability on defense. Washington released him shortly before free agency this spring, saving $8 million on its salary cap.
Now 31, Goldson may not have much left in the tank and his reputation precedes him at this point. The Falcons signed him to add more depth to their secondary in the wake of rookie first-round safety Keanu Neal's knee injury, which he suffered against the Dolphins Thursday. Neal is expected to miss three to four weeks, and Goldson could fill his spot until he returns.
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