<p>A week after saying the Atlanta Falcons seemed unlikely to assume another huge contract, general manager Rich McKay introduced defensive tackle Rod Coleman to reporters on Monday.</p><p>The parameters of deals involving Coleman and new cornerback Jason Webster _ a combined $17 million in signing bonuses alone _ were made available Friday night. Coleman didnt emerge as a starter until his fifth year and Webster started only two games because of injuries last year, but McKay isnt concerned.</p><p>He thinks the Falcons spent wisely, even though Colemans $10 million bonus ranks fourth in franchise history behind those rewarded to quarterback Michael Vick, linebacker Keith Brooking and receiver Peerless Price. McKay likes the fact that Atlanta scouts rated Coleman No. 1 among available interior linemen.</p><p>The real analysis has to be whats the money after three years, whats the money after four, whats the money after five? McKay said. Whats the real average? Whats this kind really going to play for and how does he fit that way?</p><p>Though he refuses to discuss contract details for any player, McKay insists the deals wont hinder Atlantas ability to be aggressive in the marketplace. The NFL salary cap for 2004 is approximately $80.58 million, and the Falcons were $3.3 million under the threshold before signing Coleman away from Oakland and Webster away from San Francisco.</p><p>Former Georgia guard Steve Herndon, who mostly played a reserve role in Denver the last three years, reached contract terms Monday, but McKays focus early in free agency was improving the NFLs worst defense.</p><p>After waiving cornerback Ray Buchanan last week to avoid an impending $2 million roster bonus, McKay set the Falcons on course to improve a defense that allowed a franchise-worst 6,108 yards and led to the Dec. 9 firing of head coach Dan Reeves.</p><p>Jim Mora, Reeves replacement, and new defensive coordinator Ed Donatell are installing a 4-3 base that emphasizes one-gap rush responsibilities for linemen.</p><p>With Coleman joining the tackle tandem of Ellis Johnson and Ed Jasper, the Falcons believe they will remain fresh for an entire game as Donatell rotates a defensive end threesome of Patrick Kerney, Brady Smith and possibly injury-prone Will Overstreet, a converted outside linebacker.</p><p>They need help, said line coach Bill Johnson, a holdover from the Atlanta staff that used a 3-4 front under former coordinator Wade Phillips. They want help. They want people that can come into the game and affect a game like that, and were all about trying to affect the quarterback.</p><p>Bill Johnson believes the Falcons will have one of the leagues top lines if Ellis Johnson returns. Ellis Johnson, however, indicated several times last year that he would retire after the 2003 season. He led all NFL interior linemen with eight sacks last year, and Coleman did the same in 2002 with 11.</p><p>McKay now will likely turn his attention toward adding another cornerback and possibly a linebacker. He brushed aside concerns about Websters injuries, which last year sidelined him for 11 games.</p><p>The three things youre looking at when you pay the bigger money is age, character and durability, McKay said.</p><p>In Jasons case, the knee injury is a non-event, a meniscus that probably 30 percent of our players have had. He got it at a bad time because he missed games. Then he gets the chest and misses four games, but when you looked at Texas A&M and looked at his career up to that point, he never missed games, so I was not real concerned about the injuries.</p><p>Notes:@ Mora was expected to return early Tuesday morning from California, where he spent the weekend after attending a memorial service for his grandfather...Equipment manager Brian Boigner couldnt grant Colemans request for jersey No. 57. The Falcons retired that number after center Jeff Van Note ended an 18-year career 1986. Coleman instead will wear No. 75.</p>
