Coleman, who will sign a six-year deal Monday worth $28.5 million, started a career-high 12 games and had 5.5 sacks for Oakland last season. The Raiders' fifth-round draft pick out of East Carolina in 1999, Coleman led NFL interior linemen with 11 sacks two years ago.
Garcia, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, appears to be an awkward, pricey match as the Falcons pursue an experienced backup to starting quarterback Michael Vick. After visiting Cleveland and meeting with Browns officials Friday, Garcia huddled at a hotel near the Atlanta airport with general manager Rich McKay and offensive coordinator Greg Knapp.
Garcia worked under Knapp in San Francisco the last five years. Knapp joined the Falcons on Jan. 7, the same day Atlanta hired 49ers defensive coordinator Jim Mora to replace Dan Reeves as head coach. Mora, who flew to California Friday to attend a family memorial service, couldn't attend the meeting with Garcia.
San Francisco released Garcia Tuesday after he refused a $4 million reduction in 2004 salary. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Dallas Cowboys are also interested in Garcia as a starter. Atlanta seeks a No. 2 quarterback with Doug Johnson not expected to return for a fifth season and Kurt Kittner unlikely to make the 53-man roster.
Quarterback Billy Volek, who relieved NFL co-MVP Steve McNair three months ago at the Georgia Dome and helped Tennessee wipe out a 21-0 deficit to beat the Falcons 38-31, visited team headquarters Wednesday. Volek has made only one career start in his five-year career.
Signing Coleman upgrades the defensive line and gives Atlanta insurance if Ellis Johnson refuses to report to training camp and Travis Hall doesn't accept a pay cut. McKay, who met recently with Johnson, believes the former Florida standout will return for his third in Atlanta and 10th overall.
Johnson led NFL interior linemen with eight sacks last season, but he left a mandatory mini-camp last July without telling coaches or team officials and flew home to Indianapolis. He reported on time for training camp later that month in Greenville, S.C.
The last week has been busy for the Falcons, who signed cornerback Jason Webster away from San Francisco, re-signed center Todd McClure and waived cornerback Ray Buchanan and outside linebacker Sam Rogers.
(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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