Falcons agreed to terms with DT Paul Soliai, formerly of the Dolphins, on a five-year, $33 million contract.

The deal includes $14 million guaranteed. It's a hefty commitment for a player now on the wrong side of 30, but the Falcons are living up to their pledge of beefing up and getting tougher. The Falcons employ a 4-3 base, but are reportedly considering implementing more 3-4 looks this season. Soliai can man the nose in either alignment. Soliai played for Falcons DC Mike Nolan in Miami.

I am happy with Mitchell for what Paul got from Atlanta.

I am just glad he didn't end up in our division. He played hard for the Dolphins and sorry to see him go, but I am looking forward to seeing new bodies in Miami. I live in Houston and Mitchell was one of the Texans key defensive players, so good pick up and he is younger.

That is a lot for Paul, but Mitchell is unproven.

Overpaid!

Yeah, no kidding there! We've been telling Ireland for years to draft a DT for the day Soliai would leave.

Good for him. I think he deserves at least that much

Would rather pay for future production instead of past production.

Congrats Paul. Thanks for all you have done for the Dolphins.

That's a great way of looking at this........4th round draft pick, gave us 7 really good years He's on the latter part of his NFL career, and he should get as much $$ as he can............Yeah, congrats to Solia!

Update: Paul Soliai released a statement thanking you, the fans, for his time in Miami. He thanks assistant coach Kacy Rodgers and he thanks "the previous" staff for bringing him into the NFL. He does not thank the Dolphins organization and I'm told that is by design:

Read more here: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/dolphins ... rylink=cpy

Way to be Paul. Atlanta is a good fit. Back with Nolan and all they really needed was some trench work to be on top.

Classy.

Well, he gave the Dolphins a hometown discount the last time around and Coyle and Philbin aren't exactly the types that connect with players, so I can understand if there is some bitterness.

I'm happy for big Paul. For whatever reason, I've always been a fan of those big guys in the middle ..... dating back to the Tim Bowens and Daryl Gardener days, heck even Larry Chester and Chuck Klingbeil.

He's a monster at the nose and deserves the money after the Dolphins being so cheap with him on the last contract. Since we don't play to his strengths (nor the rest of the players) with a 3-4, I'm glad to see him move to where they will.