The Atlanta Falcons released defensive end Ray Edwards, cutting the seven-year veteran on Monday. The rest of the team has taken notice, reports Pro Football Talk.

Edwards had just two more years in the league than safety Thomas DeCoud, who called it a wakeup call, saing "The message has been recieved." Guard Peter Konz is a rookie, but he also made note:

"It's scary. It makes you think. But if you do the right things, get the job done on the field, you don't have to be too worried about it."

Cornerback Dunta Robinson, who is in his ninth year of professional ball and his third with the Falcons, noted that it was simply the nature of things in the NFL:

"That's the way this game goes. You can be replaced. Ray was a great friend of mine. I hate to see him go. But it's a business. Things like this are going to happen when it's a business."

Atlanta released Edwards despite still being responsible for the remainder of his $3 million base salary, something which has surely not escaped the locker room's notice. If veteran status and a contract won't secure a place on the roster, players know that production on the field is the only thing that counts. Edwards played in nine games for Atlanta this season, starting four of them, but had only six tackles and failed to register a sack.