Ray Edwards released: Credit goes to admitting a mistake

Former Atlanta Falcons defensive end Ray Edwards did not live up to expectations in Atlanta, resulting in him being released on Monday night.

The fact the team was willing to make the move was a big positive in the eyes of SB Nation's Dave Choate, who writes for The Falcoholic:

As Jeff Schultz noted, it takes balls to admit you've made a mistake as an NFL general manager and head coach and move on to other options. That's exactly the signal Thomas Dimitroff and Mike Smith are sending by cutting ties with Edwards, and it tells you that other unproductive veterans should probably be tiptoeing around the locker room. The Falcons' brass makes mistakes, sure, but I think they've earned enough trust to make a move like this.

Choate also wrote he doesn't think the move hurts the team for 2012, "except perhaps in terms of depth." Choate expects Lawrence Sidbury to see more playing time with Edwards off the team now.

Edwards started four games for Atlanta this season. He picked up just six tackles but he did recover two fumbles. He did not record a sack this season.

Edwards, 27, was in his second season with Atlanta. In 2011, Edwards recorded 26 tackles and 3 1/2 sacks.

In five years with the Minnesota Vikings, Edwards had 139 tackles and 29 1/2 sacks in 72 games.

Atlanta lost its first game of the season Sunday against the New Orleans Saints. The Falcons will try to get back on track against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday at 1 p.m ET.