Falcons' Dimitroff: Sean Weatherspoon still a key element to defense

The Atlanta Falcons have a new head coach and new front office structure, but general manager Thomas Dimitroff still sees oft-injured linebacker Sean Weatherspoon as an integral part of the team's defense.

"Sean Weatherspoon is going to be an important part of building this defense and building this team," Dimitroff said Tuesday, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "He has that side of him and that leadership that we need across the board."

Weatherspoon missed the entire 2014 season due to a torn Achilles tendon and has missed 20 games in the last three seasons.

"He's a guy that's really, really focused on his rehab," Dimitroff went on. "We need him back in this organization to help us go to another level. He's starting to move around."

Lisfranc and knee injuries have also hobbled him in recent years, but before that, Weatherspoon was seen as a rising defensive star, compiling 210 tackles and seven sacks in 2011-2012.

Weatherspoon will become an unrestricted free agent in March, but it sounds like the Falcons want to lock him up to a team friendly contract before he hits the open market.