Falcons to release Paul Soliai after he refuses pay cut

The Atlanta Falcons are expected to release veteran defensive tackle Paul Soliai in March after failing to rework his contract, DEC Management confirmed Saturday.

The 32-year-old nose tackle refused to take a pay cut and negotiations broke down over guaranteed money, Rand Getlin of NFL Network reports.

Soliai recorded 22 tackles and a fumble recovery in 2015. He was set to earn $5.5 million in 2016, three years into a five-year, $32-million contract.

Originally drafted by the Miami Dolphins, Soliai is reportedly comfortable testing the open market, as 3-4 defenses are historically willing to overpay for reliable nose tackles.

Under Dan Quinn, the Falcons have moved to a 4-3 scheme, limiting Soliai's effectiveness.