Falcons' Dan Quinn interested in keeping Sean Weatherspoon

Newly-hired Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn hopes oft-injured linebacker Sean Weatherspoon will remain with the team.

"With him, it's that toughness and the speed that he can play with, so yes, definitely someone that we're talking to," Quinn said Friday, according to Vaughn McClure of ESPN. "I know he's got that kind of attitude. And you know me, just from watching our style of defense, it's fast and physical. And that's what Sean is. So, we're certainly hoping that he can be a big part of it moving forward." 

Quinn is reiterating sentiments that general manager Thomas Dimitroff uttered earlier in the offseason, when he said Weatherspoon was still a key element to the Falcons' defense.

Weatherspoon, who missed all of 2014 with a torn Achilles tendon, is set to become a free agent on March 10 and has only played 20 games in the past three seasons. 

Quinn admitted the injury history is a concern.

"I think you always are (concerned)," he said. "But at the same time, what's the rehab like? You can tell when a guy is going for it in that way, too. All that factors in.

"By the same token, he hit a string of bad luck. Can he come back and play at a level that he's capable of? That's what we're excited to find out."