Now that the 2011 season is officially over following the Super Bowl, now we can all look ahead to free agency.

The Falcons have a number of players that will be unrestricted come March 13th when they can sign with other teams. You can see the complete list below, and give your thoughts about what players the team should keep, and what ones they could let go.

Exclusive Rights Free Agents (2)

RB Antone Smith
TE Michael Palmer

Restricted Free Agents (1)

DT Vance Walker

Unrestricted Free Agents (17)

QB Chris Redman
RB Jason Snelling
WR Harry Douglas
WR Eric Weems
TE Reggie Kelly
OL Kirk Chambers
OL Todd McClure
OL Brett Romberg
DE John Abraham
DE Kroy Biermann
LB Curtis Lofton
LB Mike Peterson
CB Brent Grimes
CB Kelvin Hayden
S Thomas DeCoud
S James Sanders
LS Joe Zelenka

No doubt you can connect the dots — the connections are visible.

The Falcons have been in touch with former Miami linebacker Channing Crowder, who plans to make a comeback after sitting out last season, according to D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

Crowder, the former North Springs High and Florida standout who prematurely retired at age 28, is ready to make a comeback. The Atlanta Falcons, who hired Crowder’s last defensive coordinator in Mike Nolan, have been in touch and will most certainly check out Crowder.

“I’d love to play in Atlanta,” Crowder said. “Coach Nolan is my guy. Actually, when he got the job in Atlanta he [sent] me a text. Coach Nolan is a first class guy. I’m not just saying that to be politically correct. He’s a first class guy and a great defensive coordinator. He’s a great guy. When he I got released he texted me back then and said that ‘it was great to coach you.’”

In his most recent text to Crowder, Nolan just told Crowder that he was landing in his hometown.

“I told him if he needs a better linebacker let me know,” Crowder said. “He texted me back and said ‘I’ll keep in touch.’ ”

Tony Gonzalez and Jerry Rice reenact the famous “you complete me” scene from “Jerry Maguire.”

Tight end Tony Gonzalez announced on an ESPN/Facebook chat that 2012 would be the final season in the future Hall of Famer’s career. Gonzalez, who has made similar declarations in previous off-seasons, was asked how much longer he intends to play, and this was his answer via Jeff Schultz of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

“One year. I said that last year though, and the year before. But I really do believe this is it. First of all, this is the first time my wife came to me and said, ‘You’re only going to play one more year, right?’”. The 12-time Pro Bowler turns 36 later this month. Prior to the end of the 2011 season, Gonzalez signed a one-year, $6.9 million extension for the 2012 season.

Hill replaces Paul Boudreau, who was fired after the season.

Hill was 112-80 with 11 bowl appearances in 15 seasons at Fresno State. He was the offensive line and tight ends coach for the Cleveland Browns from 1992-95 and Baltimore Ravens in 1996.

Coach Mike Smith’s Atlanta staff has had a dramatic makeover after a disappointing playoff loss to the Giants. Defensive backs assistant Alvin Reynolds also was fired and defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder left to head Auburn’s defense. Also, offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey was named Jacksonville’s head coach and quarterback coach Bob Bratkowski is the Jaguars’ offensive coordinator.

Dirk Koetter has taken over the offense, while Mike Nolan was hired to run the defense.

Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford

Tony Gonzalez is nearing the end of his illustrious NFL career. The Falcons re-signed him to a one-year deal for 2012, and that might be the last time we see him on the field. With this in mind, tight ends have popped up left and right on mock drafts recently for the Falcons. Coby Fleener has been listed by several sites as Atlanta’s second-round pick.

Fleener is listed as 6’6″, 245 lbs. with a 4.77 40 time. He’s got plenty of size to make an impact as a blocker, with room to add some weight still. All reports rave about his pass catching ability, and he should make a great red zone target for any team. If the Falcons decide to take him in Round 2, he will be a great addition to the franchise. But, there may be more pressing issues at hand.

Jayron Hosley, CB, Virginia Tech

Hosley is listed at 5’10″, 172 lbs. with a 4.52 40. He doesn’t possess ideal size or speed, but has great ball skills and performs well in zone coverage. Unfortunately, these attributes seem misfitting for a defense run by Mike Nolan. Analysts constantly talk about the physicality Nolan likes in his defensive backs, and he will not find that with Hosley.

He isn’t a great tackler, he hasn’t had a lot of experience playing man coverage and he’s easily overpowered at the line. I’m not saying he won’t be able to perform well in the NFL, but it doesn’t appear that he will find his way to Atlanta in April.

Ben Jones, C, Georgia

There’s no questioning Ben Jones’ experience. He has started for UGA since his freshman season, and was named to the All-SEC Second Team in 2011.  With Todd McClure also getting close to the end of his career, the Falcons could be looking for a new anchor in the middle of their offensive line this offseason.

Jones has been praised for his leadership skills throughout his college career. He has some key areas he needs to improve upon, but he could be a solid pick in Round 2 for Atlanta. This will all depend upon their decision with McClure of course, or if they choose to use Joe Hawley at center.

Orson Charles, TE, Georgia

Another talented player from UGA, Charles is a smaller, more versatile athlete than Fleener, but isn’t as good of a blocker. Fans in the area have likely seen Charles play as a Bulldog, and have probably been impressed at one point or another by his impact in the passing game.

Fleener is rated higher than Charles at this point, but it would all depend on what type of tight end Atlanta is looking for. Either TE would be able to help immediately in the air attack. Charles is younger, though, which may be a reason he a little more unrefined.

Kevin Zeitler, OG, Wisconsin

Zeitler has been a big factor in the Badgers powerful run game. He is great in the run game and has the potential to be a starter in the NFL for years to come. He might be off the board by the time the Falcons are on the clock, but if he’s still hanging around, it would definitely give the Falcons a tough decision to make.

Mike Adams, OG, Ohio State

I won’t even go into detail about Adams, because there is no way he will fall to the end of Round 2. It was just worth noting that one mock draft actually had Atlanta selecting him, proving the point that you should always be careful which sites you take seriously. Hopefully this was a joke.

The offensive line will once again command the attention of the Falcons’ decision makers this offseason. Re-signing OG Justin Blalock and ORT Tyson Clabo last offseason didn’t prevent some serious issues from befalling the unit as inconsistency in pass protection and struggles to get a push at the line of scrimmage in short-yardage situations were a couple of the team’s more maddening problems.

This year, the only starting O-lineman due to hit the open market is longtime C Todd McClure, who wants to continue his career, but there are question marks at left tackle, and the ORG situation will be impacted by whatever happens with McClure, as Joe Hawley could slide from right guard to center if McClure does not return. OLTs Sam Baker and Will Svitek are both signed through next season, but neither is viewed as a long-term solution at the position. Also, there will be a new assistant coach responsible for the O-line, as Paul Boudreau was released earlier this month.

Eleven months ago, the Georgia World Congress Center Authority and the Falcons agreed to enter negotiations about a potential new open-air football stadium downtown.

And according to Tim Tucker of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution they’re still negotiating, both parties say.

A possible sign of movement came earlier this month, when Gov. Nathan Deal included money in his 2012 budget to purchase property next to the proposed stadium site.

The GWCC Authority, which oversees the state-owned complex that includes the Georgia Dome, voted last February to negotiate with the Falcons toward a possible memorandum of understanding on a $700 million stadium that would be built about a half-mile north of the Dome.

“We continue to meet with the Falcons on a whole array of business terms and items attendant to that,” GWCC Authority executive director Frank Poe said this week. “We have tried to quantify the issues that each side would have and talk through a series of items that are important for both sides, but nothing has been resolved in the form of an agreement.”

Asked how far along the process has moved, Poe said: “It would be hard to say we’re 10 percent or 50 percent or 60 percent there. There are some areas where there is common acceptance of positions, but there also are a lot of areas in which we still have work to be done. It’s not going to be something that will be resolved real quickly.”

The Falcons, who have made clear their desire for a new, more lucrative stadium when the Georgia Dome bonds are paid off later this decade, declined to comment on the status of negotiations beyond providing a written statement in response to inquiries.

“We would like to thank Coach Reynolds for his dedication and hard work over the last four seasons,” Smith said. “We wish him all of the best.”

Reynolds joined the Falcons after spending five seasons coaching under Smith with the Jacksonville Jaguars (2003-07). In addition to the Falcons and Jaguars, Reynolds has coached with the Carolina Panthers, Baltimore Ravens and Denver Broncos.

Last week, the Falcons replaced departed defensive coordinator Brian Van Gorder with Mike Nolan, who will likely bring in some assistant coaches who he is familiar with.