Dwight Freeney and the Falcons have mutual interest in him returning this year

It certainly sounds like the veteran pass rusher is signing up for another season in Atlanta

Dwight Freeney didn't retire in the aftermath of the Falcons' tragic Super Bowl loss. He also didn't land with another NFL team. Freeney, 37, remains a free agent. 

Don't expect that to last too much longer. In an interview with SiriusXM NFL Radio's Alex Marvez and Bill Polian on Thursday, Freeney revealed that he's been in communication with the Falcons about returning to the team. He said that the Falcons are also interested in bringing him back.

According to Dwight Freeney, the Falcons want to sign Dwight Freeney. 

"I've already been talking to the coaches and going back and forth here and there with the draft picks and free agents," Freeney said, per Sporting News. "That line of communication is still very open. They say they're still very interested.

"I'm planning to reach out to them here soon and hopefully we both believe they want me back and playing for them."

The reason Freeney is likely unsigned this late in the offseason? He probably doesn't want to participate in meaningless OTAs, which too often lead to devastating injuries. Freeney signed his contract last year in August and he didn't land with the Cardinals in 2015 until after the season had already started. So, Freeney is more than used to getting ready for the season on his own.

"I love football, but I'm not saying I live to be there that early," Freeney said.

A year later, the match between the Falcons and Freeney still makes sense. Freeney is no longer the dominant force he once was -- he's ranked 18th all time with 122.5 career sacks -- but he's more than capable as a situational pass rusher. In the 2016 regular season, he notched three sacks. He then brought down Tom Brady for a sack in the Super Bowl. Freeney can still help a team like Atlanta, which features an up-and-coming defense, and in return, Freeney will get his chance to walk off into the sunset wearing another Super Bowl ring.

That nearly happened in February, of course, but the Falcons blew a 25-point lead in the second half to the Patriots. The only positive from that experience? The Falcons likely would've lost Freeney to retirement had they not choked away the title.

"I was kind of undecided before, but as it got closer, I was saying to myself, 'Winning the Super Bowl and leaving would feel amazing to me,'" Freeney said "The best year I ever experienced was the year that we won the Super Bowl. Wouldn't it be great to leave like Jerome Bettis, Ray Lewis or someone in that type of situation?

"We didn't win, so that's gone."

Freeney isn't the only late roster addition who will likely make an impact during the season. Jeremy Maclin, who got cut by the Chiefs on Friday night, is surprisingly available too.