Harry Douglas Released by Falcons: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction

Slot receiver Harry Douglas has been a key part of the Atlanta Falcons offense in recent years, but the organization cut ties with the 30-year-old veteran Friday.

Rand Getlin of Yahoo Sports first reported the release:

Douglas spent the first six seasons of his career in Atlanta after being selected in the third round of the 2008 draft. He never topped 500 yards in a season until 2013, when he broke out to the tune of 85 catches for 1,067 yards.

The former Louisville star was thrust into a featured role, with Julio Jones and Roddy White on the shelf for much of the season, and he proved capable of handling a much heavier workload.

Douglas' production regressed to 51 grabs for 556 yards in 2014 as a tertiary option, but he still served as a reliable target for quarterback Matt Ryan.

While Douglas was a good fit in Atlanta's offense, it seems as though this move was purely monetary, as it saves the Falcons $3.5 million, according to Chris Burke of SI.com:

The savings are even greater when considering the fact that Atlanta cut running back Steven Jackson Thursday, per Knox Bardeen of FoxSports.com:

Douglas may not excel in any one area, but he is a sure-handed receiver who figures to land somewhere, according to ESPN.com's Jeremy Fowler:

Ultimately, the Falcons have so many other needs, particularly on defense, that Douglas became somewhat of a luxury player.

The offense should still be strong without him, and now Atlanta has an opportunity to improve elsewhere as well.

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter