<p>ATLANTA — The Atlanta Falcons have saved almost $4 million from the 2021 salary cap by cutting veteran offensive guard James Carpenter.</p>
<p>Tuesday’s move comes after the team <a href="https://apnews.com/article/nfl-ricardo-allen-football-arthur-smith-allen-bailey-38f66522ae247a6d5f0ff1cb511ea860">already cleared almost $11 million</a> in cap space by releasing two veterans, safety Ricardo Allen and defensive end Allen Bailey.</p>
<p>More cuts are expected. The Falcons remain almost $12 million over the projected salary cap of $180 million and they face a <a href="https://apnews.com/article/nfl-football-coronavirus-pandemic-arthur-smith-atlanta-falcons-888758997d685190a732fd38bdaed5d8">major overhaul </a> with new coach Arthur Smith and general manager Terry Fontenot. </p>
<p>Fontenot said last week the Falcons, coming off a 4-12 season, will have to be creative in how they build the roster for 2021.</p>
<p>Carpenter, who signed with Atlanta as a free agent in 2019, started a combined 24 games the last two seasons, including 13 games at left guard in 2020.</p>
<p>Carpenter, 31, was a first-round selection by Seattle in the 2011 draft. He has played in 217 regular-season games, including 121 starts, in 10 seasons, and two Super Bowls.</p>
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