The Sports Xchange

Seattle Seahawks linebacker Bruce Irvin says he wants to play for the Atlanta Falcons next year.

Irvin, an Atlanta native who played for new Falcons coach Dan Quinn in Seattle, was in Atlanta for an NBA playoff game Wednesday night and told BlackSportsOnLine.com, “I’m going to be in Atlanta next season. I’m ready. Atlanta is where I want to be. Believe that.”

A report before the draft indicated the Falcons and Seahawks had talked about a trade, but Irvin remained a Seahawk at the conclusion of the draft. The Falcons drafted Clemson pass rusher Vic Beasley with the eighth overall pick.

Irvin was upset the Seahawks did not pick up his $7.75 million option for 2016 after the draft. He tweeted: “Faced way tougher adversity getting outta them streets coming up! That (expletive) is nothing! (Forget) that option!”

The Seahawks have said they want to keep Irvin long term, but they clearly did not think the 2012 first-round pick was worth the amount dictated by the fifth-year option.

Irvin is set to be paid $1.66 million in the final year of his rookie contract. In three seasons as a hybrid linebacker/pass rusher, he has 93 tackles, 16.5 sacks and three interceptions (he returned two for touchdowns in 2014).

If he ends up leaving, the Seahawks likely would replace him at linebacker with Kevin Pierre-Louis. The team also drafted pass rusher Frank Clark in the second round this month.