FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Two straight seasons as a 1,000-yard rusher have made Devonta Freeman a bargain as he enters the last year of his rookie contract.

For a player, that’s a bad place to be. It’s why Freeman is looking for an extension to his deal before the 2017 season.

Freeman said Tuesday he’s confident the new deal will come. He said he will remain patient rather than consider holding out of training camp as a negotiating ploy.

“I just always wanted to be that guy that never wanted to hold out and leave my guys out there working,” Freeman said. “I understand it’s a business, 100 percent, but I know what I signed up for.”

Freeman’s current contract calls for him to earn $1,797,000 this season, the last year of his four-year, $2.7 million contract he signed as a rookie.

The Falcons, attempting to regroup after their Super Bowl loss to New England, already have re-signed cornerback Desmond Trufant to a five-year extension worth $68.75 million this offseason. They also had all their draft picks signed before last week’s rookie minicamp.

Might Freeman and his agent, Kristin Campbell, be next at the Falcons’ bargaining table. Freeman said he sought advice from receiver Julio Jones on how to handle himself this offseason.

Freeman said Jones’ best advice was “make sure whatever I do just make sure I come in and work. … That’s what I call my business. If I could take care of that, everything else will take care of itself.”

TITANS: Tennessee signed tight end Jonnu Smith, a third-round draft pick from Florida International.

WASHINGTON: Washington signed Nico Marley, grandson of legendary Jamaican musician Bob Marley.

The 5-foot-8 linebacker out of Tulane was at the team’s rookie minicamp over the weekend on a tryout. He was added to the roster Tuesday.

Marley was a four-year starter in college, becoming Tulane’s all-time leader in tackles for loss with 50. He had 319 tackles, 6 sacks and four interceptions in 49 games.

Nico’s father, Rohan, played at Miami alongside Warren Sapp and Ray Lewis in the early 1990s and led the team in tackles in 1993 before playing in the Canadian Football League.

CARDINALS: Starting inside linebacker Deone Bucannon has undergone ankle surgery to repair a lingering problem.

Coach Bruce Arians said that “if everything goes perfect,” Bucannon could be ready for the opener Sept. 10 at Detroit.

Bucannon was selected as a safety in the first round out of Washington State in 2014. The Cardinals soon moved him to inside linebacker because of a need at that position.

Bucannon led the team in tackles each of the last two seasons. He had 127 two seasons ago and 100 last year.

BENGALS: Cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones has pleaded guilty to a single misdemeanor charge from an altercation this year.

Municipal Court Judge Dwane Mallory dismissed misdemeanor counts of assault and disorderly conduct at the prosecutor’s request after a plea agreement. He sentenced Jones to time already served – two days – on the obstructing official business count.

The 33-year-old Jones apologized in court Tuesday for his behavior and specifically to a Cincinnati police officer he made profane comments to after his arrest.