ATLANTA -- With Rich McKay out of the picture, Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank has resumed his search for a general manager.

Blank, in Salt Lake City for the Olympics, was not available for comment Thursday. In a statement released by the Falcons, Blank said he will continue to "make it a top priority to get the best person we can for the general manager position for the Falcons."

McKay signed a six-year contract extension Thursday and will begin his eighth season as Tampa Bay's GM, working alongside new Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden. McKay had been Atlanta's top candidate after interviewing with Blank on Feb. 14.

McKay was the most recent prospect, and the second acting GM, to meet with Blank. Randy Mueller, New Orleans' general manager of football operations, was the first.

Blank also interviewed Buffalo director of football operations Tom Modrak and Mike Reinfeldt, a senior vice president in Seattle.

Mueller was out of town Thursday and could not be reached for comment. Modrak said "there was nothing new to report on the situation," and Reinfeldt did not immediately return a phone call.

Blank is seeking an executive vice president and GM to work alongside head coach Dan Reeves.

"The candidates I've talked to are all very high-caliber," Blank said last week. "They'd all do a tremendous amount of good for the franchise on the football side and beyond."

Harold Richardson, a longtime associate of Reeves, continues to work as Atlanta's GM, a position he has held since 1998. Richardson will not lose his job once Blank makes his hire.

Blank, who paid $545 million for the Falcons and assumed control of the team Feb. 2, has conducted his interviews with the help of Russell Reynolds Associates, an executive search firm based in New York.

Last week at Falcons headquarters in Flowery Branch, Blank said he hadn't ruled out the possibility of considering other candidates. He was denied requests to interview St. Louis GM Charley Armey, Baltimore vice president of personnel Ozzie Newsome and Ted Sundquist, Denver's director of college scouting.

The Broncos promoted Sundquist to GM last month.

Blank had wanted to have a GM in place before March 1, the first day NFL clubs can sign unrestricted free agents. The Falcons, currently $8.5 million over the salary cap, are likely to release receiver Terance Mathis and safety Ronnie Bradford early next week.

Quarterback Chris Chandler is another candidate to be cut, though his wife, Diane, said Wednesday the Falcons had not talked with the 14-year veteran about having his salary reduced or losing his starting job to rising star Michael Vick.

The club already has restructured defensive tackle Travis Hall's contract and hopes to do the same with linemate Shane Dronett. Ed Jasper, who backs up Hall and Dronett, has agreed to a five-year, $10 million deal to remain in Atlanta.