FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Harold Richardson resigned as general manager of the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday, deciding not to wait until new owner Arthur Blank hired someone to take his job.

Richardson, the team's GM since 1998, served as salary cap administrator and was in charge of player contract negotiations. He had little input on trades and draft picks.

"We appreciate Harold's dedication during his time with the Falcons, including his support during our ownership transition," Blank said in a statement released by the team. "We wish him well in his new endeavors."

The club said Richardson, 57, will seek another position in the NFL. He did not immediately return phone messages seeking comment.

ESPN.com's Len Pasquarelli reported that longtime NFL general manager Bobby Beathard, hired by new owner Arthur Blank as a consultant through next January, will take over contract negotiations. Beathard began apprising the agents for Falcons 2002 draft choices on Thursday afternoon that they will be dealing with him.

Blank has openly searched for a new general manager who would take over most of the personnel decisions now made by coach Dan Reeves.

"I do not think that I have worked with a more loyal or dedicated person than Harold Richardson," Reeves said. "Just as Harold will miss being around the Falcons, the Falcons will miss him."

When Blank's search for a new general manager was stymied on several fronts, he delayed the process and hired Beathard.

Before joining the Falcons in 1997 as an assistant coach, Richardson spent eight years with Denver as an assistant coach and in the front office. He was an assistant coach at New Orleans, and spent 12 years as an assistant coach at five colleges.

Blank, the co-founder of Home Depot, purchased the Falcons in February for $545 million. He has said he would reorganize the organization, which has gone 16-32 over the last four seasons.

Even so, Blank said just last month he hoped Richardson would stay with the team, which seemed likely considering his close ties with Reeves.

"I've never had an issue with Harold," Blank said. "He's obviously been a great team player in terms of free agency and picking up the additional players that we did, and he's given me a lot of knowledge in terms of how the salary cap works and the structure, etc."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.