Matt Ryan
FILE - In this Nov. 7, 1989, file photo, San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jerry Rice runs past New Orleans Saints' Toi Cook for a touchdown during an NFL football game at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. Known for tireless work ethic even in late stages of career, Rice holds virtually every significant receiving mark, including most career receptions (1,549); yards receiving (22,895); total touchdowns (208); and combined net yards (23,546). (AP Photo/Martha Jane Stanton, File)
The famous and the flops: best and worst NFL 1st-round picks

By The Associated Press Apr. 24, 2021 12:19 PM EDT

Terry Fontenot, left, and New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis watch Senior Bowl practice in Mobile, Ala., in this Jan. 20, 2015, photo. The Atlanta Falcons have named Terry Fontenot the team’s general manager. The 40-year-old Fontenot becomes Atlanta’s first Black general manager after spending 16 seasons with division rival New Orleans. (Evan Woodbery/The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate via AP)
Falcons looking to get creative as they face major overhaul

By Paul Newberry Feb. 23, 2021 05:30 PM EST

FILE - San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) passes against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., in this Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020, file photo. The Matthew Stafford-Jared Goff trade not only has whet fans' appetites for big deals, it's caused a social media frenzy about which quarterbacks are headed elsewhere. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar, File)
NFL carousel will spin soon, and not just for quarterbacks

By Barry Wilner Feb. 10, 2021 12:10 PM EST

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Saturday, Dec. 26, 2020, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Lon Horwedel)
Red-hot Buccaneers not looking past Falcons to playoffs

By Fred Goodall Dec. 31, 2020 06:16 PM EST

Green Bay Packers kicker Mason Crosby (2) celebrates his field goal with teammate during the second half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
The Latest: Steelers get AFC berth, Packers clinch NFC North

By The Associated Press Dec. 13, 2020 12:17 PM EST

Denver Broncos quarterback Drew Lock, right, confers with quarterback Riley Neal during NFL football practice Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2020, in Englewood, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
AP sources: NFL DQs Broncos QBs for not wearing masks

By Arnie Stapleton Nov. 28, 2020 06:15 PM EST

Las Vegas Raiders head coach Jon Gruden reacts during the first half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken)
Raiders looking to finish strong, make run at playoffs

By Paul Newberry Nov. 27, 2020 03:16 PM EST

FILE - In this Oct. 28, 2018, file photo, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and coach Mike Tomlin during the team's NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns in Pittsburgh. Roethlisberger, who went out in Game 2 last season with an elbow injury, received lots of support as a candidate for comeback player of the year, at the halfway point of the season. Tomlin was lauded for coach of the year, at this point of the season, by Hall of Famer James Lofton and hall voter Rick Gosselin. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson, File)
On Football: Halfway through season, who are awards leaders?

By Barry Wilner Nov. 13, 2020 10:14 AM EST

FILE - In this May 22, 2018, file photo, the Atlanta Falcons defensive unit runs an agility drill at the NFL football teams practice facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. The Atlanta Falcons shut their facility Thursday, Oct. 15, 2020, following one new positive test for COVID-19. The team remains scheduled to play at Minnesota on Sunday. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP, File)
NFL will be cautious with players, coaches who have symptoms

By Rob Maaddi Oct. 15, 2020 10:40 AM EDT

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, right, makes a touchdown catch in front of Kansas City Chiefs safety Rayshawn Jenkins, bottom left, during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
The Latest: Butker's FG lifts Chiefs to OT win over Chargers

By The Associated Press Sep. 20, 2020 12:47 PM EDT

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) prepares to make a catch against Seattle Seahawks safety Lano Hill (42) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Wilson throws 4 TD passes, Seahawks beat Falcons 38-25

By Paul Newberry Sep. 13, 2020 06:18 PM EDT

FILE - In this Sept. 4, 2020, file photo, The playing field and seating areas of SoFi Stadium, future home for NFL football's Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers, is viewed in Inglewood, Calif. Welcome to Sofi Stadium, Stan Kroenke's billion-dollar palace where the Rams and Chargers will call home. The fans will be at home due to COVID-19, and look for huge TV ratings for this prime-time affair. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)
Life at 40-plus: Brady vs Brees is tastiest of NFL matchups

By Barry Wilner Sep. 11, 2020 12:12 AM EDT

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) throws the ball during an NFL football training camp practice Thursday, Sept. 3, 2020, in Atlanta. (Hyosub Shin/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)
Familiar opponents: Seahawks, Falcons know each other well

By Paul Newberry Sep. 10, 2020 07:15 PM EDT

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan hands off to running back Todd Gurley during an NFL football training camp practice in Flowery Branch, Ga., Monday, Aug. 24, 2020. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP, Pool)
Continuity could help Falcons rebound in pandemic season

By Paul Newberry Aug. 27, 2020 04:35 PM EDT

An Atlanta Hawks security guard opens a door before a media tour of the State Farm Arena, home of the NBA's Atlanta Hawks basketball team, Friday, July 17, 2020, in Atlanta. The 16,888-seat facility will be used as a poll location for the upcoming election. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Column: Beyond kneeling, T-shirts, sports push major changes

By Paul Newberry Aug. 07, 2020 06:11 PM EDT

A sign announces that the field is closed at Vernon Hills Athletic Complex in Vernon Hills, Ill., Thursday, July 30, 2020. Governor J.B Pritzker introduced new restrictions for recreational sports leagues in Illinois Wednesday, as the number of coronavirus cases continues to rise across the state. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
The Latest: Duke says 25 returning athletes test positive

By The Associated Press Jul. 31, 2020 05:25 AM EDT

Falcons coach and GM could be on hot seat this season

By The Associated Press Jul. 20, 2020 12:38 PM EDT
ATLANTA FALCONS (7-9) CAMP SITE: Flowery Branch, Georgia LAST YEAR: Atlanta won its last four games to save jobs of...

FILE - In this Feb. 26, 2019, file photo, Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller smiles while watching an NBA basketball game between the Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma Thunder in Denver. When the coronavirus pandemic forced everyone indoors — away from their everyday environments — creativity was the key. To working. To keeping in touch. And, for those making their living playing on football fields, to thinking up ways to bond as teammates. Denver's linebackers and defensive ends were treated to some entertainment every week by star Von Miller — aka DJ Sauce Von the Don — who fully recovered after testing positive for COVID-19 in April. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)
NFL teams went high-tech for team bonding this offseason

By Dennis Waszak Jr. Jun. 19, 2020 11:20 AM EDT

FILE - In this Oct. 31, 2019, file photo, Baylor defensive coordinator Phil Snow walks the sideline in an NCAA college football game against West Virginia in Waco, Texas. Carolina Panthers new defensive coordinator Phil Snow has a monumental task ahead of him, returning the once proud Carolina defense to among the best in the league without retired linebacker Luke Kuechly. Carolina's defense is coming off a season in which they allowed 29.4 points per game, the second-most in the league. (AP Photo/Jerry Larson, File)
Snow faces huge task restoring once-proud Panthers defense

By Steve Reed Jun. 17, 2020 05:58 PM EDT

FILE - In this Dec. 29, 2019, file photo, Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley sits on the bench during the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals in Los Angeles. Gurley has passed his physical, clearing the final hurdle for his return to Georgia with the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons said Tuesday, June 9, 2020, Gurley passed his physical a day earlier in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)
Todd Gurley passes physical with Falcons, impresses Ryan

Jun. 09, 2020 04:23 PM EDT