Matt Ryan
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 11 hrs ago

FILE - In this Aug. 4, 2020, file photo, Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley catches a pass from Matt Ryan during a team strength and conditioning NFL football workout in Flowery Branch, Ga. It would be easy to overlook Calvin Ridley, being a receiver who plays on the same team as Julio Jones. Ridley, though, has other ideas. Heading into his third year with the Atlanta Falcons, he's planning on a breakout season and making sure everybody knows his name, too. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP, FIle)
Falcons WR Ridley eager to step out of Julio's large shadow

By Paul Newberry Aug. 06, 2020 05:40 PM EDT

FILE - In this Dec. 22, 2019, file photo, Carolina Panthers' Christian McCaffrey runs during the second half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, in Indianapolis. Christian McCaffrey has been one of the most used - and most productive -- running backs in the league over the last few years. Now that he has a big contract, he doesn't expect a letdown in usage. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)
McCaffrey: I should be No. 1 pick in Fantasy Football drafts

By Steve Reed Aug. 06, 2020 02:58 PM EDT

In this photo made Thursday, July 23, 2020, an upper deck view of the new Texas Rangers home baseball stadium named Globe Life Field is seen in Arlington, Texas. The Texas Rangers' new stadium isn't retro and designers wanted the first next-generation ballpark. There is the full-panel retractable roof, the split seating levels offering full views of the ballpark with plenty of natural light. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
The Latest: Duke says 25 returning athletes test positive

By The Associated Press Jul. 31, 2020 12:05 PM EDT

FILE - In this July 29, 2019, file photo, Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo watches a drill during NFL football training camp in St. Joseph, Mo. 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. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
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 Sept. 25, 2016, file photo, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick kneels during the national anthem before an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks in Seattle. Kaepernick was a second-round draft pick in 2011 who the next year led the San Francisco 49ers to the Super Bowl. By 2016, he had begun kneeling on the sideline at games during the national anthem to protest social injustice and police brutality.  Soon after, he was gone from the NFL, and he has not played since. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)
NFL commissioner Goodell encourages team to sign Kaepernick

By Joe Reedy Jun. 15, 2020 11:25 PM EDT

FILE - In this Dec. 22, 2018, file photo, Washington Redskins running back Adrian Peterson (26) stands for the national anthem before an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans in Nashville, Tenn. NFL players who want to kneel during the national anthem to protest police brutality and racism have far more support than Colin Kaepernick did four years ago. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski, File)
Despite far more support, kneeling might not be widespread

By Rob Maaddi Jun. 11, 2020 05:14 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

FILE - In this Jan. 26, 2020, file photo, NFC quarterback Drew Brees, of the New Orleans Saints, (9) looks to pass during the first half of the NFL Pro Bowl football game in Orlando, Fla. Atlanta Falcons coach Dan Quinn says the NFC South “is turning into Quarterback South.” The priority to “bring it” on defense was evident in the NFL draft. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File)
Brees, Brady give 'Quarterback South' top 2 all-time passers

By Charles Odum Apr. 29, 2020 12:19 PM EDT

FILE - In this Jan. 1, 2020, file photo, Auburn defensive tackle Derrick Brown (5) runs during the second half of the Outback Bowl NCAA college football game against Minnesota in Tampa, Fla. The Carolina Panthers selected Brown with the seventh pick in the first round of the NFL draft. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)
Panthers make history, use all 7 picks on defensive players

By Steve Reed Apr. 25, 2020 09:21 PM EDT

En esta foto del 29 de febero del 2020, el lineman defensivo Yetur Gross-Matos corre en el combine, la exhibición de talentos para la NFL, en Indianápolis. (AP Foto/Charlie Neibergall)
Panthers get defensive in NFL draft to battle NFC South QBs

By Steve Reed Apr. 24, 2020 07:57 PM EDT

FILE - In this Feb. 27, 2020, file photo, Auburn defensive lineman Derrick Brown listens during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis. Brown is a likely first-round pick in the NFL draft Thursday, April 23, 2020. (AP Photo/AJ Mast, File)
Panthers choose Brown over Simmons with No. 7 overall pick

By Steve Reed Apr. 23, 2020 09:26 PM EDT

FILE - In this April 26, 2008, file photo, Matt Ryan, a quarterback from Boston College, speaks at a news conference after being selected third overall by the Atlanta Falcons during fthe irst round of the NFL football draft in New York. Ryan has started all but three games over his 12-year career, earning four Pro Bowl appearances and the NFL’s MVP award in 2016, when he led the Falcons to only the second Super Bowl appearance in team history. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)
Matty Ice gets nod as Falcons' greatest success on draft day

By Paul Newberry Apr. 21, 2020 05:56 PM EDT

FILE - In this Oct. 4, 2014, file photo, Georgia running back Todd Gurley (3) celebrates with fans after defeating Vanderbilt 44-17 in an NCAA college football game in Athens, Ga. Gurley will be making a homecoming to the state of Georgia when the former Georgia Bulldogs standout begins the second phase of his NFL career with the Atlanta Falcons. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)
Gurley says deal with Falcons 'like a little homecoming'

By Charles Odum Apr. 10, 2020 03:29 PM EDT

Falcons to wear all-black home uniforms as part of redesign

Apr. 08, 2020 10:32 AM EDT
ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons are moving to black pants with black jerseys for their home uniforms in 2020 as part of a redesign the team says respects...

FILE - In this Nov. 10, 2019, file photo, New Orleans Saints quarterback Teddy Bridgewater throws before the New Orleans Saints host the Atlanta Falcons at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, La. The Carolina Panthers have worked out a deal with Teddy Bridgewater to replace quarterback Cam Newton. A person familiar with the deal says Bridgewater is taking a three-year, $63 million contract after winning all five of his starts for New Orleans last season. (David Grunfeld/The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate via AP, File)
Bridgewater ready to be a starting QB again in Carolina

Mar. 26, 2020 05:50 PM EDT

FILE - In this Dec. 24, 2017, file photo, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady celebrates a touchdown by running back Dion Lewis during the second half of the team's NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills in Foxborough, Mass. Brady’s .774 regular season winning percentage ranks first in the Super Bowl era among quarterbacks with at least 50 starts. With 249 victories overall, including playoffs, he’s won almost as many games in two decades as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have won (273) in the franchise’s 44-season history. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)
Tom Brady over Jameis Winston easy decision for Buccaneers

By Fred Goodall Mar. 25, 2020 05:48 PM EDT

FILE - In this Oct. 13, 2019 file photo, New Orleans Saints offensive guard Andrus Peat (75) sets up to block during the second half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Jacksonville, Fla. Saints free agent left guard Andrus Peat has agreed to a five-year contract keeping him in New Orleans, general manager Mickey Loomis said. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)
Brady, Gurley: From 2019 Super Bowl foes to same division

By Barry Wilner Mar. 20, 2020 05:51 PM EDT

FILE - In this Saturday, Dec. 21, 2019 file photo, Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley II carries against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif. The Los Angeles Rams have released running back Todd Gurley, their superstar running back with a massive contract and a troubling injury history. The Rams made the move Thursday, March 19, 2020 several minutes before roughly $10 million in the three-time Pro Bowl selection's contract became fully guaranteed. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar, File)
AP source: Falcons agree to 1-year deal with Todd Gurley

By Charles Odum Mar. 20, 2020 09:04 AM EDT