CHARLES ODUM
Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith looks on during their NFL minicamp football practice Tuesday, June 14, 2022, in Flowery Branch, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Falcons rookie QB Ridder impresses Smith as a quick learner

By Charles Odum Jun. 15, 2022 04:03 PM EDT
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — Desmond Ridder has impressed himself — and coach Arthur

Atlanta Falcons defensive backs Erik Harris and Isaiah Oliver take part in drills at the NFL football team's practice facility in Flowery Branch, Ga., Tuesday, June 14, 2022. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Falcons' all-purpose star Patterson allowed to miss minicamp

By Charles Odum Jun. 14, 2022 06:31 PM EDT
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons had a 100% turnout — but not full

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder, left, stands next to head coach Arthur Smith during NFL football practice Thursday, May 26, 2022, in Flowery Branch, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Falcons backup QB Franks trying new hybrid role at tight end

By Charles Odum Jun. 09, 2022 05:00 PM EDT
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — Feleipe Franks took full advantage of his 6-foot-6 frame

Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith addresses his team after a voluntary offseason NFL football practice Friday, June 3, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Falcons' Pitts says stadium's new FieldTurf is soft but good

By Charles Odum Jun. 03, 2022 05:12 PM EDT
ATLANTA (AP) — Kyle Pitts says the Atlanta Falcons' new FieldTurf playing surface at

Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith walks across the field during NFL football practice Thursday, May 26, 2022, in Flowery Branch, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Falcons QB Mariota willing to be mentor but hungry to start

By Charles Odum May. 26, 2022 05:16 PM EDT
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — Marcus Mariota is saying all the right things about

Atlanta Falcons rookie quarterback Desmond Ridder runs a drill during their NFL rookie minicamp football practice Friday, May 13, 2022, in Flowery Branch, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Falcons QB Ridder early to rise — and lead — at rookie camp

By Charles Odum May. 14, 2022 04:18 PM EDT
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — Desmond Ridder's drive to be first begins with an early

Atlanta Falcons first round draft pick wide receiver Drake London (5) runs during NFL rookie minicamp football practice, Friday, May 13, 2022, in Flowery Branch, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Falcons' London embraces health, contract at rookie minicamp

By Charles Odum May. 13, 2022 04:15 PM EDT
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — Drake London celebrated good health and a new contract on

Former Cincinnati quarterback Desmond Ridder watches the game action from the field during an NCAA football intrasquad scrimmage, Saturday, April 9, 2022, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
Falcons add BYU RB Allgeier to offensive-themed draft class

By Charles Odum Apr. 30, 2022 08:26 PM EDT
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — The offensive theme for the Atlanta Falcons continued on

Atlanta Falcons 2022 NFL first round draft pick Drake London, a wide receiver from Southern California, speaks with the media at the Falcons Practice Facility Friday, April 29, 2022, in Flowery Branch, Ga. (Jason Getz/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)
Cincinnati's Ridder is Falcons' pick as possible future QB

By Charles Odum Apr. 29, 2022 08:00 PM EDT
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — On a draft night the Atlanta Falcons focused on their

FILE - Southern California wide receiver Drake London runs for a touchdown against Utah during the first half of an NCAA college football game Oct. 9, 2021, in Los Angeles. London was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the NFL draft Thursday, April 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)
Falcons draft USC WR London, get much-needed big-play threat

By Charles Odum Apr. 28, 2022 09:25 PM EDT
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — Maybe it won't be so easy for defenses to focus all their

Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts participates in an offseason conditioning program at the Atlanta Falcons Practice Facility Tuesday, April 19, 2022, in Flowery Branch, Ga. (Jason Getz/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)
Falcons GM Fontenot finding it tough to predict NFL draft

By Charles Odum Apr. 26, 2022 06:11 PM EDT
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — It seemed so much easier for Atlanta Falcons general

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Marcus Mariota participates in an offseason conditioning program at the Atlanta Falcons practice facility Tuesday, April 19, 2022, in Flowery Branch, Ga. (Jason Getz/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)
2023 QB class may influence Falcons' direction in NFL draft

By Charles Odum Apr. 22, 2022 05:47 PM EDT
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — The talent of the quarterbacks who might be available to

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Matt Ryan speaks during a news conference at the NFL team's practice facility in Indianapolis, Tuesday, March 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Blank says Falcons' talks with Watson were only preliminary

By Charles Odum Mar. 29, 2022 04:53 PM EDT
ATLANTA (AP) — Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank said Tuesday the team had only

Devonte Wyatt runs football drills during Georgia's Pro Day on Wednesday, March 16, 2022, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Georgia enjoys school-record turnout from NFL for Pro Day

By Charles Odum Mar. 16, 2022 05:05 PM EDT
ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Georgia's impressive class of NFL draft candidates commanded an

FILE - Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley (18) makes a diving touchdown reception in front of Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive back Ross Cockrell (43) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley has been suspended for the 2022 season for betting on NFL games in the 2021 season. The suspension announced by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on Monday, March 7, 2022, is for activity that took place while Ridley was away from the team while addressing mental health concerns.(AP Photo/Mark LoMoglio, File)
Falcons WR Ridley suspended for '22 for bets on NFL games

By Charles Odum Mar. 07, 2022 03:53 PM EST
ATLANTA (AP) — For endangering the integrity of the sport by betting on games,

FILE - Atlanta Falcons fans cheer for Matt Ryan and Calvin Ridley from the hill overlooking the practice fields during the fourth day of NFL football training camp practice on Sunday, Aug. 1, 2021, in Flowery Branch, Ga. Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank says the team must have a succession plan at quarterback even while counting on Matt Ryan to continue as the starter in 2022. The Falcons face more complicated decisions at wide receiver, where Calvin Ridley's status remains uncertain. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP, File)
Falcons' owner Blank: Must plan for QB Ryan's successor

By Charles Odum Feb. 10, 2022 11:31 AM EST
ATLANTA (AP) — Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank says the team must have a

FILE - Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley practices before an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J. Once taboo topics such a battles with anxiety, depression or addictive behaviors are no longer suppressed and athletes around the world are speaking up: Calvin Ridley of the Falcons and Lance Johnson of the Philadelphia Eagles both took leaves of absences from their teams (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)
Falcons GM Fontenot not ready to give up on Ridley for 2022

By Charles Odum Jan. 11, 2022 07:47 PM EST
ATLANTA (AP) — Atlanta Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot said Tuesday he's not

Atlanta Falcons running back Cordarrelle Patterson (84) runs into the end zone for a touchdown against the Detroit Lions during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Smith predicts 'better days' for Falcons after 7-10 finish

By Charles Odum Jan. 10, 2022 03:17 PM EST
ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons have made dramatic progress in close games.

New Orleans Saints quarterback Trevor Siemian (15) works against the Atlanta Falcons during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Saints miss wild-card spot despite 30-20 win over Falcons

By Charles Odum Jan. 09, 2022 07:44 PM EST
ATLANTA (AP) — Trevor Siemian and his New Orleans teammates saw their playoff hopes

New Orleans Saints quarterback Taysom Hill (7) and running back Alvin Kamara (41) celebrate their touchdown in the second half of an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers in New Orleans, Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022. (AP Photo/Derick Hingle)
Saints expect to be 'peeking' at scoreboard against Falcons

By Charles Odum Jan. 06, 2022 12:26 PM EST
ATLANTA (AP) — Taysom Hill and the New Orleans Saints will be watching the scoreboard