PAUL NEWBERRY
Chicago Bears strong safety Tashaun Gipson (38) celebrates his interception of Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020, in Atlanta. The Chicago Bears won 30-26. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Another Falcons collapse: Foles' 3 TDs lead 30-26 Bears win

By Paul Newberry Sep. 27, 2020 05:21 PM EDT
ATLANTA (AP) — No matter how bad things might have seemed a week ago, the

Chicago Bears running back David Montgomery (32) celebrates after rushing for a touchdown in the first quarter of an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune via AP)
Falcons face unbeaten Bears on heels of nightmarish loss

By Paul Newberry Sep. 24, 2020 01:12 PM EDT
ATLANTA (AP) — Let's see if the Atlanta Falcons can put another nightmarish

Dallas Cowboys kicker Greg Zuerlein is congratulated as he walks off the field kicking the game-winning field goal against the Atlanta Falcons during an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (Yffy Yossifor/Star-Telegram via AP)
Column: Another grim chapter for Atlanta's sports history

By Paul Newberry Sep. 21, 2020 02:22 AM EDT
ATLANTA (AP) — As the ball spun slowly along the turf at Jerry’s World, the

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson gets five from head coach Pete Carroll after tossing a touchdown pass to wide receiver DK Metcalf during an NFL football against the Atlanta Falcons during the third quarter Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020, in Atlanta. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)
Wilson throws 4 TD passes, Seahawks beat Falcons 38-25

By Paul Newberry Sep. 13, 2020 06:18 PM EDT
ATLANTA (AP) — The Seattle Seahawks let Russell Wilson do the cooking.

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 (AP) — The offseason program was virtual. There were no preseason games

Atlanta Falcons backup quarterback Kurt Benkert completes a pass with Matt Ryan looking on during NFL football training camp practice Saturday, Aug. 15, 2020, in Flowery Branch, Ga. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)
Falcons make final cuts to set 53-man roster for opener

By Paul Newberry Sep. 05, 2020 05:09 PM EDT
ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons cut former first-round pick Laquon Treadwell

Jacksonville Jaguars starting quarterback Gardner Minshew II signals a play during NFL football training camp, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2020, in Jacksonville, Fla. (Bob Self/The Florida Times-Union via AP)
Column: Jags might be worst franchise in all of pro sports

By Paul Newberry Sep. 01, 2020 03:04 AM EDT
You’ve got to hand it to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Just

Atlanta Falcons defensive end Dante Fowler (56) runs a drill during NFL football training camp on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2020, in Flowery Branch, Ga. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP, Pool)
Dante Fowler Jr. eager to show off new attitude in Atlanta

By Paul Newberry Aug. 19, 2020 06:35 PM EDT
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — Dante Fowler Jr. hustled through an agility drill

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
ATLANTA (AP) — Kneeling is a powerful gesture. T-shirts send a meaningful

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
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — When you're a receiver on the same team with Julio

FILE - In this Dec. 9, 2018, file photo, FedEx Field is less than full during the second half of an NFL football game between the Washington Redskins and the New York Giants in Landover, Md. The title sponsor of the Redskins’ stadium wants them to change their name. FedEx said in a statement Thursday, July 2, 2020, “We have communicated to the team in Washington our request that they change the team name.“ (AP Photo/Mark Tenally, File)
Column: Some more appropriate names for Washington NFL team

By Paul Newberry Jul. 03, 2020 05:43 PM EDT
Now that Washington’s NFL team has taken a long-overdue step toward changing

FILE - In this Dec. 11, 2010, file photo, Utah Jazz head coach Jerry Sloan is shown during an NBA basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks in Dallas. The Utah Jazz have announced that Jerry Sloan, the coach who took them to the NBA Finals in 1997 and 1998 on his way to a spot in the Basketball Hall of Fame, has died. Sloan died Friday morning, May 22, 2020, the Jazz said, from complications related to Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body dementia. He was 78. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez, File)
Column: Sloan, other coaching greats who were denied a title

By Paul Newberry May. 22, 2020 05:04 PM EDT
Jerry Sloan was undoubtedly one of the greatest coaches in NBA history.

FILE - In this Feb. 5, 2017, file photo, New England Patriots' Tom Brady raises the Vince Lombardi Trophy after defeating the Atlanta Falcons in overtime at the NFL Super Bowl 51 football game in Houston. Brady’s journey to each of his nine Super Bowls with the New England Patriots will be the subject of an ESPN series released in 2021. Entitled “The Man in the Arena: Tom Brady,” the nine-episode series will include a look from Brady’s perspective at the six NFL titles and three Super Bowl defeats he was a part of. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)
Falcons CB Oliver ready for leadership role in secondary

By Paul Newberry May. 21, 2020 04:07 PM EDT
ATLANTA (AP) — Whenever some sense of normalcy returns to the NFL, Isaiah

In this May 2020 photo provided by Riddell, a Riddell SpeedFlex helmet sits next to a computer screen displaying information from the InSite tool. Teaming with Catapult, an Australia-based technology company, Riddell is providing coaches, players and medical staff detailed information regarding anything from practice regimens to helmet contacts to overall preparation for athletes. (Riddell via AP)
NFL studying helmet face guard that works like surgical mask

By Paul Newberry May. 20, 2020 12:47 PM EDT
ATLANTA (AP) — With an eye toward getting back on the field during a pandemic,

FILE - In this July 27, 2017, file photo, Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn works with his defensive linemen during the first day of an NFL training camp football practice in Flowery Branch, Ga. Quinn knows this is an offseason unlike any other. Hes not shying away from that reality. But this is also a time that craves a bit of normality, so Quinn is dealing with plenty of familiar issues, including rookie camp, roster moves, position changes, and focusing on areas that need the most improvement. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)
In strange offseason, Falcons' Quinn embraces the challenge

By Paul Newberry May. 12, 2020 03:27 PM EDT
ATLANTA (AP) — In an offseason that's anything but normal, Atlanta Falcons

FILE - In this Jan. 17, 2016, file photo, Dominick Cruz throws a right against TJ Dillashaw in their mixed martial arts title bout at UFC Fight Night 81 n Boston. Cruz is scheduled to fight against Henry Cejudo at UFC249 in Jacksonville, Fla., on Saturday, May 9, 2020. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan, File)
Column: Glimmer of hope for sports, but don't pop champagne

By Paul Newberry May. 08, 2020 05:48 PM EDT
Finally, some signs of hope. It’s only a glimmer. Let’s not

In this still image from video provided by the NFL, AJ Terrell, seated wearing headphones, listens while others celebrate during the NFL football draft Thursday, April 23, 2020, in Atlanta. Terrell was selected by the Atlanta Falcons during the first round. (NFL via AP)
Falcons bolster secondary with Clemson CB Terrell at No. 16

By Paul Newberry Apr. 23, 2020 10:32 PM EDT
ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons moved to bolster their secondary by taking

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
ATLANTA (AP) — BEST FIRST-ROUND DRAFT PICK: QB Matt Ryan. Hard to go with

ARCHIVO - En esta foto de archivo del 21 de enero de 2018, el quarterback de los Patriots de Nueva Inglaterra, Tom Brady, abraza al entrenador Bill Belichick, después de vencer a los Jaguars de Jacksonville (AP Foto/David J. Phillip, archivo)
Column: Playoffs-or-bust should be Brady's new mantra

By Paul Newberry Mar. 20, 2020 04:29 PM EDT
Well, it's official now. Tom Brady

File-This Nov. 16, 2019, file photo shows free agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick participating in a workout for NFL football scouts and media, in Riverdale, Ga. Kaepernick’s tryout: scouts dispatched, A busted play, with strings attached. (AP Photo/Todd Kirkland, File)
Column: NFL shamelessly commandeers Kaepernick's cause

By Paul Newberry Jan. 24, 2020 07:08 PM EST
The images are haunting. Dramatic music, punctuated by the