PAUL NEWBERRY
Carolina Panthers wide receiver DJ Moore removes his helmet after catching a touchdown pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022, in Atlanta. Moore was charged with a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty for removing his helmet on the play. (AP Photo/John Amis)
Koo's OT FG gives Falcons improbable 37-34 win over Panthers

By Paul Newberry Oct. 30, 2022 05:05 PM EDT
ATLANTA (AP) — D.J. Moore hauled in a last-minute touchdown pass but ripped off his

FILE - Washington Wizards' Michael Jordan waves as he walks off the court at the end of an NBA basketball game against the Philadelphia 76ers on April 16, 2003, in Philadelphia. It was Jordan's last NBA game. (AP Photo/Miles Kennedy, File)
Column: Brady may join top 10 who should've stayed retired

By Paul Newberry Oct. 28, 2022 04:29 PM EDT
An athlete's decision to retire has long been a perplexing one, especially for those

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Marcus Mariota (1) is sacked by Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Joseph Ossai (58) in the second half of an NFL football game in Cincinnati, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
Falcons, Panthers are somehow contending in weak NFC South

By Paul Newberry Oct. 27, 2022 05:02 PM EDT
ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons are rebuilding. The Carolina

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Marcus Mariota (1) runs against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Marcus Mariota making the most of his 2nd chance in Atlanta

By Paul Newberry Oct. 20, 2022 04:03 PM EDT
ATLANTA (AP) — For Marcus Mariota, the loss of confidence was the biggest blow.

FILE - Pro Football Hall of Fame member Charley Trippi poses with memorabilia at his home in Athens, Ga., on Jan, 27, 2009. Trippi, a runner-up for the Heisman Trophy at Georgia who went on to lead the Cardinals to their most recent NFL championship in 1947, died Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2022. He was 100. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)
Pro Football Hall of Famer Charley Trippi dies at 100

By Paul Newberry Oct. 19, 2022 05:35 PM EDT
ATLANTA (AP) — Pro and College Football Hall of Famer Charley Trippi, a runner-up for

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Marcus Mariota (1) speaks to San Francisco 49ers safety Talanoa Hufanga (29) after an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022, in Atlanta. The Atlanta Falcons won 28-14. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Falcons' confidence grows, tied with Bucs atop NFC South

By Paul Newberry Oct. 17, 2022 03:57 PM EDT
ATLANTA (AP) — Who's that team at the top of the NFC South? Yep, it's

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan speaks with San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Mariota accounts for 3 TDs, Falcons beat 49ers 28-14

By Paul Newberry Oct. 16, 2022 04:04 PM EDT
ATLANTA (AP) — Marcus Mariota doesn’t spend much time dwelling on the past.

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) is sacked by Cincinnati Bengals' Josh Tupou (68) during the first half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, in Cincinnati. Tagovailoa suffered a second frightening injury in five days when he was carted off the field Thursday. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)
Column: Tua shouldn't have played, but complex issues remain

By Paul Newberry Sep. 30, 2022 06:57 PM EDT
There's one thing we can all agree on: Tua Tagovailoa had no business being on the

FILE - Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) runs onto the field for an NFL football game between the Miami Dolphins and the Jaguars at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium in London on Oct. 17, 2021. Folks in soccer-mad Britain have a growing hankering for the U.S. brand of football, brought to their world with a big push from the NFL and an increasingly diverse media landscape. “It's a good sport. It's got violence. It's got scoring,” said Joe Vincent, a Welshman who set up the Jacksonville Jaguars fan club in Britain. “Once you've gone to a game, you're hooked.” (AP Photo/Matt Dunham, File)
Column: Footy, anyone? Niche fans cheer on sports from afar

By Paul Newberry Sep. 23, 2022 04:24 AM EDT
Early Saturday morning, at half past midnight, a small but passionate group of fans

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas (13) celebrates his touchdown catch against Atlanta Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell (24) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Same ol' Falcons: Blown lead very familiar in the A-T-L

By Paul Newberry Sep. 12, 2022 03:23 PM EDT
ATLANTA (AP) — Arthur Smith gets downright snippy if anyone tries to bring up the

New Orleans Saints tight end Taysom Hill (7) runs after a ctach against the Atlanta Falcons during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Saints pull off improbable comeback to beat Falcons 27-26

By Paul Newberry Sep. 11, 2022 04:33 PM EDT
ATLANTA (AP) — A new coach. A bunch of guys coming back from injuries. A 16-point

New Orleans Saints quarterback Jameis Winston (2) runs off the field after a preseason NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers in New Orleans, Friday, Aug. 26, 2022. The Saints won 27-10. (AP Photo/Derick Hingle)
Dennis Allen-led Saints begin new era vs. rebuilding Falcons

By Paul Newberry Sep. 08, 2022 02:28 PM EDT
ATLANTA (AP) — It's going to be a bit strange to see someone other than Sean Payton

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder (4) works in the pocket against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the first half of an NFL football game, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Ridder leads Falcons past Jaguars 28-12 in preseason

By Paul Newberry Aug. 27, 2022 06:17 PM EDT
ATLANTA (AP) — Desmond Ridder’s first throw didn’t go as planned. He

Atlanta Falcons quarterbacks Marcus Mariota (1) and Desmond Ridder (4) warm up during the NFL football team's open practice in Atlanta on Monday, Aug. 15, 2022. (AP Photo/Todd Kirkland)
Marcus Mariota, Atlanta Falcons hope they're a good match

By Paul Newberry Aug. 24, 2022 03:21 PM EDT
ATLANTA (AP) — Marcus Mariota and the Atlanta Falcons hope they are a good match.

FILE - Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., waves while former President Donald Trump points to her while they look over the 16th tee during the second round of the Bedminster Invitational LIV Golf tournament in Bedminster, N.J., July 30, 2022. Republicans ranging from Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to Marjorie Taylor Greene defended Trump against an unprecedented FBI search. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)
Column: Five troubling sports stories on a dreary day

By Paul Newberry Aug. 19, 2022 03:09 PM EDT
When you awake to a dreary day, it puts you in a bit of a mood.

FILE - Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Jared Bernhardt catches a 21-yard pass for a touchdown during the second half of a preseason NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Friday, Aug. 12, 2022, in Detroit. Just two years after being honored as the nation’s top college lacrosse player, Bernhardt is trying to make it as an NFL receiver with the Atlanta Falcons. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)
Ex-Maryland star Bernhardt tries switch from lacrosse to NFL

By Paul Newberry Aug. 18, 2022 03:10 PM EDT
ATLANTA (AP) — Jared Bernhardt traded in his stick for the pigskin.

Atlanta Braves center fielder Michael Harris II (23) makes a running catch on a fly ball from New York Mets Jon Berti in the eighth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Monday, Aug. 15, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Braves' new contracts set them up for long-term success

By Paul Newberry Aug. 17, 2022 03:56 PM EDT
ATLANTA (AP) — Hey, Braves fans, hope you like the core of your team.

Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts waves a signed football at the fans during the NFL football team's practice on Saturday, July 30, 2022, in Flowery Branch, Ga. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Goal-setting Pitts eager to build on brilliant rookie season

By Paul Newberry Aug. 10, 2022 01:38 PM EDT
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — Kyle Pitts likes to set goals. He's not much

FILE - Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross gestures at the end of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, on Oct. 24, 2021, in Miami Gardens, Fla. The NFL has suspended Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross and fined him $1.5 million for tampering with Tom Brady and Sean Payton following a six-month investigation stemming from Brian Flores' racial discrimination lawsuit against the league. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, FIle)
Column: NFL lets bad boy owners get off with slap on wrist

By Paul Newberry Aug. 05, 2022 04:20 PM EDT
After Donald Sterling's racist ramblings were exposed to the world, the NBA moved

Houston Texans quarterback Davis Mills (10) throws a pass during an NFL football training camp practice Friday, July 29, 2022, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Column: Heady times for the NFL's bottom feeders

By Paul Newberry Jul. 29, 2022 06:02 PM EDT
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — These are giddy times in Atlanta and Houston.