ILLUSTRATED ATLANTA FALCONS NEWS, ANALYSIS, AND MORE BY JEREMY BRENER SPORTS UPDATED at 2:01 PM on March 5, 2024 MAR 5: PANTHERS CUT HURST One of the veteran players who was a member of the Atlanta Falcons is leaving the Carolina Panthers. When the new league year starts, the Panthers will remove tight end Hayden Hurst, according to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport. Hurst, 30, spent 2020–21 as a player for the Falcons. Hurst’s return is still up in the air, but the Falcons may try to consider it as a backup tight end option since Atlanta needs one after cutting Jonnu Smith. EVANS MAR 4 STAYS WITH BUCS Mike Evans will still see the Atlanta Falcons twice a year. Evans is being signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a two-year, $52 million contract ahead of free agency, according to NFL Network insider Mike Garafolo. Evan Evans has caught 92 catches for 1,407 yards and 11 touchdowns in 18 career games versus the Falcons. MAR 3. AT 72, CHRIS MORTENSEN DIES One of the most reputable reporters in the NFL has passed away, and the league is in sorrow. On Sunday, Chris Mortensen of ESPN went away. His age was seventy-two. BOOKING CONTENT 2024 BetMGM Bonus Code MCBET $150 Bonus Bet Offer ENDS AT 7:18 PM ON MARCH 4, 2024 The Best New York Sports Betting Apps: NY Betting Apps (March 2024) 5:00 PM on FEBRUARY 29, 2024 $1000 First Bet Offer with Caesars Sportsbook Promo Code MCBET1000 2024 JANUARY 22 AT 7:31 P.M. Top US Sports Betting Websites ranked as of March 2024 APRIL 29, 2024, AT 4:54 P.M. Prior to beginning his career at ESPN in 1991, Mortensen covered the Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Falcons, and the league as a whole as a reporter for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution from 1983 to 1990. MAR 1. CALEB WILLIAMS HAS A FAVORITE BIRD The Atlanta Falcons are expected to select eighth overall, but they are willing to move up to acquire a quarterback because they are in dire need of one. During his Friday interview at the NFL Combine, Caleb Williams was questioned about his meeting with the Falcons. Williams declared, “I’ll be there if they trade up.” The NFL Draft in 2024 is scheduled for April 25–27. 28. FALCONS MEET WITH WORLD-CLASS QBs Ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft, the Atlanta Falcons are getting to see some of the greatest names. The Falcons were among the clubs that visited with North Carolina’s Drake Maye and LSU’s Jayden Daniels during the Combine, according to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport. Caleb Williams of USC is expected to go first on the quarterback draft board, followed by both quarterbacks. In the April draft, the Falcons are expected to select at No. 8, but they might have to move up to choose Daniels or Maye. NFL SETS SALARY CAP for February 23 The NFL is experiencing a business boom, which is evident in the increase in the wage cap this year. The league is raising the salary cap to $255.4 million, up slightly over $30 million from the previous year, according to NFL Network source Tom Pelissero. As a result, the Atlanta Falcons have little more than $41 million in cap space, per Spotrac. FEB 20: RAMS TO RAGONE A well-known figure from the Atlanta Falcons is joining the coaching staff of the Los Angeles Rams. Dave Ragone, the former offensive coordinator for the Falcons, is being hired by the Rams to coach quarterbacks, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The fact that Ragone was hired essentially seals the deal between him and Zac Robinson, the new offensive coordinator for the Falcons and the former quarterback coach of the Rams in 2023. Mike Davis Retires on February 19 Mike Davis, a former running back for the Atlanta Falcons, is hanging up his cleats and blowing out candles. After eight NFL seasons, Davis, who turns 31 today, announced his retirement on social media. In 16 games for the Falcons in 2021, Davis ran for 3 touchdowns and 473 yards on the ground. In addition, he was a player for the Baltimore Ravens, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears, and Carolina Panthers. FEB 16: NFC South Champion Falcons are predicted to win Fox Sports pundit Colin Cowherd predicts that in 2024, the Atlanta Falcons will win an NFC South championship, something they haven’t done since 2016. “I think they get a veteran [quarterback] in there for a couple of years, and Atlanta wins kind of a weak division.” Falcons supporters are hoping Cowherd is correct, as it would mean Atlanta will make it back to the postseason for the first time since 2017. FULTON KUYKENDALL DIES ON FEB. 15 Fulton Kuykendall, a former linebacker for the Atlanta Falcons and a legend in the organization, passed away at the age of 70, the team announced. The Falcons released a statement saying, “We are deeply saddened by the passing of Grits Blitz member and Falcons legend, Fulton Kuykendall.” “His family is in our prayers and thoughts.” Kuykendall played for the Falcons for ten years after being selected in the sixth round of the 1975 NFL Draft. During his 123 games, he started 93 of them. He retired in 1985 after playing for the San Francisco 49ers to end his career. COMING FEBRUARY 15: ATLANTA SUPER BOWL? The Atlanta Falcons’ home stadium, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, hasn’t hosted a Super Bowl in five years. However, the stadium might be able to host once more. Pro Football Talk speculates that the Falcons might host a Super Bowl in 2028 or 2029. The cities of New Orleans, Santa Clara, and Los Angeles have already been chosen to host the Super Bowl in 2025–2027, but Atlanta may return to the discussion before the end of the decade. SUPER BOWL ODDS FOR FEB. 12 Another NFL season has come to a conclusion with the Super Bowl. However, that implies that it’s time to turn our attention to the upcoming one. The Atlanta Falcons, who are ranked 18th in the NFL alongside the Chicago Bears and Indianapolis Colts, have +5000 chances to win Super Bowl LIX in a year according to ESPN BET. After the New Orleans Saints (+7500), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+7500), and Carolina Panthers (+25000), the Falcons have the highest odds in the NFC South. Feb. 11: The 49ers of Shanahan win the Super Bowl. Kyle Shanahan, the former coach of the Atlanta Falcons, still has the upper hand. In Super Bowl LVIII, Shanahan guided the San Francisco 49ers to an overtime triumph of 25–22 over the Kansas City Chiefs. In 2016, Shanahan served as Atlanta’s offensive coordinator and had his last coaching position with the Falcons. The squad made it to the Super Bowl, but the New England Patriots defeated them in overtime. He still doesn’t have a ring now. VICK AT CHIEFS PRACTICE ON FEB. 10 Coach Andy Reid invited a former quarterback of his before the Kansas City Chiefs’ final practice before their Super Bowl matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. According to NBC Sports writer Peter King, Michael Vick, who played for the Philadelphia Eagles and Atlanta Falcons under Reid, paid the Chiefs a visit during their Friday practice. Vick was never the recipient of a Super Bowl ring, but maybe his knowledge and experience will help the Chiefs defeat the 49ers. On CBS, the Chiefs and 49ers game is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. ET. FEB. 5 SUPER BOWL WORKING MATT RYAN This will be Matt Ryan’s first Super Bowl appearance in seven years. Ryan is scheduled to appear on the CBS coverage of Sunday’s Super Bowl between the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs in Las Vegas, according to D. Orlando Ledbetter of the AJC. Ryan is nearing the end of his first season with the network as a broadcaster. COMMANDERS HIRE DAN QUINN FEBRUARY 1 An ex-player of the Atlanta Falcons is the NFL’s final head coach appointment. Dan Quinn, a former Falcons coach, is being hired by the Commanders, according to NFL Network source Ian Rapoport. From 2015 to 2016, Quinn led the Falcons to the Super Bowl as their coach. He was the Dallas Cowboys’ defensive coordinator for the previous three seasons. At some point, Quinn will get the chance to captain his new Commanders squad against the Falcons. point in 2024.
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