Falcons' Matt Ryan Donating $500K in Support of Atlanta's Black Community
Jun 5, 2020
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) warms up before the first half of an NFL football game between the Atlanta Falcons and the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Amis)
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan announced Friday that he is donating $500,000 to aid Atlanta's black community.
According to ESPN's Vaughn McClure, Ryan said the following regarding the donation:
"Last week I made a commitment to listening and learning, and one of the messages that hit home for me was the difference between reacting to a situation and responding to a situation. For far too long, I have reacted to social injustice with empathy and silent support but failed to follow through with active support. I feel the time has come to RESPOND. For ALL of us to respond.
"I see my city hurting, which is why I'm starting a fundraiser to help improve conditions for people of color in the city of Atlanta. ... Over the next few weeks, months I'm going to listen to the needs of the black community and get guidance on how I can be most impactful. I'm going to get input from local grassroots organizations as well as community leaders who are committed to making change."
Per McClure, Ryan set up a GoFundMe page for advancing lives in the black community of Atlanta with an overall donation goal of $2 million.
Ryan is one of several NFL players who have spoken out amid widespread protests against police brutality and racial injustice following the killing of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis on May 25.
Floyd died after Officer Derek Chauvin kept his knee pressed against the back of Floyd's neck for nearly nine minutes while he was facedown on the ground in handcuffs. Floyd told Chauvin he couldn't breathe several times, but Chauvin never eased the pressure, and Floyd was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
Chauvin was subsequently fired, arrested andcharged withsecond-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. The other three officers on the scene were charged with aiding and abetting.
Since Floyd's death, there have been protests against racial inequality, social injustice and police brutality in major cities across the United States, including Atlanta.
The 35-year-old Ryan has spent his entire 12-year NFL career with the Falcons after they selected him third overall out of Boston College in the 2008 draft.
Ryan is a four-time Pro Bowler, one-time first-team All-Pro and one-time NFL MVP. He also led the Falcons to the Super Bowl at the conclusion of the 2016 season.
As of Friday morning, theGoFundMeset up by Ryan had raised nearly $508,000 of the $2 million goal.
The Super Bowl window is a fleeting thing in the NFL. Some teams rarely open it enough to make it happen. Others, such as the Jacksonville Jaguars recently, have a variety of factors slam the window shut quickly...
The NFL is a passing league. That remains true even as dual-threat quarterbacks and run-heavy offenses continue to rise in popularity. A team that can reliably strike deep and do so quickly is always going to have a chance to win on game day...
Matt Ryan on Tom Brady Joining Bucs: NFC South Will Be 'A Battle Every Week'
May 19, 2020
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan, left, and New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, right, speak at midfield after an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
The addition of Tom Brady makes the Tampa Bay Buccaneers a much scarier opponent for the NFC South, meaning the division will be even tougher going into 2020.
"It didn't get any easier in our division, for sure," Ryan said (h/t Riley Gates of 247Sports). "They're solid. Tampa's defense was really tough. They add Tom, who's such a consistent and great player. The division's going to be a battle every week."
The Falcons don't face the Buccaneers until Week 15 and then again in Week 17.
"It's tough but I think any time you get those division games late in the year, it gives you a chance to either make up ground, or separate yourself," Ryan added. "That's what we're going to need to do that time of the year."
The Buccaneers have gone 12 straight seasons without a playoff berth, but adding Brady gives the team a quarterback who has won 11 division titles in a row with the New England Patriots. He has six Super Bowl championships, including one win over Ryan and the Falcons.
According toCaesars Casino, Tampa Bay has 12-1 odds to win a title this season, while the Falcons are listed at 60-1. With the New Orleans Saints already coming off a 13-3 season in 2019 and the Carolina Panthers adding Teddy Bridgewater in the offseason, the NFC South could be especially deep.
Meanwhile, the Falcons will need to improve after back-to-back 7-9 seasons.
Atlanta did end the year on a high note with six wins in the final eight games, but Ryan knows the improvements around the division will put more pressure on him.
"In terms of what we need to do offensively, we're obviously going to have to score some points," he said Tuesday. "There's some great offenses in our division. We've got to focus on that, going out week-in and week-out, finding ways to get touchdowns when we get in the red area."
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April 6: What to Watch in Sports This Week When There Are No Sports This Week
Apr 6, 2020
FILE - In this April 14, 2019, file photo, Tiger Woods smiles as he wears his green jacket after winning the Masters golf tournament in Augusta, Ga. Fourteen years after his last Masters win and 11 years after his last major, after fighting through chronic back problems, multiple surgeries, a bout with painkillers and long after just about everybody had written him off, Woods claimed his fifth green jacket. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)
Monday was supposed to be a big day in the sports calendar. The NCAA men's basketball national championship game was scheduled to take place in Atlanta. And elsewhere in Georgia, Monday was to be the start of Masters Week in Augusta, where Tiger Woods was to return and defend his remarkable win from 2019. Alas, there will be no such events, but sports networks are making sure to fill the void with replays of classics from each of those tournaments.
What's On
Masters Week Coverage
We'll start with some breaking news from Augusta National on Monday morning: There may be a Masters in 2020 after all.
Statement from Chairman Ridley:
"We have identified Nov 9-15 as the intended dates to host the 2020 Masters. We hope the anticipation of staging the Tournament brings a moment of joy to the Augusta community and those who love the game."
Still, in what would have been the week of the 2020 Masters and Tiger Woods' title defense, networks are collecting some of the tournament's best moments to air throughout the week (all times ET).
Next weekend on CBS, we’re bringing you the Final Rounds of two iconic tournaments in Masters history: Phil Mickelson’s first Masters win in 2004 and Tiger’s return to glory in 2019. pic.twitter.com/h1W4HqCBVq
Watch a feature special on a pair of golf legends, The Masters: Jack and Arnie!, followed by highlights from The Masters in 1975.
Saturday at 2:30 p.m.
2004 Masters final round: Phil Mickelson's first major win
Sunday at 12:30 p.m.
2019 Masters final round: Tiger Woods breaks his major drought and earns his fourth green jacket.
ESPN
Wednesday
1986 Masters final round, 3 p.m.: Jack Nicklaus's sixth and final Masters win and 18th and final major championship.
Thursday
2012 Masters final round, 2 p.m.: Bubba Watson's first of two Green Jackets
1997 Masters final round, 7:30 p.m.: Tiger's first Masters win
Friday
2013 Masters final round, noon: Adam Scott defeats Angel Cabrera in a playoff.
2005 Masters final round, 6 p.m.: Tiger wins again, with the help of his iconic chip-in on hole No. 16.
Golf Channel
Monday-Wednesday 5-7 p.m.
Celebrate Masters week with Masters highlights from a different year each evening.
More to Watch
ESPN
Monday at 8 p.m.
Monday Night Football replay: 2006 New Orleans Saints vs. Atlanta Falcons in first game at the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina
Congratulations to @TeamGleason on being awarded a Congressional Gold Medal!
Back in 2006, Gleason's punt block in the @Saints' first game back in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina became recognized as a symbol of the city's resilience and rebirth. pic.twitter.com/YKZsHFOqoW
2013 NBA Finals: Miami Heat vs. San Antonio Spurs Games 6 and 7: Ray Allen's clutch three-pointer and Miami's stunning comeback in Game 6, with San Antonio minutes away from the title. Then the thrilling down-to-the-wire Game 7.
NBA 2K Players Tournament: Play continues live after the first round of action over the weekend cut the field in half. Highlights included No. 16 seed Derrick Jones Jr. taking out top-seeded Kevin Durant, Patrick Beverley beating Hassan Whiteside by 30, and Trae Young beating Harrison Barnes by 42. Players who used the Milwaukee Bucks went 4-0 on the weekend. Here's how the bracket stands going into tomorrow night:
2020 College Football Playoff National Championship Game, LSU vs. Clemson: Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow punctuates one of the best seasons in college football history with another dominant performance to dethrone the defending champions and lift his Tigers to the title.
CBS Sports Network
Monday starting at 7 p.m.
On what would have been Championship Monday, relive the 2019 NCAA Final Four and National Championship Game: Virginia vs. Auburn, Texas Tech vs. Michigan State and then Virginia vs. Texas Tech for the title
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 9, 2019
Saturday: Classic NCAA title games all day
Noon: 1982, North Carolina vs. Georgetown
2 p.m.: 1983, North Carolina State vs. Houston
4 p.m.: 1985, Villanova vs. Georgetown
8 p.m.: 1997, Kentucky vs. Arizona
TNT
Thursday at 9 p.m.
Shaq Life: Watch the premiere episode of a new docuseries exploring NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal's ventures away from basketball. Follow Shaq as a father, DJ, entrepreneur and more, like training with UFC fighters for an MMA bout. Read more about the show here.
Super Bowl Classics: Full replays of some of the best title games in NFL history
NBATV
Every day at 8 p.m.
Hardwood Classics: The greatest games in NBA and WNBA history with commentary and interviews
Best of B/R Live
Featured Event of the Day
Monday: LFCTV: Liverpool's Sound
Tuesday: Classic Champions League, Barcelona vs. PSG Leg 2, 2017
Wednesday: 2019 Champions League final, Liverpool vs. Tottenham
Thursday: 2011 Classic Champions League final, Barcelona vs. Manchester United
Friday: National Lacrosse League featured game, Halifax Thunderbirds vs. Toronto Rock, Jan. 31, 2020
Saturday: MUTV, All the Goals: Cristiano Ronaldo
Sunday: AEW Dynamite replays (Dynamite is also continuing behind closed doors, live each Wednesday at 8 p.m. on TNT)
Latest League Updates, Schedules, Status
Wimbledon canceled
For the first time since World War II, tennis's third major will not be played at the All England Club. This announcement leaves only the U.S. Open and the rescheduled French Open, currently scheduled to be played within a week of each other this fall, as the last two Grand Slams of the 2020 tennis season.
The 2020 Wimbledon tournament has been canceled for the first time since WW2.
After reports last week that postponement or cancellation was under consideration, the R&A officially announced that The Open Championship is canceled for 2020 and will next be played at Royal St. George's in 2021.
It is with a heavy heart that we have to cancel The Open for the first time since WWII. We appreciate that this will be disappointing for a great many people but we have to act responsibly during this pandemic and it is the right thing to do. Statement: https://t.co/brJfuOZSFPpic.twitter.com/iizOupOk4m
The Belgian Pro League ended its season last week with one match left before its playoffs began. Club Brugge, which had a 15-point lead, was crowned the champion.
The Belgian Pro League board has proposed the immediate conclusion of the country's football season, per @HLN_BE.
It would make Belgium the first European country to officially end its top-flight season, and crown Club Brugge champions. pic.twitter.com/6occYGrSYU
England's top flight announced Friday that play will not resume as intended at the beginning of May and will not do so at all until it is safe for everyone. Read the full announcement here.
The Premier League’s overriding priority is to aid the health and wellbeing of the nation and our communities. The 2019/20 season will only return when it is safe and appropriate to do so.
Lakers and Nets players cleared; Marcus Smart donating blood plasma
All players on the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers who tested positive for coronavirus have been cleared, as has Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart, who announced he will donate his blood to help doctors develop treatments for the virus.
Marcus Smart to donate blood plasma to the National COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma Project for research on potential coronavirus treatment, per @ShamsCharaniapic.twitter.com/O0Y4Vqj644
The New England Patriots team plan made its most important road trip ever this week.
The Patriots’ team plane helped transport over 1 million N95 masks from China for health care workers in Massachusetts during the coronavirus pandemic 🙏
After originally seeming to pull out of the event due to travel restrictions and uncertainty over where the event will take place, Khabib Nurmagomedov has said he's still open to fighting; he just needs to know where to go and if he'll be able to get there from Russia. UFC 249 is still scheduled to go on April 18.
Khabib Nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) saying he never said he was out of 249, he just isn’t going to fly anywhere when he doesn’t know where he’s flying to. He also doesn’t believe getting out of Russia is as simple as others suggest. pic.twitter.com/pf5RSiwemG
Sabrina Ionescu and Obi Toppin have been named the Naismith Players of the Year for women's and men's college basketball. Also, South Carolina women's head coach Dawn Staley was named Coach of the Year, making her the first person, men's or women's, to win Naismith Player of the Year and Coach of the Year.
Part of the new NFL playoff format, in which will include seven teams from each conference instead of six, one CBS game will also be simulcast on Nickelodeon in a broadcast designed for kids.
Falcons' Matt Ryan Donates $100K Toward Coronavirus Relief Efforts
Mar 17, 2020
PEBBLE BEACH, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 07: Matt Ryan of the Atlanta Falcons plays a shot on the fourth hole during the second round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am at Monterey Peninsula Country Club on February 07, 2020 in Pebble Beach, California. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan announced a $100,000 donation to help needy citizens in Atlanta amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The donation will send $50,000 each to the Atlanta Community Food Bank and the Giving Kitchen, the latter of which provides assistance to food service workers.
“Obviously there’s a ton of stuff going on right now with a lot of areas that need a lot of help, and we certainly have a lot of friends in the restaurant and food industry here in Atlanta," Ryan told ESPN's Vaughn McClure. "We felt like [Giving Kitchen] is a unique and cool organization that has helped different restaurants, people in that industry. We thought it would create awareness for one of the industries that’s going to struggle during this time.
"The Atlanta food bank is obviously another organization that does a great job. Certainly, there is a great need for funding there. It made sense for us to try and make a small impact."
Several athletes have found a way to help communities in their respective cities as businesses shut down in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. The NBA, NHL and MLB have indefinitely postponed their seasons, and President Donald Trump recommended limiting gatherings to no more than 10 people Monday.
The economic impact of the outbreak has been swift, with the stock market rapidly declining over concerns about the long and short-term impact the disease will have on businesses. Many part-time workers and those without the ability to work from home will be forced to go without a paycheck for an indeterminate period, so donations like Ryan's will go toward helping those most in need.
Roddy White Questions Critics Who Say Falcons Should Move on from Matt Ryan
Mar 15, 2020
Former Atlanta Falcons player Roddy White speaks during a Falcons Ring of Honor ceremony during half time of an NFL football game between the Atlanta Falcons and the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Some Atlanta Falcons fans and critics are clamoring for the team to part ways with quarterback Matt Ryan, but former Falcons wide receiver Roddy White is not joining the chorus.
"That's crazy," White told TMZ Sports at Los Angeles International Airport. "Because, at this point in his career, he own every record for a quarterback up to this point. ... Passing yards, completion percentage, all that stuff. So for people to say that, man, that's just crazy to me, man. Move on for what? What you gonna move on to?"
White retired from the NFL in April 2017 after playing his entire career with the Falcons from 2005 to '15. Ryan had been his quarterback since 2008.
Atlanta drafted Ryan third overall in 2008. To White's point, the 34-year-old is the franchise'sall-time leaderin passing yards (51,186) and passing touchdowns (321). Ryan is also the Falcons' all-time winningest quarterback at 109-80.
His best statistical season came in 2016, when he threw for 4,944 yards, 38 touchdowns and seven interceptions as the Falcons went 11-5. The Boston College product was named MVP before Atlanta infamously gave up a 28-3 lead in Super Bowl LI to devastatingly lose to the New England Patriots 34-28.
Last season was rough in Atlanta. En route to finishing 7-9 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year, drama surrounded the Falcons. Head coach Dan Quinn continually had his job status questioned, and free safety Ricardo Allen said players lacked "accountability" during the team's six-game losing streak.
Per sources:
Julio Jones, in the locker room following the loss to the Rams, raised his hand while HC Dan Quinn was addressing the team, asked to talk and then gave an emotional speech:
Ryan, meanwhile, recorded 4,466 yards, 26 touchdowns and 14 picks on a league-high 408 completions across 15 starts. He missed one game in October with anankle injury.
The FalconssignedRyan to a five-year, $150 million extension in May 2018. He isn't scheduled to hit free agency until 2024—when he will be 39 years old—though there is a potential out in 2022.
Atlanta owns the 16th overall pick in the 2020 draft, and there are much more glaring needs to address on the roster than quarterback. Bleacher Report'sMatt Millerprojected the team to take South Carolina defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw in his latest mock draft.
Falcons' Julio Jones on Drafting Tua: We Have Our Franchise QB; It's Matt Ryan
Jan 11, 2020
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) and Julio Jones (11) during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones seemingly has no interest in his team selecting a quarterback early in the 2020 NFL draft.
During an interview with TMZ Sports, Jones was asked about LSU quarterback Joe Burrow and Alabama signal-caller Tua Tagovailoa and whether the Falcons should consider taking one of them if they are on the board midway through the first round:
"We've got our franchise quarterback there in Matt Ryan," Jones said.
It seems likely that Burrow will be picked No. 1 overall by the Cincinnati Bengals after he won the Heisman Trophy this season, but Tagovailoa's status isn't so certain after he suffered multiple ankle injuries and a season-ending hip injury.
Taking trades out of the equation, Tagovailoa could be selected as early as fifth overall by the Miami Dolphins, but because of the red flags regarding his health, perhaps he will still be there for the Falcons at 16th overall.
Atlanta has finished a disappointing 7-9 in each of the past two seasons, but there is reason for optimism entering 2020, as the Falcons ended 2019 on a four-game winning streak and won six of their final eight games.
Ryan, a four-time Pro Bowler and the 2016 MVP, finished with 4,466 passing yards and 26 touchdowns, though he did throw 14 interceptions, which were his most since 2015.
Matty Ice also helped Jones have another huge year, as the latter registered 99 receptions for 1,394 yards and six touchdowns in 15 games.
Both will be back in 2020, and head coach Dan Quinn was retained as well, which suggests the Falcons are looking to win now rather than rebuild.
Atlanta does have to start thinking about its future at quarterback since Ryan will be 35 in May, but he is still playing at a high level, and the Falcons would likely be better served by using their first-round pick to address a defense that ranked 23rd in points allowed this season.
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) greets New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas (13) after a touchdown in the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals in New Orleans, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Bill Feig)
For gamblers, Week 17 of the 2019 NFL season could be construed as a winter wonderland, a barren wasteland or anything in between.
Oddsmakers see some blowouts on the slate, a couple of contests that are essentially coin flips and a few with questions that need answering before point spreads can be set.
But as football fans know, Week 17 is often as unpredictable as they come. Which teams will celebrate a playoff berth or division crown, and which will spend the next several months wondering where it all went wrong? For those who've already learned their postseason fate, who's still playing for pride and who has already packed it in for winter hibernation.
We'll try to answer some of those questions below, as we lay out the latest lines from Caesars Sportsbook and zero in on three of our best bets.
Week 17 NFL Odds, Picks
Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+0) | O/U 49.5
Cleveland Browns (-3.0) at Cincinnati Bengals | O/U 45.0
Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions (no line) | O/U N/A
Los Angeles Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs (-9.0) | O/U 46.5
Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots (-16.0) | O/U 45.0
New Orleans Saints (-13.0) at Carolina Panthers | O/U 47.5
New York Jets at Buffalo Bills (-1.5) | O/U 37.0
Indianapolis Colts (-3.5) at Jacksonville Jaguars | O/U 43.5
Oakland Raiders at Denver Broncos (-3.5) | O/U 41.0
Philadelphia Eagles (-4.5) at New York Giants | O/U 45.0
Pittsburgh Steelers (-2.0) at Baltimore Ravens | O/U 38.0
Tennessee Titans (-4.0) at Houston Texans | O/U 46.0
Washington Redskins at Dallas Cowboys (-11.0) | O/U 44.5
Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings (no line) | O/U N/A
Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams (no line) | O/U N/A
San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks (no line) | O/U N/A
Week 17 Best Bets
Hammer the Over in Falcons-Buccaneers
Jameis Winston and Matt Ryan rank first and fifth, respectively, in total pass attempts. They're also second and tied for eighth, respectively, in touchdown passes.
The Bucs are third from bottom in scoring defense. The Falcons are tied for the 10th-most points allowed. Tampa has allowed the fourth-most passing yards in the league; Atlanta has yielded the 10th-most.
See where this is headed?
Neither has a reliable running game, both have dynamic pass-catchers and each quarterback is more than willing to let it fly. If any Week 17 point total is destined for the 50s, this is it.
Take the Giants and the 4.5 Points
Yes, the Eagles are objectively a more talented team. And yes, they have much more at stake. A win gives them an NFC East title. A Giants win, on the other hand, only spoils their draft position.
Guess how much that matters. Not enough for us to lay 4.5 points on an inconsistent Philly offense or against a New York attack that might finally be hitting its stride.
Let's start with the Eagles. They have a December loss to the Dolphins. They've put up 10 or fewer points in three of their last six games. They needed overtime to put away these same Giants just three weeks back, when Eli Manning was making his first start since September and Saquon Barkley had yet to regain his superpowers.
Now about New York. This team has 57 points and a pair of victories to show for the last two weeks. The fact that success came against a cream-puff schedule matters less than how this offense got going. Barkley remembered he's really good at football (422 scrimmage yards, four touchdowns in his last two games). Daniel Jones returned and promptly set the world on fire (352 passing yards, five scores and zero turnovers).
Those could be milestone moments in their development. And if they are, the Eagles should want no part of what's next.
Jones and Barkley might mess around and led New York to an outright win. Even if they don't, their combined production should be enough for the Giants to cover.
Give the 13 Points, Get the Red-Hot Saints
You may not remember this, but at one point the Panthers were 5-3. That's all but a distant memory now, though, as they've imploded amid a seven-game losing streak.
The Saints, meanwhile, are 5-2 with a plus-46 scoring differential over their last seven games. They have the NFL's best receiver in Michael Thomas, a future Hall of Famer at quarterback who's playing his best ball of the season in Drew Brees (13 touchdown passes, zero picks his last four games) and a ferocious rush defense to try and contain Christian McCaffrey.
Oh, and the third-seeded Saints have a chance to climb as high as the NFC's No. 1 seed, so Sean Payton's squad should be fully motivated to bulldoze an inferior team.
The Panthers have an interim head coach. They're onto their third different quarterback, rookie Will Grier, who threw three picks and zero scores in his Week 16 debut. Their top receiver, DJ Moore, had his Sunday cut short when he landed in the concussion protocol. The offense is basically McCaffrey-or-bust, and it's fair to wonder how heavily they'll lean on the 205-pound back when they're playing merely for draft position.
This is a giant point spread, but you shouldn't be surprised if the Saints zoom right past it.
