Tag: Atlanta

Raheem Morris says CB Darqueze Dennard is close to returning

Morris said Dennard is “getting close” to coming back, as reported by Jason Butt of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The Atlanta Falcons’ secondary has gotten very few breaks this season, but things could be looking up. Head coach Raheem Morris gave an update on the status of nickel CB Darqueze Dennard, who’s eligible to return this week from the injured reserve list after sitting out the previous three games.

Morris said Dennard is “getting close” to coming back, as reported by Jason Butt of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution below.

Prior to leaving the Falcons’ Week 3 loss to the Chicago Bears with a hamstring injury, Dennard was playing well. He had just come down with a potentially game-sealing interception, but exited the game before the Bears came back to win.

Dennard would be a welcome addition to Atlanta’s secondary, which has been getting healthier in recent weeks. We’ll see if he can practice this week in preparation for Sunday’s matchup with the Detroit Lions (2-3).

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Notre Dame recruiting ranking update after Thomas commitment

So how did the addition of Notre Dame’s second four-star wide receiver in a week and third of the class effect their overall ranking in the eyes of the recruiting experts?

Notre Dame received more good news on the recruiting front on Friday when four-star wide receiver Jayden Thomas of Pace Academy in Atlanta announced his commitment to the Fighting Irish.

So how did the addition of Notre Dame’s second four-star wide receiver in a week and third of the class effect their overall ranking in the eyes of the recruiting experts?

247Sports:  9th

Notre Dame is up two spots to number nine after checking in just outside the top ten at 11 on Tuesday after the Deion Colzie commitment earlier in the week.  Notre Dame leap-frogged both Michigan and Miami to move into the ninth overall spot.

Rivals:  10th

Notre Dame sneaks into the top ten in the Rivals rankings as well, moving past Miami for that tenth spot.  The Irish are also right on the heels of ninth ranked and traditional powerhouse Clemson in these.

ESPN – 11th – Have not updated rankings since Thomas commitment.

For more information on Notre Dame’s 2021 recruiting class be sure to meet all 19 current commitments!

Javier Aguirre podría dirigir al Atlanta de la MLS

Tras su mal desempeño durante el torneo especial MLS is Back, el director técnico del Atlanta United, Frank de Boer, fue cesado. Ahora, el equipo de la MLS está en busca de un nuevo técnico que lo dirija y la solución podría ser Javier Aguirre. …

Tras su mal desempeño durante el torneo especial MLS is Back, el director técnico del Atlanta United, Frank de Boer, fue cesado. Ahora, el equipo de la MLS está en busca de un nuevo técnico que lo dirija y la solución podría ser Javier Aguirre.

“Tiene una alta opinión de la MLS, le gusta el juego de presión hacia la ofensiva, que fue un sello distintivo del equipo de (Gerardo) Martino en Atlanta United y puede ser una mano firme para un club que quiere una”, publicó la MLS en su sitio web.

Nada es seguro aún. Desde España reportan que el Getafe también ha compartido su interés en el técnico mexicano. Además, Aguirre no es la única opción para Atlanta. Entre los contendientes se ha hablado también de los argentinos Mauricio Pochettino y Gabriel Heinze, y de Aitor Karanka, así como Domenec Torrent.

Como podrán ver, el equipo de la MLS tiene de dónde escoger, aunque sin duda nos daría gusto ver más mexicanos en el equipo, tanto dentro como fuera de la cancha.

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Lou Williams in 10-day quarantine, will miss opener vs. Lakers

The Clippers guard will have to quarantine for 10 days after being spotted at Magic City strip club in Atlanta during his absence.

We now have our first official case of missed games for chicken wings in NBA history. Los Angeles Clippers guard Lou Williams started a 10-day quarantine at the NBA’s Disney World Campus on Saturday, which will keep him out of the Clippers first two seeding games, including Thursday’s opening night game against LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers, according to ESPN’s Malika Andrews.

Not only will Williams miss the first game on July 30, but it’s also highly likely that he will miss the Clippers second game of the restart, against Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans. According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, the two missed games will cost Williams close to $150k in salary.

It was reported on Saturday night that the NBA was investigating Williams activities while away from the team on an excused absence. Rapper Jack Harlow posted a photo of them together, each wearing coronavirus masks, including Williams wearing an NBA-branded mask, in an undisclosed location, which later turned out to be the famed Magic City strip club in Atlanta. Williams is a big fan of their wings and even has a signature flavor, but given that Georgia, like much of the country is in a pandemic, it shouldn’t be a shock that Williams has to have a longer quarantine than others returning to the bubble after excused absences.

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2020 season countdown – 83 days until Georgia Football

Only 83 more days until Georgia football kicks-off versus Virginia in Atlanta

#83 – Jeb Blazevich

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

There are 74 days before return of college football and 83 days until Georgia kicks-off versus Virginia in Atlanta on Sept. 7.

Former Georgia tight end Jeb Blazevich played for the Bulldogs from 2014-2017, contributing heavily as a run-blocker and short yardage security blanket. In 54 games played, the Charlotte, North Carolina native caught 41 passes for 501 yards and three touchdowns. Blazevich was a pivotal leader of  Georgia’s 2017 National Championship run.

Pair of Notre Dame Greats Among College Football HOF Finalists

Notre Dame has the most players enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame and may be getting a pair more this year. Find out more here!

No school has more College Football Hall of Famers than Notre Dame with 44.

USC checks in second with 30, Michigan third with 25 and Ohio State has seen 23 enshrined.

Now Notre Dame has a chance to add a couple more names to that list as two former Irish greats are among the 2020 College Football Hall of Fame finalists that were announced on Tuesday.

Bob Golic starred at linebacker for the Irish from 1975-78 and to this day has the second most tackles in Notre Dame football history with 479.  His 26 tackles against Michigan in 1978 remain the most ever by an Irish player in a single game.  Golic helped Notre Dame to a national championship in 1977 and returned to become a unanimous First-Team All-American and Lombardi Award finalist in 1978.  Golic played for the Patriots, Browns and Oilers during his NFL career that spanned from 1979-1992, earning three Pro Bowl appearances along the way.

Legendary Notre Dame offensive lineman Aaron Taylor is the other finalist.  Taylor was the best member of a road-grading offensive line on the ’92 and ’93 teams, earning All-American honors both seasons and winning the Lombardi Award in ’93.  He helped guide Notre Dame to four straight bowl games and nearly capped his college career with a 1993 national championship before being selected in the first round of the 1994 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers.

Raghib “Rocket” Ismail is the most recent Notre Dame player to earn selection into the College Football Hall of Fame, doing so in the 2019 class.

For the criteria for Hall of Fame consideration, click ahead…

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Matt Ryan joins ESPN to talk about Atlanta community fundraiser

Last week, Atlanta’s former MVP QB created a GoFundMe aimed at advancing the lives of the black community, and donated $500,000 to help kick things off.

Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan is one of several white quarterbacks to speak out in wake of the protests surrounding the death of George Floyd. While others shared social media posts, supporting black communities, Ryan went a step further.

Last week, Atlanta’s former MVP QB created a GoFundMe aimed at advancing the lives of the black community, and donated $500,000 to help kick things off. Ryan’s fundraiser has raised $1.2 million in total thus far.

ESPN’s Outside The Lines program had Ryan on as a guest to talk about his fund and why it was important for him to get involved. Check out the segment below, as shared by OTL’s Jeremy Schaap.

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Matt Ryan thanks those who have donated to his Atlanta fundraiser

Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan started a GoFundMe last week to help advance the lives of Atlanta’s black community.

Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan started a GoFundMe last week to help advance the lives of Atlanta’s black community. In just a few days, the fundraiser has already brought in over $1.1 million.

Ryan’s goal is to reach $2 million in donations, and that looks to be within reach after just a few days. The outpouring of support has been overwhelming to Ryan, who posted a heartfelt thank you on social media.

Check out his full statement below:

https://www.facebook.com/MRyan02/photos/a.1002066726565534/2649283008510556/?type=3&theater

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Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Sunday’s Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway sports betting odds and lines, with NASCAR analysis, picks and tips.

The NASCAR Cup Series heads to Atlanta Motor Speedway for the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500. The green flag drops Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on FOX. Below, we analyze the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 odds and betting lines, with NASCAR picks and tips with odds from BetMGM sportsbook.

Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500: What you need to know

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Friday, June 5 at 6:05 p.m. ET.

Penske Racing’s Brad Keselowski (+800) is the defending winner of this race, and he picked up checkers last season after starting from the 19th position.

  • The past three winners of the NASCAR Cup Series race in Atlanta have been in a Ford, with the three previous winners in a Chevrolet. A Toyota hasn’t been to Victory Lane in Atlanta since the AdvoCare 500 in 2013 when Kyle Busch (+650) raced to the win.
  • Hendrick Motorsports driver Chase Elliott (+600) has drawn the pole position, as starting spots 1-12 were a random draw from charter teams in those positions in team owner points.
  • The pole sitter hasn’t won in Atlanta in 18 Cup races dating back to Kasey Kahne (now retired) when he won the Golden Corral 500 in his Dodge March 20, 2006.
  • Four of the past six winners in Atlanta have started in position No. 10 or lower in the starting grid.
  • Stewart-Haas Racing driver Kevin Harvick (+450) leads all active drivers with 1,197 laps led in Atlanta. The next closest competitor is Ganassi’s Kurt Busch (+1600) with 802.

Who is going to win the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500?

While a pole sitter hasn’t hoisted the trophy in Atlanta since 2006, ELLIOTT (+600) is always a good choice. He has been running very consistently since the restart of the season and has been in contention for every race since the return.

Elliott leads all active drivers with a 10.5 Average-Finish Position (AFP) in four starts in Atlanta, posting a top-5 run and three top-10 finishes. He has never ended up lower than 19th at the track.

KURT BUSCH (+1600) has three wins under his belt in Atlanta, while turning in seven top-5 showings and 14 top-10 runs in 28 career starts. Plus, he has a strong 14.9 AFP along with those 802 laps led. Father Time isn’t catching up with the veteran – he turns 42 in August – especially as far as Atlanta in concerned, as he leads all drivers with a 6.9 AFP across the past 10 starts at the track. That includes finishes of fourth, seventh, eighth and third over the past four runs.

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KESELOWSKI (+800) is running with a lot of confidence, and is the defending champ of this race. He also won last week at Bristol for his second victory in the past three races. And remember, Ford has been to Victory Lane in each of the past three Atlanta runs, so …

Atlanta Motor Speedway prop bets

KURT BUSCH (-125) is almost a near certainty to finish INSIDE THE TOP 10, so play that. In addition, take the elder BUSCH (-115) over Jimmie Johnson in a head-to-head, best finishing position prop.

Another strong head-to-head play is ARIC ALMIROLA (-115) over Matt DiBenedetto. Almirola hasn’t exactly lit the track afire, but DiBenedetto just has never been able to figure the place out. In four Cup starts, DiBenedetto is 29th, 28th, 31st and 26th.

Atlanta Motor Speedway long-shot bets

Ol’ wily veteran MATT KENSETH (+6000) of Ganassi Racing is worth a roll of the dice here. He has never won in 29 tries in Atlanta, but has turned in 11 top 5s, 17 top 10s and he has led 363 laps in his career. He has an 11.93 AFP, best among all active drivers with at least five starts at the venerable, bumpy track.

If you’re looking for a REAL long shot to bet on, try DANIEL SUAREZ (+50000). He has three Cup starts under his belt in Atlanta, finishing 21st in his debut in 2017, 15th in 2018 and 10th in 2019. Of course, he is now in a more inferior machine, racing for Gaunt Brothers Racing in the No. 96 Toyota rather than his previous years with JGR and one season with SHR, thus the extremely long odds. But hey, it’s worth a $1 bet.

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WATCH: Mayor of Atlanta gives message to Falcons players

Falcons coach Dan Quinn hosted a special guest speaker earlier this week when the Mayor of Atlanta, Keisha Bottoms, joined him for a video chat with the team.

Good NFL coaches find ways to make their playbooks and concepts simple enough for young players to understand. During the 2020 offseason quarantine, coaches have had to work even harder to keep the team engaged.

Falcons coach Dan Quinn hosted a special guest speaker earlier this week when the Mayor of Atlanta, Keisha Bottoms, joined him for a video chat with the team.

She talked about what the players could do to help with everything that’s going on in the Atlanta community. Watch below, courtesy of the Falcons’ Twitter account.

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