ATLANTA FALCONS NEWS

Receives future deal The Falcons signed Fry to a reserve/future contract Monday, Will McFadden of the team's official site reports.

Impact Fry played in one game for the Falcons in 2020, connecting on his lone field-goal attempt from 23 yards out. The 26-year-old is injury insurance for the Falcons, as Younghoe Koo is locked in as their starting kicker in 2021.

JANUARY 4, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Remains in Atlanta The Falcons signed Dortch to a reserve/future contract Monday, Will McFadden of the team's official site reports.

Impact Dortch occupied Atlanta's practice squad all year but didn't play a game. The 5-foot-7, 173-pound wideout contributed as a returner for the Panthers in two games during the 2019 season. The 22-year-old could aim for a similar role with the Falcons in 2021.

JANUARY 4, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Sticking with Falcons The Falcons signed Brooks-James to a reserve/future contract Monday, Will McFadden of the team's official site reports.

Impact Brooks-James suited up in one game for the Falcons in 2020, recording four yards on three carries. There's plenty of uncertainty regarding the Falcons' backfield heading into the 2021 season, but Brooks-James likely isn't in the mix. He'll aim to secure a special-teams role.

JANUARY 4, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Secures future contract The Falcons signed Benkert to a reserve/future contract Monday, Will McFadden of the team's official site reports.

Impact Benkert has yet to make his NFL debut since entering the league as an undrafted free agent in 2018. The 25-year-old will compete to be Matt Ryan's backup in 2021.

JANUARY 4, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

In Georgia, Pro Teams Dive Into Senate Races With Different Playbooks The W.N.B.A.’s Atlanta Dream backed a candidate for the Senate running directly against a co-owner of the team; the N.F.L.’s Atlanta Falcons...

JANUARY 4, 2021 • NYTIMES.COM

NFL Coaching Tracker

It's 'Black Monday' in the NFL. Stay up to date with all of the latest firings and hirings in the NFL coaching department.

JANUARY 4, 2021

Atlanta Falcons: Not even Deshaun Watson could come through for ATL Not even Deshaun Watson could come through for the Atlanta Falcons Not even one of the most clutch quarterbacks on the planet- from the stat...

JANUARY 4, 2021 • BLOGGINGDIRTY.COM

Early Bird Report: What we learned from Falcons’ final loss  The top Falcons headlines from around the country

JANUARY 4, 2021 • ATLANTAFALCONS.COM

Closes season with 5-for-5 effort Koo converted on field-goal tries of 22 and 21 yards while making all three of his point-after attempts during Sunday's 44-27 loss to Tampa Bay.

Impact Koo's most notable gaffe of the campaign came Week 16 when he missed a potential game-tying field goal of 39 yards in the waning seconds of a loss to the Chiefs. Otherwise, the 26-year-old enjoyed a sterling 2020 season, tying for the league lead in scoring (144 points) while earning his first career Pro Bowl nod. Koo hit on 37 of his 39 field-goal attempts this season while going 33-for-36 on PATs over his 15 appearances. Having pocketed $750,000 on his contract from this season, Koo prepares to become an unrestricted free agent in March.

JANUARY 4, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Secures TD to cap strong 2020 Hurst reeled in four of six targets for 28 yards and a touchdown during Sunday's 44-27 loss to the Buccaneers.

Impact Hurst's fourth-quarter TD catch helped reduce Atlanta's deficit to three points with 8:19 to go, as the 27-year-old tight end concluded his 2020 campaign with scores in three straight games. His 56 receptions, 571 receiving yards and six TDs all represent huge increases from previous career highs established during his first two NFL seasons in Baltimore. The Falcons have a decision to make on Hurst's fifth-year option going into the offseason, but it's hard to imagine there's another tight end on the roster capable of making equal contributions as a pass catcher.

JANUARY 4, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Closes year with inefficient outing Gurley ran for 18 yards on nine attempts while securing his only target for a 17-yard gain during Sunday's 44-27 loss to Tampa Bay.

Impact Gurley and Brian Hill split carries atop the Falcons' backfield at an even 9:9 ratio. However, Hill was far more explosive with his opportunities on the ground in generating 94 yards, albeit, largely because of a 62-yard run in the fourth quarter. Gurley's debut campaign in Atlanta did not go according to plan, as he labored to 3.5 yards per carry over 195 attempts while seeing himself get overtaken by Ito Smith (ribs) for lead RB carries down the stretch. The man largely responsible for acquiring Gurley, Thomas Dimitroff, was fired as Falcons general manager Oct. 11. The 26-year-old is set to become an unrestricted free agent at season's end, but Smith remains under contract with Atlanta for one more season.

JANUARY 4, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Composes 136-yard performance Hill registered 94 rushing yards over nine carries while corralling all three of his targets for 42 yards during Sunday's 44-27 loss to the Buccaneers.

Impact Hill's explosive outing began on his very first play from scrimmage, as the 25-year-old collected a 26-yard catch-and-run to kick off his afternoon midway through the first quarter. He wasn't done there, however, adding a 62-yard scamper on an early fourth-quarter drive that helped momentarily reduced Atlanta's deficit to three points with 8:19 to go. The Falcons couldn't overcome Tampa Bay, ultimately, but HIll ends his fourth NFL season with the second-highest single-game rushing output of his career. Hill provided an excellent 4.7 yards-per-carry average over 100 attempts, while his 199 receiving yards are his most as a pro. Atlanta's running back situation remains an open book at this stage, with contracts set to expire over the offseason for both Hill and Todd Gurley.

JANUARY 4, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

NFL Draft: Falcons secure a top-five pick in 2021 After a rough start to the year, a promising middle of the season, then a complete collapse down the stretch, the Atlanta Falcons finished 4...

JANUARY 4, 2021 • USATODAY.COM

Schultz: Falcons lose, Raheem Morris isn't the answer, it's time to draft a QB The Atlanta Falcons' offseason has arrived, and it's time for big changes for the franchise.

JANUARY 4, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM

What the Falcons said about their future after loss to Bucs and what it means The offseason has arrived for the Atlanta Falcons, and now the questions heat up about the future of the franchise.

JANUARY 4, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM

NFL Draft order: Falcons officially own No. 4 pick Atlanta has never held the fourth-overall pick in its draft history

JANUARY 4, 2021 • ATLANTAFALCONS.COM

Raheem Morris: ‘No doubt’ I want to be Falcons’ head coach  Falcons interim head coach Raheem Morris on his desire to return as head coach of the Falcons

JANUARY 4, 2021 • ATLANTAFALCONS.COM

Matt Ryan thinks he'll return in 2021, but 'never know' what can happen At 35 years old, Matt Ryan has proven he’s still capable of playing at a high level, and he hopes to remain with Atlanta moving forward

JANUARY 4, 2021 • ATLANTAFALCONS.COM

Lights up Bucs in finale Gage corralled nine of his 11 targets for 91 yards and a touchdown during Sunday's 44-27 loss to the Buccaneers.

Impact Calvin Ridley outpaced Gage by one in the targets department, but the former LSU Tiger prevailed over his Crimson Tide teammate in establishing team-highs in both catches and receiving yards. Gage proved himself to be a productive option with Julio Jones (hamstring) unavailable for the final quarter of the regular season, totaling 23 catches for 264 yards and two receiving TDs while adding a 39-yard passing score to Ridley during a Week 14 loss to the Chargers. Gage's season-long totals of 72 receptions, 786 yards and five total TDs all represent career bests as he enters his fourth year under contract with the Falcons in 2021.

JANUARY 3, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Scores three times in Week 17 loss Ryan completed 29 of 44 pass attempts for 265 yards and two touchdowns, adding a one-yard rushing TD over three carries during Sunday's 44-27 loss to the Buccaneers.

Impact Roles were reversed from the division rivals' Week 15 showdown, as Ryan and the Falcons found themselves in a significant halftime deficit. Ryan rallied his team from 13 points down, helping Atlanta cut Tampa Bay's lead to three points on two separate occasions in the second half. However, the Falcons were unable to score on their final two possessions, as Tom Brady and the Buccaneers mounted 14 unanswered points to close out the regular-season finale. Ryan's 4-12 starting record from 2020 ties the worst of his career, but $23 million of base salary going into next season reduces flexibility in potentially moving him. There's no telling what the incoming general manager and head coach will consider Ryan to be at this phase of his career, rendering his long-term future with the organization tentative. With Ryan entering his age-36 season, Atlanta may consider adding his potential replacement sooner rather than later.

JANUARY 3, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

NFL Week 17 PFF ReFocused: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 44, Atlanta Falcons 27 | NFL News, Rankings and Statistics | PFF The Tampa Bay Buccaneers dominated the Atlanta Falcons at Raymond James Stadium in Week 17 to win 44-27 and secure the No. 5 seed in the NFC...

JANUARY 3, 2021 • PFF.COM

Falcons can't slow Tom Brady during 44-27 loss to Buccaneers The Atlanta Falcons fell behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers early, fighting back to make it a three-point game in the fourth quarter but still...

JANUARY 3, 2021 • USATODAY.COM

Falcons 2021 schedule: Opponents officially set With the Falcons’ spot in the division standings now finalized, we know who they will face in 2021

JANUARY 3, 2021 • ATLANTAFALCONS.COM

Brady throws for 4 TDs, Bucs pull away from Falcons 44-27 TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Tom Brady threw for 399 yards and four touchdowns Sunday, helping the playoff-bound Tampa Bay Buccaneers clinch the fifth...

JANUARY 3, 2021 • OLEANTIMESHERALD.COM

Falcons vs. Buccaneers highlights Week 17 Watch all of the highlights from the Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in their Week 17 matchup in the 2020 NFL regular season.

JANUARY 3, 2021 • SPORTINGNEWS.COM