Connect with us

Atlanta, GA

Atlanta Falcons ‘Really Pleased’ with Bijan Robinson, Noncommittal to Heavy Workload

Published

on

Atlanta Falcons ‘Really Pleased’ with Bijan Robinson, Noncommittal to Heavy Workload


ATLANTA — The billboard towered high above Peachtree Road, facing traffic headed toward Mercedes-Benz Stadium for the Atlanta Falcons’ season opener last Sunday.

“Bijan is ready,” the sign said, holding a picture of Falcons running back Bijan Robinson sporting his black No. 7 jersey. “Are you?”

That afternoon, Robinson proved the sign right. He had six touches on Atlanta’s 11-play opening drive. After 27 plays, he had 15 touches. And by the time the clock hit zero in the Falcons’ 18-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Robinson had 23 touches to his name — tied for the most in his young career.

The second-year runner finished the defeat with 18 carries for 68 yards while adding a team-best five receptions for 43 yards. He played 50 snaps, good for 89% of the offense’s total.

Advertisement

After the game, Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said he thought Robinson had a few quality runs and executed well as a receiver on screen passes.

“He’s a guy,” Morris said. “I was really pleased with the way he played the game, just with the mental toughness and the ability to go out there and continue to try to make us win and putting us in a winning position, although we were not able to come out with it.”

The Falcons Podcast: Spotify | Apple Pods | iHeart

Atlanta’s offense struggled in the defeat. It had only three drives with seven or more plays, and just two series netted points — one of which came on the opening possession. The Falcons were shutout in the second half.

Robinson was a focal point in the Falcons’ gameplan, touching the ball on 46% of the offense’s snaps. But Morris, in a matter-of-fact manner, was noncommittal to Robinson maintaining such involvement moving forward, largely due to the game’s outcome.

Advertisement

“I like winning, and that wasn’t the result we got,” Morris said. “So, we’ve got to go back to the lab and figure out a way to win. And whatever that is, we’ll do.”

Robinson, the No. 8 overall pick in 2023, led the Falcons with 214 carries for 976 yards and four touchdowns as a rookie. He added 58 receptions for 487 yards and four more scores through the air. His 1,463-yards from scrimmage were good for 10th in the NFL.

This summer, Atlanta’s coaching staff spoke extensively about using Robinson in a role similar to that of San Francisco 49ers star Christian McCaffrey, who led the NFL in yards from scrimmage a season ago and is a multi-purpose playmaker.

The 22-year-old Robinson proved Sunday he can impact the game in multiple ways, to the extent he became Atlanta’s go-to option. Rather than sensing pressure, Robinson cherishes the opportunity.

“It’s a blessing to do that,” Robinson said. “I try to do what I can to make this offense explosive and try to get these wins. There are still points in the game when you can’t control everything. You have to control what you can control as an offense, individually or with each other.

Advertisement

“For me, I’m going to do whatever I can to get us rolling and help us try to be the offense we can be. But obviously, we need a win coming out of that.”

The Falcons’ next opportunity to snag their first win comes at 8:15 p.m. Monday, when they take on the Philadelphia Eagles inside Lincoln Financial Field.

And Robinson, as the billboard says, is ready.



Source link

Advertisement

Atlanta, GA

2 arrested in deadly drive-by shooting of 7-year-old Atlanta girl, police say

Published

on

2 arrested in deadly drive-by shooting of 7-year-old Atlanta girl, police say


Two suspects in a shooting that left a 7-year-old Atlanta girl dead and her mother injured are now in custody nearly a week after the violence, police say.

The shooting happened around 9:45 p.m. on Feb. 24 at a home on the 2200 block of Tiger Flowers Drive NW.

Investigators believe the shooting stemmed from a dispute between one of the victim’s family members and the gunman over the phone. Thirty minutes after the argument, the suspect came back and fired shots into the home, police said.

Officers responding to the scene found a 44-year-old woman and her daughter, identified as 7-year-old Zoe Price, shot. Medics rushed the pair to a local hospital, but Price died from her injuries.

Advertisement

Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said the department’s homicide unit secured an arrest warrant for 19-year-old Preston Smith two days after the shooting. Smith turned himself in to the Fulton County Jail on March 2.

Schierbaum said officers executed a search warrant on Feb. 27 at a home on McDaniel Street. On that day, 17-year-old Steven Richardson, who police described as an “accomplice,” turned himself in to authorities.

Both men are charged with murder, criminal attempt to commit murder, three counts of aggravated assault, second-degree criminal damage to property, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and four counts of third-degree cruelty to children. Richardson is also charged with possession of a Firearm by a Person Under 18.

At a press conference to announce the arrests, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens described Price as a bright and compassionate little girl who was “full of energy and full of joy.”

“Her life was cut short in an act of senseless violence, and that loss is not abstract. It is a chair that is going to be missing at the dinner table each night. It is an empty classroom seat next to her friends,” Dickens said.

Advertisement

The mayor called the arrests “a step forward towards justice” for Price’s family and families across the city.

Dickens said that violence, like the act that took Price’s life, would not be tolerated in Atlanta.



Source link

Continue Reading

Atlanta, GA

Atlanta Braves News: Top 30 Prospects, Starting Pitching Depth, More

Published

on

Atlanta Braves News: Top 30 Prospects, Starting Pitching Depth, More


On Monday, the Braves were able to earn another Spring Training victory over the Detroit Tigers. It was a game where the starting pitching depth of the Braves was on full display, as Bryce Elder, Joey Wentz, and Owen Murphy all threw multiple innings. While it is likely unwise to expect big things from any of these three arms this season, they are a part of the “next man up” group for the Braves if injury again impacts the rotation. Each had a solid effort today, a trend that will hopefully continue.



Source link

Continue Reading

Atlanta, GA

Luke Kornet calls on Atlanta Hawks to cancel ‘Magic City Monday’ promo

Published

on

Luke Kornet calls on Atlanta Hawks to cancel ‘Magic City Monday’ promo


play

An NBA player from an opposing team has called on the Atlanta Hawks to cancel their upcoming game promotion that revolves around celebrating a well-known local gentleman’s club.

San Antonio Spurs center Luke Kornet asked the Hawks to reconsider their “Magic City Monday” plans for a March 16 game against the Orlando Magic in a letter posted to Medium on Monday, March 2. Atlanta’s ownership group and front office recently touted the one-night collaboration as an ode to an “iconic cultural institution,” citing Magic City’s role and impact in Atlanta’s Black communities and hip-hop culture in the announcement.

Advertisement

But Kornet wrote that “the Hawks failed to acknowledge that this place is, as the business itself boasts, ‘Atlanta’s premier strip club.’ “

“The NBA should desire to protect and esteem women, many of whom work diligently every day to make this the best basketball league in the world,” Kornet continued. “We should promote an atmosphere that is protective and respectful of the daughters, wives, sisters, mothers, and partners that we know and love.

“Allowing this night to go forward without protest would reflect poorly on us as an NBA community, specifically in being complicit in the potential objectification and mistreatment of women in our society.”

Advertisement

Magic City Kitchen is also slated to serve two versions of its “world famous” lemon pepper wings – Louwill Lemon Pepper BBQ – at the March 16 game. The flavor is named after three-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year-winner, Lou Williams. Rapper T.I. is scheduled to perform at halftime and limited edition Magic City merchandise will be available to purchase at the game.

Magic City celebrated 40 years with a five-part STARZ docuseries, ‘Magic City: An American Fantasy,’ that was produced by Hawks principal owner Jami Gertz and Atlanta native Jermaine Dupri. Magic City founder Michael “Mr. Magic” Barney and T.I. are scheduled to record a live podcast from inside Atlanta’s State Farm Arena before the game.

Kornet, 30, hopes the Hawks and NBA officials listen to him instead.

“I’d like to encourage the league, its owners, employees and fans to hold the Atlanta Hawks to a higher standard of what they find worthy of promoting,” Kornet wrote. “I and others throughout the league were surprised by and object to the Hawks’ decision. We desire to provide an environment where fans of all ages can safely come and enjoy the game of basketball and where we can celebrate the history and culture of communities in good conscience. The celebration of a strip club is not conduct aligned with that vision.”

Advertisement

Luke Kornet stats

Kornet is averaging a career-best 7.1 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists in his first season with the Spurs. This is the sixth team he’s played for in his nine NBA seasons, with his previous four years spent on the Boston Celtics.



Source link

Continue Reading

Trending