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Inside Tori's Notebook: The consistency conundrum of the 2024 Atlanta Falcons

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Inside Tori's Notebook: The consistency conundrum of the 2024 Atlanta Falcons


I’M TRYING HERE — OK. I have to be honest with you. I didn’t want to write this week’s notebook. There was no part of the Falcons’ loss to the Vikings that I wanted to touch with a 10-foot pole. Call me the Grinch, but that’s how I felt.

I’m just… tired, and I guess I expected too much. Whatever the case may be, I sit here on Monday afternoon struggling to string words together just as the Falcons have struggled to string wins together.

It just feels as though every time one aspect of the Falcons’ game improves or plays well (the pass rush or run game Sunday afternoon, for example), another part of the game breaks down (the secondary’s performance, turnover margin and penalties). It’s a toss up weekly. And I’m having a difficult time finding consistency in any one aspect of the Falcons’ game or identity.

Back when this team held a 6-3 record and was 4-0 in the division, I thought their identity was that they just found ways to win. It wasn’t pretty at times, but they did enough when crunch time arrived to make the plays count. After dropping each of their last four games, I don’t feel that way any longer.

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This feeling left me searching for anything even remotely related to consistency with this team. I started to write about Bijan Robinson. I started to write about Darnell Mooney and Drake London. All three continue to show up for Atlanta, but we’ve talked about them ad nauseam, right?

So, the more I thought about it, the more I wanted to write about someone who wasn’t making headlines nationally the way Robinson, London or even Mooney has. Thinking back to the game Sunday — and after a conversation with Will McFadden — I eventually landed on writing about A.J. Terrell, who despite the secondary’s showing against the Vikings, was playing at a clip we should be talking about.

But even then, after watching every single Vikings pass play on the all-22 tape, I couldn’t (in good conscience) praise one player when the secondary, as a whole, gave up 347 yards on 22 completions and five touchdowns to Sam Darnold. Sure, Terrell was lined up against Justin Jefferson on 18 of his 32 routes (56.3%). And yes, he only gave up one reception for 7 yards as the nearest defender in coverage. But to ignore the crux of the game being that the secondary allowed Darnold to record a career-high 163 passing yards on passes beyond 20 air yards, well, that just felt wrong.

What everyone will remember from the game is the coverage on the 49-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Addison in the first quarter or the breakdown on the 52-yard touchdown pass to Jefferson in the third. It won’t be that Terrell had a solid outing against him. Is that fair? Up for debate.

I write all of this to ultimately say I am at a loss for what to write about.

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The irony, right? A writer without words to pen.

But I guess that’s kind of the point I am trying to make about this team at this juncture in the season. I’ve written so many words about it. I have praised this roster. I’ve spurred hope for it. I’ve been critical of it when I needed to be. But right now? I don’t have much to say, because until they piece this thing together, there really isn’t much to harp on without feeling as though I am twisting the knife when I am critical or carrying water if I am overly positive.

I could write all day long about the impact of Robinson, the emergence of Mooney, the solid nature of London or the shutdown outings of Terrell, or I could go the other way. I could write about the red-zone problems, the one-too-many turnovers or the drive-shifting penalties. But honestly? What matters to you — Dear Reader — are the wins. And right now? I can’t write about the wins because the Falcons have fallen below .500. Nothing I write here matters except that.



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Atlanta, GA

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

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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.

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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.

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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.



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Atlanta, GA

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

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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.



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

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


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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.

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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.”

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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.”

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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.



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