Many good things have contributed to the amazing start to the season for the Braves. One of the biggest factors is how well many of the depth position player signings and acquisitions have worked out for Atlanta, such as Dominic Smith and Jorge Mateo. But the best of all was the trade for Mauricio Dubon, whose versatility has been extremely valuable for the Braves. Alex Anthopoulos has always made good moves on the margins, and this year is no different.
Atlanta, GA
Bill Belichick didn’t ask for ‘full control’ of Atlanta Falcons, owner Arthur Blank says
Bill Belichick didn’t ask to be the boss.
Running the Falcons’ front office in the same way he did the Patriots’ wasn’t a requirement for Belichick as he interviewed for Atlanta’s head coaching job, team owner Arthur Blank said.
“Bill Belichick never asked for, in our discussions, full control of the personnel or the building or anything of that nature,” Blank told reporters Friday.
“He was very inclusive, very collaborative. He met [Falcons general manager] Terry Fontenot. He checked out our people, doing his own references. He sent me a private text, which I eventually shared with Terry, that he was happy working with him. … All of these things that were being produced by the media were totally not true.”
Belichick, 71, interviewed twice with the Falcons, including a one-on-one meeting with the Queens-born Blank.
Many considered Belichick, a six-time Super Bowl champion in his 24 seasons as New England head coach, a favorite for the Falcons job, though Atlanta ultimately chose Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris.
Belichick operated as the Patriots’ general manager throughout his tenure, which ended last month in what he and owner Robert Kraft described as a mutual decision. The Patriots made the playoffs only once in the four seasons after quarterback Tom Brady left and bottomed out in 2023 with a disastrous 4-13 campaign featuring one of the league’s worst offenses.
“He’s got his history,” Blank said. “He has a way of doing things, etc., which were very, very successful. You could debate, is that true the last four years or so? Might be a little different picture, but there’s a lot of stories behind a lot of things. I think it was a very good series of interviews with him.”
Belichick’s continued unemployment remains a surprise, and there aren’t any NFL head coaching jobs currently open. His 333 wins between the regular season and postseason rank second in NFL history, behind only the 347 compiled by Don Shula.
Belichick also spoke with the Washington Commanders and “had support from some decision makers” about their vacancy, according to The Athletic, before they hired Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn.
The Falcons fired Arthur Smith as head coach last month after a 21-30 record over three seasons — a tenure largely defined by a frustratingly conservative offense in which top-10 draft picks Kyle Pitts, Drake London and Bijan Robinson failed to flourish.
Morris spent six years on the Falcons’ staff from 2015-20, serving as defensive coordinator and interim head coach in the last of those seasons. Blank described Morris’ leadership over those years as a “20” on a scale of 1-10 and said his candidacy improved after spending three years with the Rams.
“Today, he’s still a 20. That hasn’t changed,” Blank said. “What I did see change: The three years he had in L.A., where he worked with a different coaching environment, a different kind of setup, which [head coach] Sean McVay operates differently than a lot of other coaches do … was a learning experience for him.”
Atlanta, GA
Falcons sign Drake London to four-year extension
One of the most inevitable moves of the summer is complete. The Atlanta Falcons have given Drake London a lucrative four year deal worth up to $150 million, locking up their top receiver for the foreseeable future.
It’s a deserved extension for a physical, sure-handed talent who has been consistently excellent in Atlanta despite a constantly rotating cast of quarterbacks. London, who has averaged 1,086 yards over four NFL seasons and has 22 touchdowns over that span, has also emerged as one of the locker room’s most vocal and accountable players.
The 2022 first round pick came into the NFL catching passes from Marcus Mariota and Desmond Ridder and flourished immediately, with 806 yards and four touchdowns in year one and 905 yards and two touchdowns in year two. When the coaching staff turned over and Kirk Cousins and Michael Penix Jr. entered the picture, London exploded for 100 catches, 1,271 yards, and nine touchdowns in 2024, following that up with 919 yards and seven touchdowns in just 12 games a year ago. Through just four seasons, London is already 10th in team history in receiving yards, eighth in receptions, and 13th in touchdowns, and mixes that with solid blocking. He’s been the ideal receiver for the last two iterations of this Falcons offense, and I have no doubt that will continue here.
The contract’s guaranteed money would be tops in the NFL if the $100 million figure is accurate, but by overall money it’s just the third most lucrative contract in the league, and will likely be hovering near the bottom of the top ten in a couple of seasons. The Falcons were never going to risk losing their top receiving option, and if all goes well, London will continue to thrive in Atlanta and set his sights on surpassing some franchise legends in the years to come. I’m glad the deal is done, and we’ll see the exact terms soon enough.
How do you feel about this extension?
Atlanta, GA
Atlanta Braves News: Mauricio Dubon, Hurston Waldrep, Week Ahead, More
Andrelton Simmons plies his trade in Mexico
The Athletic caught up with former Braves shortstop – and one of the most gifted defenders at the position in the history of the game – Andrelton Simmons who, at 36, returned to organized baseball in Mexico last season.
Link below.
In a fun “Where are they now” segment, here is an update on Andrelton Simmons.
Atlanta, GA
Woman fatally stabbed on MARTA train near Oakland City Station; riders question transit safety as World Cup nears
A man accused of fatally stabbing a woman aboard a MARTA train is now in custody, as the violent attack raises new concerns about safety across Atlanta’s transit system.
According to police, 52-year-old Margaret Swan was riding a MARTA train near the Oakland City Station on May 30 when she was stabbed to death.
Investigators say officers quickly arrested the suspect, identified as John Elijah Matthews, at the station shortly after the attack.
Swan’s ex-husband, Jerry Swan, said he was devastated when his daughter called to tell him what happened.
“I was happy they caught him, but in my mind the thought was why did he do that to such a nice person,” he said.
Jerry Swan described Margaret as a devoted grandmother who loved spending time with her family.
“She was on her way to keep one of her grandbabies when it happened,” he said.
The deadly stabbing has also left some MARTA riders uneasy about safety on the transit system.
Nahsar Alexander, who says he rides MARTA every day, told CBS News Atlanta the attack is alarming.
“That was an innocent lady,” Alexander said. “If she didn’t do anything, what’s stopping someone from hurting me?”
MARTA officials say nearly 300 officers are assigned throughout the transit system to help keep riders safe. Additional officers were visible Monday at stations, including patrols on motorcycles.
The agency says security measures are also expected to increase ahead of the FIFA World Cup, when Atlanta is expected to see a major influx of visitors.
MARTA says its current security resources include more than 12,000 cameras across rail stations, buses and railcars, along with a Real Time Crime Center monitored during operating hours. Officials also say undercover officers regularly patrol stations, buses and trains.
Ahead of the World Cup, MARTA plans to activate its Emergency Operations Center during matches and fan events, deploy its Mobile Command Vehicle at key locations and partner with outsidxe law enforcement agencies for additional support.
Officials say additional train patrols and crowd control teams will also be used throughout the system.
Some riders say the increased police presence is reassuring, but concerns remain.
“Yes, but even with more police officers crime is still going to happen,” Alexander said.
Matthews is facing a murder charge.
MARTA says all staff not directly involved in operations or policing will also serve as Transit Ambassadors during the World Cup to assist riders and monitor activity across the system.
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