Campbell’s move to the team comes as no surprise given that Falcons coach Arthur Smith stated at the end of the last season that the team needed to make additions to its defensive lineup. The changes began with the appointment of new defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen, who replaced the retired Dean Pees, and was followed by the addition of safety Jessie Bates III, defensive tackle David Onyemata and linebacker Kaden Elliss on free agency.

With 5.5 sacks last season, Campbell would have ranked second on the Falcons team in 2022 as well as led the team in 2021 had he signed sooner. He is expected to provide a valuable wealth of experience to Atlanta’s defensive front. At 36 years old, Campbell is currently the oldest active defensive lineman in the NFL.

The post Falcons to Sign Calais Campbell on One-Year Deal appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The decision to bench Mariota comes as a result of the Falcons’ poor recent form, having lost four of their last five games and scoring more than 20 points on just one occasion.

Following the 19-16 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers last Sunday, Falcons coach Arthur Smith revealed that he is considering using rookie Desmond Ridder in Mariota’s place during the Saints game.

Selected by the Falcons in the third round of this year’s draft, Ridder was a starter for Cincinnati for four years. According to Smith, it had been the plan all season to develop Ridder as a backup to Mariota.

Being benched is not a new phenomenon for Mariota. The quarterback also fell out of favor with the Tennessee Titans during the 2019 season, before regaining his position and eventually trading to the Falcons in March. The current season has not been all bad for Mariota, as he was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week during Week 6 after completing 92.9% of his passes for 129 yards and two touchdowns.

The post Marcus Mariota Benched By Falcons appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Pitts suffered a knee injury in the third quarter of the Falcons’ 24-27 win over the Chicago Bears on Sunday. At the end of a catch and run, Pitts found himself on the receiving end of an Eddie Jackson tackle that landed right above his knee. The tight end subsequently jogged off the field and towards the blue medical tent before making his way toward the Falcons’ locker room.

Falcons coach Arthur Smith has stated that Pitts is still awaiting further evaluations before a rehabilitation approach is selected, sources have revealed that the player may require surgery. “I’m not a doctor, but an MCL sprain, that’s usually what happens — there are varying degrees and where they are in the knee,” Smith admitted, adding that he will await the answer of the medical experts before taking further action.

The number four overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft, Pitts has proven to be an impactful player for the Falcons, achieving a 1,000-yard rookie season; the second rookie in NFL history to do so.

The post Falcons Tight End Kyle Pitts Likely to Require Surgery appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

During a recent edition of the show, hosts Shannon Sharpe and Skip Bayless discussed recent trade reports linking Jones with the Dallas Cowboys. At one point, Sharpe decided to pick up the phone and ask the 32-year-old player whether he’s staying in Atlanta or going to Dallas.

“I’m outta there,” said Jones after picking up the phone.

Jones added that his next destination is preferably a place where he has a chance to win.

“Right now, I wanna win,” he explained.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport previously reported that Julio Jones officially submitted a trade request to the Falcons at the beginning of the 2021 offseason. The team has been engaged with potential suitors for a while now and is reportedly asking for a first-rounder in exchange. Atlanta would like to send Jones to the AFC but is ready to deal with NFC teams if “the price is right”.

Julio Jones spent his entire professional career with the Falcons, who drafted him No. 6 in the 2011 NFL Draft. Jones made seven Pro Bowls and received five All-Pro nods with Atlanta while leading the league in receiving yards twice.

Jones has 848 career catches for 12,896 yards and 60 touchdowns. He currently holds the NFL record for career yards per game with 95.5.

The post Julio Jones Says He’s Leaving the Falcons: “I’m Outta There” appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Campbell’s move to the team comes as no surprise given that Falcons coach Arthur Smith stated at the end of the last season that the team needed to make additions to its defensive lineup. The changes began with the appointment of new defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen, who replaced the retired Dean Pees, and was followed by the addition of safety Jessie Bates III, defensive tackle David Onyemata and linebacker Kaden Elliss on free agency.

With 5.5 sacks last season, Campbell would have ranked second on the Falcons team in 2022 as well as led the team in 2021 had he signed sooner. He is expected to provide a valuable wealth of experience to Atlanta’s defensive front. At 36 years old, Campbell is currently the oldest active defensive lineman in the NFL.

The post Falcons to Sign Calais Campbell on One-Year Deal appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The decision to bench Mariota comes as a result of the Falcons’ poor recent form, having lost four of their last five games and scoring more than 20 points on just one occasion.

Following the 19-16 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers last Sunday, Falcons coach Arthur Smith revealed that he is considering using rookie Desmond Ridder in Mariota’s place during the Saints game.

Selected by the Falcons in the third round of this year’s draft, Ridder was a starter for Cincinnati for four years. According to Smith, it had been the plan all season to develop Ridder as a backup to Mariota.

Being benched is not a new phenomenon for Mariota. The quarterback also fell out of favor with the Tennessee Titans during the 2019 season, before regaining his position and eventually trading to the Falcons in March. The current season has not been all bad for Mariota, as he was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week during Week 6 after completing 92.9% of his passes for 129 yards and two touchdowns.

The post Marcus Mariota Benched By Falcons appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Pitts suffered a knee injury in the third quarter of the Falcons’ 24-27 win over the Chicago Bears on Sunday. At the end of a catch and run, Pitts found himself on the receiving end of an Eddie Jackson tackle that landed right above his knee. The tight end subsequently jogged off the field and towards the blue medical tent before making his way toward the Falcons’ locker room.

Falcons coach Arthur Smith has stated that Pitts is still awaiting further evaluations before a rehabilitation approach is selected, sources have revealed that the player may require surgery. “I’m not a doctor, but an MCL sprain, that’s usually what happens — there are varying degrees and where they are in the knee,” Smith admitted, adding that he will await the answer of the medical experts before taking further action.

The number four overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft, Pitts has proven to be an impactful player for the Falcons, achieving a 1,000-yard rookie season; the second rookie in NFL history to do so.

The post Falcons Tight End Kyle Pitts Likely to Require Surgery appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

During a recent edition of the show, hosts Shannon Sharpe and Skip Bayless discussed recent trade reports linking Jones with the Dallas Cowboys. At one point, Sharpe decided to pick up the phone and ask the 32-year-old player whether he’s staying in Atlanta or going to Dallas.

“I’m outta there,” said Jones after picking up the phone.

Jones added that his next destination is preferably a place where he has a chance to win.

“Right now, I wanna win,” he explained.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport previously reported that Julio Jones officially submitted a trade request to the Falcons at the beginning of the 2021 offseason. The team has been engaged with potential suitors for a while now and is reportedly asking for a first-rounder in exchange. Atlanta would like to send Jones to the AFC but is ready to deal with NFC teams if “the price is right”.

Julio Jones spent his entire professional career with the Falcons, who drafted him No. 6 in the 2011 NFL Draft. Jones made seven Pro Bowls and received five All-Pro nods with Atlanta while leading the league in receiving yards twice.

Jones has 848 career catches for 12,896 yards and 60 touchdowns. He currently holds the NFL record for career yards per game with 95.5.

The post Julio Jones Says He’s Leaving the Falcons: “I’m Outta There” appeared first on yoursportspot.com.