/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:AAI) , congratulates Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan who was named the NFL's offensive rookie of the year today.
AirTran Airways signed Ryan last August to become part of the airline's sports advertising campaign. Ryan is featured in radio spots and high-impact billboards across the Atlanta area.
"We are thrilled for Matt and his accomplishments both on and off the field," said Tad Hutcheson, AirTran Airways' vice president of marketing and sales. "When we signed Matt, we knew he was destined for great things as a quarterback. We're proud to have him as part of the AirTran team."
Ryan helped to guide his team to a second place finish in the NFC South and a playoff berth. During the season, Ryan completed 265 of 434 passes for 3,440 yards, 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
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Tuesday, December 30, 2008
AirTran Airways Congratulates Matt Ryan on NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Honor
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Fan Vote to Determine Player Super Bowl Ad
SSG Note: Voting is now open until December 3rd.
Thirteen Atlanta Falcons told their stories. Now, fans can help turn one of them into the NFL’s Super Bowl commercial at NFL.com/SuperAd.
Babineaux and Turner are featured in a head-to-head competition against their rivals from the NFC South in the NFL’s “Super Ad: Believe In Now” promotion.
NFL Films traveled to NFL training camps and team facilities to capture the players’ stories. Now fans will have the opportunity to hear these unique tales and get an exclusive look at some of their favorite NFL players, such as:
-Babineaux, who talks about playing football with his brother as kids in their living room.
-Turner, who relives gaining more than 200 yards in his first game as a starter.
Fans can visit the Falcons section to also see: Erik Coleman, Thomas DeCoud, Jamaal Fudge, Brent Grimes, David Irons, Grady Jackson, Michael Koenen, Jerious Norwood, Chris Redman, Matt Ryan and Roddy White.
Fans will vote on the 24 stories from NFC players on nfl.com/superad from November 20 – December 3. Four NFC stories, one from each division, will be selected to continue to the Championship Round where they will compete against four videos from the AFC as well as one wildcard video. The Championship Round runs from December 18, 2008 – January 4, 2009. Fans will have eighteen days to vote for their favorites with a Super Bowl appearance on the line.
Fans can visit the “All Videos” section to watch all 215 NFL players’ stories posted on nfl.com/superad. Fans will then watch the winning pitch, and the player who told it, during Super Bowl XLIII on Sunday, February 1 on NBC.
By AtlantaFalcons.com
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Monday, November 10, 2008
Atlanta Falcons Players Visit Hospitalized Veterans
Players for the NFL's Atlanta Falcons will visit hospitalized veterans on Veterans Day Tuesday, Nov. 11, at the Atlanta VA medical center, as part of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Celebrity Entertainment Program.
Players are scheduled to visit the hospital at 1 p.m., as a way to honor veterans for serving our nation. They'll be signing autographs, presenting patients with souvenirs, and helping brighten the day for those who have sacrificed so much for the cause of freedom.
The visit by Falcons players to the Atlanta VA medical center, 1670 Clairmont Rd., Decatur, Ga., is part of the team's observance of Veterans Day. The Atlanta Falcons join other NFL teams, Major and Minor League Baseball players, NASCAR drivers, country music stars and others participating in the DAV Celebrity Entertainment program.
"We are proud the Atlanta Falcons are part of our Celebrity Entertainment Program," said DAV National Commander Raymond E. Dempsey. "I know that their visit to the Atlanta VA medical center will bring a great deal of joy to the men and women veterans being treated there. Many of these wonderful veterans rarely get visitors. They have sacrificed a great deal to defend our nation's liberty, and they should get the respect and care they deserve."
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Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Fletcher Martin Helps Warrick Dunn Give Back
PRNewswire/ -- Fletcher Martin, the fully-integrated marketing communications agency, has teamed up with former Atlanta Falcon, Warrick Dunn, to raise money to support Atlantans in need.
The agency is handling publicity, advertising, print collateral design including signage, invitations, the program and more for the upcoming Sixth Annual Warrick Dunn Foundation Gala October 13 at the Westin in Buckhead at 7 p.m. where Dunn will be joined by former and current NFL teammates and friends in Atlanta for a star-studded night with one goal in mind -- raise money for this worthy cause while having a night to remember.
"Warrick Dunn continues to be an inspiration to people in Atlanta and all over the country," said Andy Fletcher, President and CEO of Fletcher Martin. "We look forward to continuing to help him bring joy, hope and help to economically disadvantaged single-parent households in our community."
"Despite Warrick's move from the Atlanta Falcons to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers there is still a need for the Foundation's assistance in Georgia," said Natalie Boe, Warrick Dunn Foundation Executive Director. "We look forward to continuing our support of the greater Atlanta area."
Dunn started Homes for the Holidays in 1997 as a tribute to his mother, a Baton Rouge police officer, who was killed in the line of duty. As a single mother of six, she worked tirelessly to achieve the American dream of owning her own home, however, she was never able to realize that dream. Through Homes for the Holidays, Dunn has been able to honor her memory. To date, the program has assisted 78 single parents and 205 children and dependents to achieve first-time homeownership in Tampa and Tallahassee, Fla.; Atlanta, Ga. and Dunn's hometown of Baton Rouge, La.
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Monday, September 29, 2008
Atlanta Falcons - Mike Smith Comments After Loss to Panthers
Falcons Head Coach Mike Smith:
"Games in this league don’t get easier week to week. They get tougher. I thought that we played a very good Carolina football team. That was a divisional game. I thought it was hard fought. I thought that both teams played a very physical football game. They were the better team today. My hat’s off to their football team and their coaching staff.
The things that went on out there as far as the Falcons are concerned, they are all things we can fix. They are fixable. We will address those things on Monday when we watch the tape, and we will get back on the field on Wednesday. I say this: it’s a process that this football team is going through. We finished the first quarter and we’re 2 – 2. We’ve got to feel good about that."
AtlantaFalcons.com
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Thursday, September 25, 2008
Falcons: Turner Honored for Second Time in 2008
Atlanta Falcons running back Michael Turner was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week for his performance against the Kansas City Chiefs in his third career game in a Falcons uniform. The player of the week honor is the second for Turner this season after earning the award following a Week 1 meeting against the Detroit Lions in his Falcons debut.
Against the Chiefs, Turner recorded his fifth-career 100-yard game after totaling 23 carries for 104 yards and career-high three touchdowns. He sparked the Falcons first scoring drive of the game when he posted a 38-yard rush in the first quarter and capped the drive with a four-yard touchdown run, his first of the day. Turner found the end zone on two more occasions logging his second-career multiple touchdown game. His three scores make him only the fifth Falcons running back in team history to tally three or more touchdowns in a game.
Turner earned his first player of the week award of the season following the 2008 home opener against the Detroit Lions where he set a Falcons single-game rushing record with 220 yards on 22 carries for a 10.0 yards per carry average. He also added two touchdowns in an Atlanta winning effort, which marked his career multiple-touchdown game.
In three contests this season, Turner leads the NFL in rushing with 366 yards while contributing with five touchdowns. His five scores match the highest total any player has registered in his first three games for a team during the NFL’s modern era (since 1933). The last player to accomplish the feat was his former teammate, LaDainian Tomlinson for the San Diego Chargers in 2001.
Turner’s NFC Offensive Player of the Week award is his second this season as he becomes the first Falcons player to earn the honor twice in a year since 2004 and the first player to earn it twice in a three-week span in the team’s history. Following his record-setting performance against Detroit in Week 1, Turner became the first Falcons offensive player to earn player of the week honors after a season opener since 1984 (Gerald Riggs).
The Falcons will hit the road for the second time this season when they battle NFC South rival, Carolina, on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2008 at Bank of America Stadium. Game time is set for 1:00 p.m.
By AtlantaFalcons.com
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Thursday, September 18, 2008
Falcons: Offense Looks to Get Back on Track Against Chiefts
By J Michael Moore
AtlantaFalcons.com
Managing Editor
The Chiefs (0-2) will start a pair of rookies at cornerback for Sunday's game against the Falcons but don't look for quarterback Matt Ryan or any of the the team's receivers to get overly confident.
Cornerback Brandon Flowers has been a starter since training camp and Chiefs head coach Herman Edwards insists he's not worried about playing fifth-round pick Brandon Carr (Grand Valley State) on the other side of the field.
A rookie himself, Ryan knows the difficulties of playing in the NFL. He also knows the skills on the other side of the ball.
"I played against Brandon Flowers in college a bunch," Ryan said Wednesday. "He played at Virginia Tech and he got the best of me a couple times in college. I have a lot of respect for those guys. They do a great job. They're talented and they're going through the same process that I'm going through now but I think they've done a really good job so far."
Flowers has nine tackles on the season and no interceptions. He recorded 158 tackles and 10 picks in college.
"They're going to come with their best game plan," wide receiver Michael Jenkins said. "They're fighting to get their first win of the season and no matter who's out there they're going to give their best effort."
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Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Atlanta Falcons - Team Looks to Learn from Tampa Bay Mistakes
By J. Michael Moore
AtlantaFalcons.com Managing Editor
Atlanta Falcons, welcome back to the classroom.
A big Week 1 win had the Falcons feeling good over the weekend. That is until a rough outing in Tampa Bay ended in a 24-9 defeat and a trip back to the harsh realities of the NFL.
Head Coach Mike Smith reviewed the film with his team and staff on Monday and is prepared to chart a clear course for improvement.
"We got an opportunity to watch the tape and there were some things I was encouraged about," Smith said. "Our team fought hard the entire football game... But I'd also say there are a lot of things we've got to get corrected. We have to start faster."
Two Matt Ryan interceptions led to 10 Buccaneer points. A 20 percent success rate on third down in the first half put the Falcons in a big hole. Special teams penalties also affected field position with the Birds starting drives at their own 11-, 9-, 16- and 17-yard line in the game.
Ryan, who has been praised for his ability to quickly process mistakes, is ready to move on.
"I got in a little early this morning and looked at the tape," Ryan said. "I just made some decisions that weren't very good."
His teammates support his efforts and saw his ability to right the ship in the midst of the game. He may have misfired on his first nine passes but on one scoring drive he completed six of seven throws for more than 60 yards. At one point in the fourth quarter the Falcons were just one score from a tie game.
"We knew there were going to be bumps along the way," starting center Todd McClure said. "So, we're going to watch film and learn from this."
Perhaps the biggest learning opportunity comes from the team's stalls in the red zone: three trips, three field goals.
"Our red zone efficiency was not good," Smith said. "We were down there three times and not able to put the ball in the end zone. I think Matt will continue to get better. I thought Matt, overall, did some good things, especially there in the second half...
"Every week for this young football team guys are going to learn: Players, coaches, we're going to learn a lot about each other every week."
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Monday, September 8, 2008
Falcon Victory over Lions
Record-Breaking Turner Leads Falcons to Victory
Michael Turner rushed for a franchise-record 220 yards and scored two touchdowns as the Falcons defeated the Detroit Lions 34-21 in the 2008 opener.
Atlanta (1-0) exploded out of the gate, scoring on the first three offensive possessions and racking up 216 yards of total offense in the opening period. Quarterback Matt Ryan's first pass attempt of the season -- and his career -- was a 62-yard scoring strike to Michael Jenkins. That was followed by 66- and 5-yard touchdown runs by Turner.
Turner rushed for 117 yards and both touchdowns the first quarter but that was just a sign of big things to come for a Falcons football team eager to show off a new form of intensity for first-year Head Coach Mike Smith.
“We’ve said from the very beginning that we are going to be a team that runs the football," Smith said. "When you run the football, you can dictate to a defense. Prior to the draft, we spoke about being a physical football team and on both sides of the line of scrimmage. We pretty much set a statement in training camp that that’s what we wanted to do. We rushed for 100 yards in all four of our preseason games. We really did a nice job today. Michael Turner and Jerious (Norwood) both ran extremely well.”
A 21-0 lead -- and a season-opening victory also seemed to breathe new life into a fan base that witnessed just four 'W's' in a tumultuous 2007. Each score in the Falcons first-quarter barrage met with boisterous approval from the 62,310 inside the refurbished Georgia Dome.
"I think the fans were really into it, especially early on," Smith said. "That sets the tempo and advantage for our football team. I thought they did a nice job getting loud on third downs for our defense and we made some critical stops on third down."
Ryan, who became the first rookie to start a season for the Falcons since Steve Bartkowski in 1975, finished with a solid 161 passing yards and 137.0 quarterback rating. Turner led a ground game that picked up a franchise-record 318 rushing yards (7.6 yards per carry). The amount of big plays resulted in plenty of big celebrations, as Falcons players danced around the field almost nonstop during the game.
In all, 10 young players got their first opening day start with the Falcons on Sunday.
Some excitement was expected.
"You have to play this game with emotion," Ryan said. "It's a fun game and everyone was out there today playing with a lot of emotion and having a lot of fun."
That easygoing mentality helped when the Lions started to make a run.
The defense surrendered 14-second quarter points, but reasserted itself on the Lions opening drive of the third quarter with a Lawyer Milloy interception. The 13-year veteran returned the ball 38 yards back to the lions 49. Four plays later, Jason Elam kicked a 50-yard field goal to open a 24-14 lead.
The Falcons hit the accelerator again on the next possesion, using a 46-yard completion from Ryan to Roddy White to set up a 10-yard touchdown run by Norwood.
Turner and Norwood were nothing short of dominant in the second half (158 rushing yards) as they darted through holes in the middle of the defense and delivered hits to tiring Lions defenders. The Falcons talked throughout the off-season and training camp about estabilishing an identy based on toughness and a punishing run game.
Mission accomplished.
With Norwood's 93 rushing yards, the Falcons came just 7 yards away from having a 200- and 100-yard rusher for the first time in team history. Turner rushed for multiple touchdowns for the first time in his career, which started behind All-Pro LaDanian Tomlinson in San Diego.
“I thought they did a heck of a job out there," Ryan said when asked about the running game and offensive line. "They were able to set the pace for the entire offense. And for the passing game, our tackles, Tyson Clabo and Sam Baker held the fort down. They were able to contain the defensive ends for Detroit. They all helped set the single-game rushing record, so kudos to all of them.”
As a Charger, Turner often watched as Tomlinson re-wrote the record books.
"I always wondered what it would feel like to break a record," he said. "I didn't even know I was close to breaking a record today, it just happened"
Some would say he shattered the previous numbers (202 yards by Gerald Riggs), which will outshine the solid performance of the team's defense as Week 2 begins. The group bent, but failed to break Sunday as defensive end John Abraham sacked Lions quarterback Jon Kitna three times.
The Falcons now turn attention to a division opponent. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers suffered a 24-20 loss at New Orleans Sunday.
"We all know we have a lot of work to do," Ryan said. "This is a long season. We're going to play against tough defenses week-in and week-out. There are certainly areas where we can improve. We're going to get back out there this week, work hard and get ready to go against Tampa."
For now, the team is enjoying a win for the record books.
“It was a great win for our team," Milloy said. "I know that there are not a lot of people that have high expectations for our team, but we have expectations for ourselves and I thought that we showed that effort.”
By J. Michael Moore
AtlantaFalcons.com
Managing Editor
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Thursday, September 4, 2008
Falcons Ready- Won't Back Down
“I know that we are going to bring a team that is ready to fight. We will be very, very aggressive. We have already set a tone of the type of football team we want to be and that is a physical one. Throughout the preseason, we have done that. It is a group that will not back down from anybody. I know Coach Marinelli and his group of staff preach the same thing."
Head Coach Mike Smith
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Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Finneran Showing No Ill Effects from Knee Injury
The cheers for Brian Finneran sound a bit louder these days.
He's had great catches along the sideline and even more nice grabs over the middle during Russell Falcons Training Camp. But cheers aren't necessarily coming for his play alone.
His history made him a fan favorite.
The nine-year veteran missed the last two seasons with knee injuries. But his 15 career touchdowns (12 since joining the Falcons in 2002) ring clear in fans' minds. Every catch made during camp is a sign of a comeback. Every step of a pass route is a step in the right direction.
"My legs may have been a little heavy," Finneran said after his first practice this off-season. "I'm just easing into it but I felt pretty good in terms of football and knowing where I need to be."
Finneran has played in 86 career games. He has 187 catches for 2,647 yards. Most have gone for first downs, cementing his status as one of the team's better clutch receivers. Now he's earning his stripes all over again.
“I think it will be a great story if Brian makes it all the way back," added Head Coach Mike Smith, "He has done a great job rehabilitating and having to miss two seasons. He is doing everything in his power and we are going to bring him along slowly. We had a talk last night about when they were going to let him get in two practices a day. That should be coming very soon. That will be the true test to see if he can take the pounding of two practices. He has made a lot of nice catches here for us at camp so far.”
After the first day of full-pad work, Finneran was in good spirits.
“That is part of it, but the other comes in the preseason..." he said when asked about taking contact from the defense.
Finneran said he's been running routes at full-speed for several weeks but he's careful not to overdue it.
"I'll ice a little bit longer and work on a few things with the knee," he said. "(Coaches) have been taking care of me pretty good. If any soreness comes up I can talk to the coaches and they'll take care of me."
Finneran helped consistently on special teams before his injury and says he can also contribute there if needed. The injury won't hold him back.
"I made my NFL career playing special teams," he said. "If I had to go out there and play punt team, punt return or cover kickoffs... Even if I'm a backup guy they know if someone goes down I can fill right in.
"If they ask me to do that I'll be happy to do it."
So the cheers will continue with every catch the 6-foot-5 receiver makes. With luck and dedication, there won't be a repeat of the injury bug.
"I have not had any problems," Finneran said. "I feel good and I don’t foresee any problems.”
J Michael Moore
Atlantafalcons.com Managing Editor
