Feb. 8, 2012-ATLANTA: Atlanta Falcons from left to right; kicker Matt Bryant, wide receiver Kevin Cone, offensive lineman Andrew Jackson and former linebacker Buddy Curry listen before a hearing on House Bill 673 during the House Health & Human Services Committee meeting in the Coverdell Legislative Office Building Wednesday afternoon in Atlanta, Ga., February 8, 2012. HB...

Former Falcons kicker Matt Bryant can still remember taking a hit during an elementary school football game. The sky turned yellow and he saw green dots. At 10 or 11, he didn't recognize the incident as a possible concussion. Now a father of seven children, Bryant is pushing for legislation in Georgia that would help educate young players and their parents, coaches and others...

Matt Bryant is pushing for legislation in Georgia that would help educate young players and their parents, coaches and others about the dangers of concussions and the need to protect student athletes from serious brain injury.

Atlanta Falcons kicker Matt Bryant (3) speaks with his son Tre Bryant, 5, before the first half. AP Former Falcons linebacker Buddy Curry and kicker Matt Bryant are set to speak at the Georgia Concussion Coalition hearing in support of House Bill 673 at 3 p.m. today at the State Capitol. Also, offensive lineman Andrew Jackson and wide receiver Kevin Cone will be on hand to support...

The Giants and the 49ers used to have one of the best playoff rivalries in sports. Back in the mid-to-late 80s and at the start of the 90s, they would match up 5 times in the playoffs, in addition to a few regular season games. The Giants were winners of 3 of the playoff games, ending the 9ers Super Bowl reign in the 86 playoffs, a 49-3 blowout in 1987, and the memorable 15-13...

In the last 20 years approximately 25% of all football games are decided by 3pts or less and nearly 50% by 7 pts or less…that tells me that one of the most important players on the field is the place kicker! Each week of the NFL football season I tried to shine a light on the reality that kickers matter with the VanderJacked Award. Here is the list of weekly winners and the...

Yes, it's that time again — you Houston Texans fans may have to search your memory banks for the last time your city hosted a playoff game (Hint: it was when the Houston Oilers lost in the wild card round to the Kansas City Chiefs at the old Astrodome on January 16, 1994). Yikes! Even the Detroit Lions have a playoff memory from January, 2000 (or, shortly before owner William...

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Matt Bryant was trying to measure his words, recalling his days with the Giants. “It was . . .

Very little attention is paid to special teams generally speaking. The only time this unit gets much pub is when your fat Polish kicker booms a 60-yard field goal, or some team is foolish enough to kick/punt the ball to your game-breaking returner. The Falcons did not have any of those moments this year. At the midpoint, Matt Bryant was the pick. Bryant had been solid up to that...

By Adam McGill This is the second installment of my playoff rankings, which includes kicker and IDP rankings: Kicker Rankings 1. John Kasay, NO 2. Mason Crosby, GB 3. Stephen Gostkowski, NE 4. Matt Bryant, ATL 5. Shayne Graham, BAL 6. Shaun Suisham, PIT 7. David Akers, SF 8. Mike Nugent, CIN 9. Jason Hanson, DET 10. Lawrence Tynes, NYG 11. Neil Rackers, HOU 12. Matt Prater, DEN Defensive...

No, its not going to be a blank page! There were some bright spots for the Bucs this year, just not that many. But there are reasons to be optimistic for the future based on some things we saw this season.Kicking game is as solid as its ever been. Just as the Defense is the worst ever, the kicking game is the best ever! Connor Barth broke Steve Christie's record for 85% success  by...

DIRECT CONNECTIONS Falcons President Rich McKay and his family were associated with the Buccaneers for nearly three decades. McKay was general manager of the Buccaneers from November 1994 through December of 2003, when he was named President and General Manager with the Falcons. His father, the late John McKay, served as the first head coach of the Buccaneers from 1976-84, and...

Royalty...just like G$ Gentlemen...the winner and NEEEEEWWWWW DFL CHAMPION...GMoney!!! Sure, it isn't over yet, but I've got a 17+ point lead with Breesus, Jimmy G, and Matt Bryant tonight while Reba/Ide has Colston and Lance Moore. I'm willing to call this one. Holy ****. I just won a fantasy football league! This is pretty much the greatest feeling ever (it'...

It's almost time to buckle up and take off for the most important make-believe week of the year. A few general thoughts as we crunch through those critical Week 16 matchup decisions. • A lot of fortune-cookie logic comes out at this time of year, the obligatory "don't get cute" and "always trust your studs" party line. To me, that's a bit of a cop...

Rookie Julio Jones caught a 29-yard touchdown pass from Matt Ryan, Matt Bryant kicked a 33-yard field goal and the Atlanta Falcons led the Jacksonville Jaguars 10-0 through one quarter on Thursday night. The Falcons, seeking their fourth victory in five games, took a 7-0 lead on their first drive when Ryan stepped up in the pocket and connected with Jones, the NFL's No.

Rookie Julio Jones caught a 29-yard touchdown pass from Matt Ryan, Matt Bryant kicked a 33-yard field goal and the Atlanta Falcons led the Jacksonville Jaguars 10-0 through one quarter on Thursday night. The Falcons, seeking their fourth victory in five games, took a 7-0 lead on their first drive when Ryan stepped up in the pocket and connected with Jones, the NFL's No.

Rookie Julio Jones caught a 29-yard touchdown pass from Matt Ryan, Matt Bryant kicked a 33-yard field goal and the Atlanta Falcons led the Jacksonville Jaguars 10-0 through one quarter on Thursday night.

Rookie Julio Jones caught a 29-yard touchdown pass from Matt Ryan, Matt Bryant kicked a 33-yard field goal and the Atlanta Falcons led the Jacksonville Jaguars 10-0 through one quarter on Thursday night.

Rookie Julio Jones caught a 29-yard touchdown pass from Matt Ryan, Matt Bryant kicked a 33-yard field goal and the Atlanta Falcons led the Jacksonville Jaguars 10-0 through one quarter on Thursday night. The Falcons, seeking their fourth victory in five games, took a 7-0 lead on their first drive when Ryan stepped up in the pocket and connected with Jones, the NFL's No. 6 overall...

The Falcons host the Jaguars on Thursday night.  Rookie receiver Julio Jones is listed as probable, but not because of a hamstring injury that has plagued him for weeks.  Instead, Jones appears on the injury report only with a back injury. Also probable are kicker Matt Bryant (illness), tackle Tyson Clabo (illness), receiver Harry Douglas…

FLOWERY BRANCH — Here are the final injury reports for Thursday’s night game between the Falcons (8-5) and the Jaguars (4-9) at the Georgia Dome. ATLANTA FALCONS INJURY REPORT Player                  Pos     Practice     Injury       Game Status John Abraham   DE        Full    – Not Injury Related — Probable Jonathan...

Unlike running backs, quarterbacks and even tight ends, kickers have always been known for their longevity in the NFL. You can easily have a player in his late 30′s to even 40′s booming kicks from 50 yards out. This year we have seen a few kickers who have stood the test of time and continue to put up strong performances. Here are my kicker rankings going into Week 13...

             The 7-4 Atlanta Falcons traveled to Texas today to take on the 8-3 Houston Texans in what turned out to be a defensive struggle. The Texans got on the board first in this one, as Neil Rackers’s 43-yard field goal attempt split the uprights to give Houston a slim 3-0 lead with 4:03 left in the first. Dropped passes by the Falcons allowed Houston to contain...

Brian Cushing was helped off the field after doing something to his right knee. After Dr. Walter Lowe rubbed his knee, Cushing walked to the dressing room. Tim Dobbins, a third-team inside linebacker behind the injured Darryl Sharpton, has replaced Cushing. Cushing was injured on Atlanta’s first scoring drive. Glover Quin tipped a third-and-goal pass from the 1, and the Falcons...

Sidbury sacks Ponder The Falcons overcame a late push by the Minnesota Vikings to win 24-14, to move their record to 7-4. The Falcons got out to a 17-0 lead at the half, but allowed the Vikings to score 14 points before they could get back on the board to seal the win late in the fourth quarter. Matt Ryan completed 27 of 34 passes for 262 yards with 3 touchdowns. Michael Turner led...