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In recent NFL annals, the list of HCs to go 0-for-3 in playoff berths to start a tenure and then be brought back for a fourth year is not long. While Robert Saleh is on track to buck this trend and be brought back after (in all likelihood) three non-playoff seasons in New York, the Falcons are also not expected to shake up their staff.
Although Atlanta is tied for the NFC South lead, the team may not need to make the playoffs for Arthur Smith to keep his job. The Falcons are not expected to, barring a collapse, fire Smith in 2024, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes. This differs from a status report on this job last month, which indicated Smith was more likely to go than stay in 2024.
After their loss to the Buccaneers, the Falcons are 6-7. The team finished 7-10 in each of Smith’s first two seasons. The Falcons launched a bit of a rebuild under Smith and GM Terry Fontenot, taking on considerable dead money to move the Julio Jones, Matt Ryan and Deion Jones contracts. But the team is looking likely to exit Year 3 without the quarterback position being solved. Desmond Ridder has submitted an inconsistent season, being benched for Taylor Heinicke at one point, after the Falcons backed the 2022 third-round pick throughout the offseason.
Ridder ranks 24th in QBR and, despite the Falcons choosing pass catchers in the top 10 in 2021 (Kyle Pitts) and 2022 (Drake London), has thrown just nine touchdown passes (compared to nine INTs) this season. The Falcons, who were in position to trade for Deshaun Watson had the Browns not come through with the astonishing $230M guarantee offer last year, joined the rest of the NFL in not pursuing Lamar Jackson this offseason. Arthur Blank expressed an interest in building around Ridder’s rookie contract, but the Falcons may need to explore an upgrade in 2024.
The Falcons ranked third in rushing last season but struggled mightily through the air in the largely Marcus Mariota-quarterbacked campaign. After ranking 15th in points scored last season, Atlanta sits 24th in Ridder’s first full year as a starter. Active in adding defenders this offseason, the team has improved from 23rd to 12th under new DC Ryan Nielsen. But Smith was hired to jumpstart Atlanta’s offense. For the most part, that has not happened.
The NFC South has produced one of the worst two-year periods of any division in NFL history, as it could potentially send a second straight sub-.500 team to the playoffs once again. Every coach in the division has either ventured to a hot seat or already been fired (Frank Reich). The Falcons close the season with only one team (the 7-6 Colts) left on their schedule with a winning record. This could give Smith a final platform to convince ownership he deserves a fourth season. Should the Falcons retain Smith for 2024, he will certainly enter the season on a scorching seat.
More must-reads:
- Browns make curious decision with rookie QB Shedeur Sanders
- Bears GM speaks out after superstar goes down with injury
- The 'Single-season sack leaders by NFL team' quiz
TODAY'S BEST
Why as many as 100 NFL players are facing fines and potential suspension
There is not a bigger sporting event in North America than the Super Bowl, and tickets are only getting more expensive every year. There is also a ridiculous secondary market for tickets where seats sell for well above the original face value. It is usually fans or ticket resellers going for a quick profit. But as was reported on Friday, sometimes it can be players in the NFL looking to make a profit. According to multiple reports, including the Associated Press and ESPN, more than 100 players are facing fines and potential suspensions for selling their allotment of tickets to this year's Super Bowl between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs for above face value. Players are reportedly facing fines of one-and-a-half times the face value they originally paid for the tickets, while they are also prevented from purchasing tickets to the Super Bowl for the next seasons. The Associated Press obtained a memo from the NFL detailing the violation and investigation. That memo was as follows: “Our initial investigation has determined that a number of NFL players and coaches, employed by several NFL Clubs, sold Super Bowl tickets for more than the ticket’s face value in violation of the Policy. This long-standing League Policy, which is specifically incorporated into the Collective Bargaining Agreement, prohibits League or Club employees, including players, from selling NFL game tickets acquired from their employer for more than the ticket’s face value or for an amount greater than the employee originally paid for the ticket, whichever is less. We are in the process of completing our investigation into this matter, but the investigation has revealed that club employees and players sold their tickets to a small number of ‘bundlers’ who were working with a ticket reseller to sell the Super Bowl tickets above face value.” If players are not willing to pay the fine, they could be facing suspension from the league. It seems unlikely that any of the players — none of whom have been named, or their teams — would refuse to pay such a fine. It's also one of those moments where you can say, professional athletes — they're still normal people trying to make a quick buck. The most logical answer here is perhaps some of the players caught up in this are younger players who have not yet struck it rich on a big contract or perhaps even practice squad players who are not making top dollar.
Aaron Boone Breaks Silence With 2-Word Update on Aaron Judge
The New York Yankees have had an up-and-down season throughout the 2025 campaign thus far. At this point in the season with the MLB trade deadline just a few days away, the team holds a 56-47 record. With that record, the Yankees are in second place in the race for the American League East division race. They are now 5.5 games behind the Toronto Blue Jays and have lost two straight games. Unfortunately, some very concerning news has come up regarding superstar outfielder Aaron Judge. Judge will be missing Saturday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies due to an elbow injury. There is still no telling just how serious the injury is, but there is obvious concern within the organization. Aaron Boone, New York's manager, offered a highly disturbing two-word update about Judge. “Obviously concerned,” Boone said. He also revealed that Judge will be undergoing imaging to determine the extent of the injury. Should Judge be forced to miss any significant amount of time due to the elbow injury, the Yankees would take a major hit. They no longer have a backup superstar like Juan Soto to take over the load that Judge carries. Throughout the 2025 MLB season thus far, Judge has played in 103 games and has played at an insanely high level. He has hit 37 home runs to go along with 85 RBI's, while also slashing .342/.449/.711. Those numbers are irreplaceable for New York. Expect to hear more concrete news about Judge in the near future. He is undergoing testing, but Boone's comments about being extremely concerned are not going to help Yankees fans find peace until the results are known.
WNBA legend Lisa Leslie had three words for Angel Reese
Now in her second WNBA season, Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese is averaging a league‑leading 12.5 rebounds along with 13.8 points, 3.7 assists and 1.4 steals per game. She recently returned from injury and immediately picked up where she left off, posting her 16th double‑double of the season (11 points, 11 rebounds) on Tuesday night even as her Chicago Sky fell, 91-68, to the Minnesota Lynx. Then, on Wednesday, Reese showcased her brand power on Instagram, posting a pregame photo dressed head‑to‑toe in Gucci with the caption, "Don’t worry about me… life is GUCCI @gucci #guccipartner." The image quickly lit up her feed and drew an immediate response from one of the game’s all‑time greats, WNBA legend Lisa Leslie, who commented, “Yessss it is❤️." Despite flashes of elite play, the Sky have struggled mightily, standing at just 7-17 and sitting fifth in the Eastern Conference. Their 76.7 points per game rank 12th in the WNBA, and opponents are torching them for 86.8 a night (12th in the league). With head coach Tyler Marsh searching for consistency, every bright spot has been a welcome reprieve for a franchise that won the title as recently as 2021. Front and center among Chicago’s bright spots is Reese. Off the court, Reese has quickly built a burgeoning portfolio of endorsement deals, including Reebok, Calvin Klein, Beats by Dre, Amazon and now Gucci, underscoring her status as one of the WNBA’s brightest personalities. On the other side, you have Leslie, whose voice carries more weight than arguably anybody in women’s basketball. A three‑time league MVP, two‑time WNBA champion and Finals MVP and eight‑time All‑Star, Leslie helped define the league’s early years with the Los Angeles Sparks, including driving home the first dunk in WNBA history in 2002. A Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer (class of 2015), she remains a global ambassador for the sport.
Dodgers Announce Max Muncy Update After 16 Straight Missed Games
Third baseman Max Muncy is in his eighth season with the Los Angeles Dodgers after debuting with the Oakland Athletics in 2015. Muncy failed to establish himself as a reliable major-league hitter in Oakland, but his career took off in Los Angeles. The 34-year-old left-handed slugger has made two All-Star teams with the Dodgers and appeared in 905 games, hitting 203 home runs and driving in 575 runs. He’s also been a postseason hero, batting .217 with 44 hits, 13 homers, 34 RBIs and 38 runs scored across 62 career playoff games, and he’s won two World Series titles (2020, 2024). On July 2 against the Chicago White Sox, Muncy sustained a left knee bone bruise after a collision at third base while making a tag. An MRI showed no structural damage, and although his initial recovery timeline was set at six weeks, the Dodgers announced he could begin a rehab assignment next week and return ahead of schedule. His rehab progress has expedited his return timetable, and the team is eagerly anticipating his comeback. During his absence, the Dodgers have dropped five of 16 games, and their division lead dropped to five games over the San Diego Padres. His veteran presence has been missed in the clubhouse as much as his bat has been at the plate. In 2025, Muncy is batting .250 with an .832 OPS, 13 home runs, 55 RBIs and 51 walks while hitting in the heart of the Dodgers' lineup.
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