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Matt Ryan’s journey of self-inflicted pain
You can’t blame a player for getting hung up on a Super Bowl loss, especially if it’s the unprecedented 25-point blown lead the Falcons endured back in February.
It would be fair to argue that Matt Ryan is one of the least culpable people for that particular defeat. Sure, he wasn’t without error in the quarter-plus of the Super Bowl, but his offense was responsible for 21 of the 28 points the team put up, and an excellent throw put them in a position to ice the game away in the fourth quarter, before the playcalling got a little wonky.
Alas, it was not to be, so instead of being immediately vaulted into the top tier of NFL quarterbacks for at least the next few years, the reigning MVP is the butt of jokes even though he didn’t even play poorly in the Super Bowl. That’s surely enough to haunt even the iciest of Mattys. Sure enough, at a celebrity golf tournament earlier this week, Matt Ryan admitted to being crushed by the game, and watching it over and over in the days after.
“No, I watched it. I watched it a day after. I watched it two days after and I watched it three days after. For me, it was one of those things where you kind of want to be able to deal with it appropriately. Maybe, that’s different for everybody. Some people bury it away. Some people (do) whatever. … For me it was ‘all right, let’s watch. Does it feel the same way it felt as we were going through it?”
Staring down your demons head-on is a very brave and conventionally leader-type thing to do, so surely Ryan is to be and likely will be commended for the move. But is it possible he could push it further, to a place near pathology, if that’s what it takes to get over the hump? Quarterbacks are generally encouraged to have amnesia about their mistakes, so as not to dwell on them in the future, where they can play with just enough abandon to attempt the difficult passes needed to win close games.
But this is Matt Ryan we’re talking about. Any detail that can be expanded to form something resembling a personality is a route we should take. Therefore, here are a bunch of ways Ryan can take this Super Bowl grieving even further.
- Literally wear a hair shirt during OTAs to atone for his failure.
- Cause more delays to the new Falcons stadium by logging a replica Lombardi trophy where the roof would shut.
- Construct a human bridge of himself and his fellow starters on offense to fix the portion of I-85 that collapsed. “At least now we’ll be serving a useful purpose,” he says, as the first car drives over him.
- Write 28 and 3 on the eyeblack under each eye throughout the 2017 season. When he’s fined for it each week, Matt Ryan swears it’s worth it for the sobering reminder of what he’s been through, which culminates in Atlanta losing in the divisional round.
- Refuse to throw the ball at all during the 2017 season as a protest for being unable to audible out of certain plays in the Super Bowl. Sure, it’s kind of a toothless protest since Kyle Shanahan has already gone on to a new team, but he’ll surely see it and feel bad, and that’s what matters.
More must-reads:
- Matt Ryan watched Super Bowl meltdown three times after loss
- Report: Falcons sign Desmond Trufant to five-year, $69 million extension
- The 'Most prominent quarterbacks in Atlanta Falcons history' quiz
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NFLPA reportedly under federal investigation
The ongoing saga with the NFL Players Association has taken another turn, as the organization is also reportedly the subject of a federal investigation. ESPN's Don Van Natta Jr. and Kalyn Kahler reported on Friday that there is an ongoing criminal investigation involving the NFLPA regarding potential misuse of funds and self-enrichment of union officials. A senior union attorney sent a memo to NFLPA officials this week informing them of the federal probe. The document states that the NFLPA is "now on notice of financial actions that may be criminal" and that the union faces "immediate threats requiring prompt actions," according to ESPN. While the document did not specify which individuals are part of the criminal investigation, the notice was sent days after executive director Lloyd Howell Jr. and director of strategy J.C. Tretter resigned from their positions with the NFLPA. Howell was accused of misusing union funds and faced other troubling allegations. Tretter resigned because he felt like he was left to take the heat for the scandal that has been unfolding, though he has denied any wrongdoing. The NFLPA is searching for an interim executive director. ESPN reports that the memo sent to union officials this week warns that potentially hiring an outside executive director might not be a wise move without knowing exactly how deep "the problems may be." Howell was the executive director of the NFLPA for two years.
Bryce Mitchell vs. Said Nurmagomedov prediction, pick, odds for UFC Abu Dhabi (Saturday, July 26)
Check out the Bryce Mitchell vs. Said Nurmagomedov prediction for UFC Abu Dhabi on Saturday, July 26, with my betting preview and breakdown. The always controversial Bryce Mitchell is looking to revive his career in a new weight class. After dropping two of his last three fights at featherweight, “Thug Nasty” is dropping down to bantamweight. The UFC isn’t doing him any favors, matching him up with the always dangerous Said Nurmagomedov. Will Mitchell be able to go on a run at 135 pounds, or will the new division fail to produce new results? Here’s my Mitchell vs. Nurmagomedov pick and prediction. Bryce Mitchell vs. Said Nurmagomedov odds Tale of the tape I’m generally not a fan of fighters dropping weight classes once they’re established in their careers. While it seems like a logical step — fighting smaller fighters should be easier — it’s often used as a band-aid to cover up bigger issues. That could very well be the case for Mitchell, who made a splash in his early UFC run with his exciting grappling game before plateauing against tougher competition. The biggest issue I have with Mitchell is the lack of improvement he’s shown since making his debut at 23 years old. At the time, he was considered a fairly raw prospect, but the now 30-year-old continues to be plagued by the same issues. Mitchell is a solid wrestler with an excellent top game, but is fairly lacking in every other aspect of the sport. That’s unsurprising, considering the bulk of his training is done in his garage gym, where his training partners are primarily local fighters. There’s a place for working with lower-level training partners. The best way to develop offensive skills is by working with people who don’t force you to play defense, and that goes a long way in explaining Mitchell’s creative submission attack. However, when you’re never forced to be the proverbial nail, it’s hard to improve on your defense. That’s come up often with Mitchell recently — particularly on the feet — where he’s been dropped in all three of those losses. While those came to some solid names — Ilia Topuria, Jean Silva and Josh Emmett have knocked down a lot of people — it’s still not a great sign. Particularly against a dynamic striker like Nurmagomedov. Despite his last name, Said is of no blood relation to Khabib, Usman and Umar Nurmagomedov. He also fights completely differently, with a kick-heavy striking attack and only sporadic grappling. However, he punishes opponents who attempt to grapple him with a nasty guillotine/front choke that’s eerily similar to the submission that Jean Silva landed on Mitchell. Nurmagomedov has shown excellent balance when defending takedowns in earnest as well. Nurmagomedov should also have a massive edge on the feet. He uses lead leg kicks almost as a jab, including both front and side kicks. He’s looked fast against fellow bantamweights, a disparity that should be even more apparent against the larger, slower Mitchell. The biggest concern I have for Nurmagomedov is that his kicks will make it easier for Mitchell’s takedowns, especially since Nurmagomedov won’t have the reach edge he typically enjoys against other bantamweights. He’ll need to rely more on lateral movement in the larger UFC cage to stay out of range, as Mitchell forcing this fight into close quarters is probably the easiest path to victory for the favorite. Mitchell vs. Nurmagomedov pick, prediction The other potential weakness of Nurmagomedov’s game is his cardio. In each of his three UFC losses — all decisions — he won the first round before dropping rounds two and three. Conversely, Mitchell has exclusively lost in the first two rounds of fights and has generally been able to build as fights go on. However, I have my concerns about his ability to keep that up now that he’s cutting an additional ten pounds of weight. While he may be the better fighter late, I’m not sure it will be an especially dramatic difference. I’ve been on Nurmagomedov all week, a stance I’m still fine with despite the line moving against me. I’m going to add an additional half-unit bet on Nurmagomedov to get this done inside the distance, though. The best odds are +225 at DraftKings. Billy’s Pick: Nurmagomedov inside the distance +225 (DraftKings)
Yankees not close to done adding ahead of trade deadline
The New York Yankees already made headlines by acquiring third baseman Ryan McMahon from the Colorado Rockies on Friday. That may not be their only move ahead of the July 31 trade deadline. According to Chris Kirschner of The Athletic, the Yankees have an extensive shopping list. While a right-handed hitting infielder is a priority, New York is also looking for help in the rotation and bullpen. Acquiring McMahon may have contributed to the push for a right-handed hitting infielder. McMahon has struggled against left-handed pitching throughout his career, posting a .231/.307/.378 batting line in 1,079 plate appearances, hitting 34 homers and 35 doubles. Those struggles have been even more pronounced this year. McMahon is slashing .207/.289/.310 in 97 plate appearances against southpaws, with two homers and three doubles. Kirschner specifically listed Minnesota Twins utility man Willi Castro as someone the Yankees are targeting, whose career .260/.306/.399 batting line in 689 plate appearances against lefties would make him a solid complement to McMahon. Likewise, the club's pursuit of pitching makes sense. Marcus Stroman has been much better since returning from the injured list at the end of June, but he cannot be considered a reliable option. Rookie Will Warren has been inconsistent, and with Clarke Schmidt likely lost until 2027 due to Tommy John surgery, the rotation needs work. New York's relief corps may be further down the team's needs. While every contending team looks to bolster the bullpen ahead of the trade deadline, the Yanks' upgrades could come from within. Relievers Fernando Cruz and Mark Leiter Jr. are expected back in August, while fellow reliever Yerry De los Santos was activated from the IL on Saturday. The Yankees still have a lot of work to do ahead of the trade deadline. It could be a busy next few days in the Bronx.
Nick Saban responds to speculation about coaching return amid NFL rumors
Shortly after former Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback and current college football analyst Greg McElroy shared that someone "in the know" believes there's a possibility Nick Saban — who retired in January 2024 — might return to coaching, NFL insider Albert Breer suggested that the Dallas Cowboys could be a potential destination for the seven-time national champion. According to Mike Rodak of 247Sports, Saban was asked during a Friday appearance on Fox News if he intends to come out of retirement. "No, I'm really happy with what I'm doing right now," Saban responded. "It's exciting to still be involved in the game. It's exciting for me to work with athletic directors, conference commissioners, people in Congress to preserve the integrity of our game and continue to be able to create opportunities to help young people create value for their future that will help them be successful in their life, which is what we always try to do as a coach." Saban, now working as an ESPN analyst, will be 74 in October. Per Christian Datoc of the Washington Examiner, President Donald Trump could consider having Saban "lead a new commission examining problems arising with the growth of name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights and coinciding changes to the NCAA transfer process." Meanwhile, it's thought that Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones could look to hire a big-name candidate if first-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer fails to impress during the 2025 campaign. Additionally, Fox Sports personality Colin Cowherd recently hinted that Saban could be interested in becoming the head coach of the Cleveland Browns if the team selects Texas quarterback Arch Manning as the first pick in the 2026 draft. "There is no opportunity that I know of right now that would enhance me to go back to coaching," Saban added during Friday's segment. "I enjoy what I'm doing. I did it for 50 years. I loved it. I loved the relationships with the players. I loved the competition. But it's another station of life now. I enjoy what I'm doing right now and want to continue to do it — spend more time with my family, my grandchildren, my children. It's been really, really good." The "right now" portion of Saban's comments attracted the attention of Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio, who was quick to point out he did not say "no for good" regarding a return to coaching. In short, it seems that rumors about Saban's future could hover over the college and pro football communities through at least the rest of the year.
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