Well, the latest in the “Brett Favre Unretirement Watch” has revealed that Brett plans to remain retired. This is according to “a source close to the team.” Apparently Brett had a phone conversation with Vikings head coach Brad Childress and saved coach the airfare to Hattiesburg, Miss. by declaring his desire to remain retired. It was also reported that Brett will explain his decision soon.
I am beginning to find the whole media frenzy surrounding Brett’s return to the game amusing. And kind of irritating. One day you hear one story, the next day you hear a completely different story. And …read more

The Kansas City Chiefs traded perennial Pro Bowl tight end (and future Hall of Famer) Tony Gonzalez to the Atlanta Falcons today for a second round Draft pick in 2010. In the process, the Falcons address an immediate need by adding one of the NFL’s best pass-catching TEs to their already impressive offensive attack. And I believe they also gave themselves a “big three” with quarterback Matt Ryan and running back Michael Turner (don’t forget receiver Roddy White). Therefore, if the Falcons weren’t already widely considered to be a force to be reckoned with in the future NFC playoff picture, they …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
The Atlanta Falcons are trying to trade the contract rights of quarterback Michael Vick to any interested parties. Unfortunately, Michael is currently in a federal prison on felony charges and isn’t scheduled to be released until July. At AtlantaFalcons.com yesterday, Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff said:
“With regards to Michael Vick, we’ve decided to seek a trade of his contractual rights to another NFL club. We took a number of steps in the 2008 season, including using our first pick to draft a quarterback. We feel a trade is the best move for the Falcons, …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
One day after losing a Wild Card playoff game to the Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons head coach Mike Smith was named the Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year. Coach Smith edged Miami Dolphins head coach Tony Sparano by a mere one vote. He explained his team’s process to success:
“I’m honored individually, but more so for our coaching staff and our players. I think we have tried to establish that we’d be very systematic in how we did things, that we were going to have a plan. We laid that plan out from the very …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan was named the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year yesterday by the Associated Press. I think Falcons owner Arthur Blank had hoped for Matt to have a shot at the starting quarterback position this season when the team drafted him third overall back in April. But I’m sure he didn’t expect this kind of success this soon — not for Matt and not for the Falcons as a team as the prepare to play the NFC West champion Arizona Cardinals Saturday in a Wild Card Playoff game. As one would …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
Atlanta Falcons fullback Ovie Mughelli is thankful. And he wants to know what you’re thankful for. Impress him enough with your answer and you will receive a special gift package from “Ovie Claus.” To enter this Thanksgiving contest, just visit Ovie’s Yardbarker blog and leave a comment.
Source: YardBarker.com

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
Atlanta Falcons rookie Matt Ryan was named the team’s season-opening starting quarterback by head coach Mike Smith today. Matt will also start the Falcons preseason finale against Baltimore this Thursday:
“We have evaluated Matt through OTAs, mini-camp, training camp and over the course of three preseason games. After reviewing Matt’s progress, we feel like he has won the starting job.”
The decision makes sense. In this particular situation, Matt will do better in a “baptism-by-fire” than he will watching and learning from the sidelines. In three preseason contests, Matt has completed 32 of 52 passes for 277 …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
The Atlanta Falcons gave wide receiver Joe Horn his unconditional release from the team today, something he had been seeking since OTAs this past offseason. The Falcons couldn’t trade Joe, so they let him go. They will have to eat his guaranteed $2.5 million salary for 2008. Naturally, Joe couldn’t have been happier, but he also expressed sorrow:
“It’s a sense of sadness because after every game last year and after the first two preseason games, I had to look at Mr. Blank and know that he deserves a winning team and he deserves a championship. …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
Atlanta Falcons rookie quarterback Matt Ryan was impressive in his debut against the Jacksonville Jaguars tonight. The Falcons lost the game 20-17, but Matt was 9 of 15 passing for 113 yards and a touchdown (25 yards to WR Roddy White) in five first half drives. It’s too early to be making any sort of predictions, but Falcons fans have to be optimistic with this start.
Source: AtlantaFalcons.com

Getty Images
Blogcasting the National Football League, Blogcasting the NFL
Disgruntled Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Joe Horn would like to play for the Dallas Cowboys. Then again, who wouldn’t? Obviously the Cowboys seem to have all the pieces in place to make a Super Bowl run in 2008. Their entire training camp will be documented by HBO. And it’s simply becoming almost trendy to want to play for “America’s team” these days. Just ask Adam Jones, Chris Henry and Chad Johnson. Joe is no different:
“I would be in awe to play with an organization like that because I know that they’re at …read more