Archive for December, 2012

With Dirk Koetter (left), Matt Ryan and the Falcons have the No. 6 passing offense in the NFL. (Curtis Compton, ccompton@ajc.com)

Falcons offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter is drawing interest of NFL teams with newly created coaching vacancies.

Foxsports.com reported Monday that Koetter will likely spend the playoff bye week being interviewed by the Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns. He is scheduled to talk to Kansas City on Tuesday.

With Koetter calling plays, Atlanta has the No. 8 offense in the league and the NFL’s sixth-ranked passing offense.

Koetter joined the Falcons, who went 13-3 this season, after Mike Mularkey become the head coach in Jacksonville.

Continue reading Falcons coordinator tops coach candidate lists »

Tim Tebow looms large over the future of two franchises. (AP)

The day after the final day of the NFL regular season is typically referred to as Black Monday. A day in which coaches, general managers and other personnel are relieved of their positions after disappointing years.

Today is Black Monday. And it could be one of the busiest with seven teams potentially making moves at the top.

The first to pull the switch were the Cleveland Browns who dismissed coach Pat Shurmur and GM Tom Heckert. Shurmur’s replacement will be the Browns’ sixth coach since 1999.

In Jacksonville, the Jaguars fired GM Gene Smith after four seasons. Coach Mike Mularkey, a former Falcons offensive coordinator, could be next. Smith’s replacement will likely be tasked with bringing hometown boy Tim Tebow back to Florida.

And speaking of Tebow …

Jets head coach Rex Ryan publicly pleaded for his job this weekend and it might’ve worked. New York owner Woody Johnson fired Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum, apparently …

Continue reading NFL coaching carousel in full swing (UPDATED) »

The screaming indian was part of the Braves logo when the franchise moved here from Milwaukee in 1966. (Uni Watch)

ESPN’s Uni Watch blog unveiled the upcoming baseball season’s new batting practice hats.

Among the most notable new designs is the Braves’ cap, which includes the screaming indian logo that has not been a part of the Braves’ uniform since 1989. The new cap features the yelling brave in red stitching on a blue rimmed hat.

In 2012, the Braves introduced an “alternate home” uniform that was similar to what the team wore when the franchise moved from Milwaukee to Atlanta in 1966. The cream-colored threads did not feature a tomahawk nor the screaming indian. The left sleeve of the new jersey has a crossed tomahawk instead of the screaming indian logo that appeared on the 1966 jerseys.

Continue reading ‘Screaming indian’ logo returning to Braves gear »

Falcons released defensive end Ray Edwards in November. (Curtis Compton, ccompton@ajc.com)

Former Falcons defensive end Ray Edwards is close to joining the Seattle Seahawks roster, according to ProFootball Talk.

The 10-5 Seahawks worked out Edwards earlier this week and are expected to sign the free agent by today.

The Falcons released Edwards in November. Edwards, who was signed last year to a five-year, $27.5 million contract, played 25 games for the Falcons and had 3.5 sacks. The Falcons are still on the hook for $1.05 million of his $3 million salary for this season.

The Falcons could face Seattle, who have clinched a playoff spot and would play the Washington Redskins in the Wild Card round, in the NFC Divisional Playoff.

Continue reading Seahawks likely to sign Ray Edwards »

It’s probably not the best way to get playing time, but Arizona Cardinals running back Beanie Wells says he will use Sunday’s final game to “audition for a job somewhere else.”

Wells was benched after fumbling in the Cardinals 28-13 loss to Chicago on Sunday. His line for the day: 4 carries, 3 yards, one fumble.

Wells told the Arizona Republic that it’s “inevitable” that he’ll be playing elsewhere next season, even though he is still under contract to the Cardinals.

“I didn’t agree with it at all,” he said of being benched. As for Sunday’s finale against San Francisco, Wells said, “I’m just going to go out there and put my best foot forward for all the 31 other teams that’s watching.”

Wells has suffered through an injury-plagued season, playing in eight games, with 88 carries for 234 yards and five touchdowns.

Continue reading Beanie Wells to ‘audition’ for new job »

Georgia assistant coach Rodney Garner was hired as Auburn’s defensive line coach Thursday night.

Garner, a former Auburn player, will also serve as assistant head coach under new head coach Gus Malzahn.

Rodney Garner played at Auburn.

Auburn athletic director Jay Jacobs said, “Welcome Home, Coach Rodney Garner!” in a Twitter post.

Garner was defensive line coach at Georgia, assistant head coach, and one of the program’s top recruiters.

Jacobs also said of Garner, “He’s one of the best D Line coaches in all of college football.”

Read the full story from the AJC’s Chip Towers.

Continue reading Auburn hires UGA assistant Garner »

Suzy Favor Hamilton was ranked number one in the U.S. in 1989, 1990, 2000, 2001 and 2002. (Andy Lyons, Getty Images)

Three-time U.S. Olympic middle distance runner Suzy Favor Hamilton has been working as an escort in Las Vegas, according the Smoking Gun.

The 44-year-old from Wisconsin reportedly went under the name “Kelly Lundy,” but shared her true identity with clients in Vegas, Los Angeles, Houston, among other locales. She reportedly solicited from $600 for one hour to $6,000 for a 24-hour period.

Approached by a reporter last month, Hamilton – a married mother of 7-year-old girl – initially denied her career, but later confirmed she has worked under the name “Kelly Lundy” since last December. She said has recently decided to stop working as an escort at the insistence of her husband who did not support the career move.

“I take full responsibility for my mistakes. I’m not the victim and I’m not going that route,” Smoking Gun quotes Hamilton. “I’m owning up to what I did. …

Continue reading Former Olympic runner had worked as an escort »

$916 gets you a closer view than this. (AJC File)

Still looking for that perfect Christmas present for the basketball nut on your list?

How about a pair of just-released front-row seats for the remaining 25 Atlanta Hawks home games?

Yes, sports fans, the Hawks are selling four partial-season tickets for front-row seats in Section 107, in the corner of Philips Arena between the sideline and baseline seats.

Buy just two, or buy all four of the tickets, but check your bank account before divvying up for the seats, because they are being sold for $22,902 each.

That price comes out to $916 per game per seat, but at least the tickets come with parking passes and all-you-can-eat food and drinks from the arena’s game day menu.

Continue reading Need Hawks tickets? Here’s one for $916 a game »

Tren Watson and Donny Jackson each had hole-in-ones on No. 13 at the Creek Club at Reynolds Plantation earlier this month.

The odds of two players in the same group acing the same hole are 17 million to one, according to a Golf Digest article from a few years ago.

Watson used a 7-iron on the 154-yard hole. He said his ball landed in front of and to the left of the pin before it rolled in. It was the second hole-in-one of his career.

Hitting third, Jackson used a 5-iron. His ball also landed just in front of the pin before it rolled in on top of Watson’s ball. It was his fourth hole-in-one.

Reynolds Plantation said No. 13 has had 12 hole-in-ones since March.

Watson finished with a 70, his second-best score.

Watson and Jackson, who are both 65 years old, were given a small box with the ball inside and  a plaque on top with the information about the hole-in-one.

Continue reading Two golfers in the same group ace the same hole »

The 2013 BB&T Atlanta Open will be held July 20-28, a week later than it was held this year.

The change was partially necessary because the ATP approved an event to be held in Bogota, Colombia next year from July 15-21. Tournament organizers think the move will strengthen their field because the BB&T will be the only hard-court event in the world that week as players prepare for the U.S. Open, which begins Aug. 26.

The BB&T, which will be played at Atlantic Station, has also secured a commitment from the Bryan brothers, Bob and Mike, one of the must successful tandems in tennis history.

The Bryans finished the 2012 season as the top-ranked doubles team for the fourth consecutive year and eighth time in their history. They have won 82 doubles titles, including 12 Grand Slam championships. Their most recent title came at the U.S. Open and set the record for titles held in the Open era, formerly held by Mark Woodforde and Todd Woodbridge.

“We are extremely proud to bring the …

Continue reading Bryan brothers to compete at BB&T Atlanta Open »