Falcons' Matt Ryan Not Worried About Getting A New Deal

Leon Halip/Getty Images(DULUTH, Ga.) -- With quarterbacks like Joe Flacco and Tony Romo getting new contracts, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan isn't too concerned about becoming the next player to cash in.

Ryan's contract with the Falcons expires after the 2013 season, so the team will be trying to resign him in the upcoming months.

Since coming into the NFL, Ryan has only gotten better each year. In 2013, he threw for a career-high 4,719 yards and threw a career high 32 touchdowns. He understands his time will come.

"I understand the nature of the business and how everything operates," Ryan said at his Matt Ryan Celebrity AM Classic at TPC Sugarloaf. "At the same time, my focus has always been able to just try to prepare myself to just play and let all the other stuff take care of itself. I'm not really too worried about it. My sole focus this offseason is to prepare myself, to work really hard and to try to give ourselves another chance like we had last year."

Ryan led the Falcons to the NFC Championship game in 2012, but ultimately lost to the San Francisco 49ers.

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Super Bowl or Bust for Falcons in 2013

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- It's Super Bowl or bust for the Atlanta Falcons in 2013, according to wide receiver Roddy White.

The Falcons fell to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship game last season, but White believes that in 2013 they will finally get over the hump.

"I think that the first three [playoff appearances under coach Mike Smith] we were getting there and were just having fun being there. And then we turned a curb, and we said we have to stop just getting there and we have to win games," White told ESPN on Wednesday.

"We're ready to take that next step. We know how good our football team is and the players we got, so it's either Super Bowl or nothing for us right now," he continued.

White also believes a lot of the blame shouldn't be placed on quarterback Matt Ryan.

"It takes so much more than just Matt Ryan to finish plays, especially down the stretch. You can't just put it on the quarterback and say, 'All right, you have to make this one play to get over the hump.' It has to be me, it has to be Julio, it has to be Tony. We have to go out and make those plays and make it easier on Matt Ryan," he said.

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Falcons Sign Exonerated LB Brian Banks

National Football League (ATLANTA) --  The Atlanta Falcons are giving Brian Banks a second chance to live his dream. The team signed the free agent linebacker this week, one year after he exonerated of rape charges.

Banks spent five years in prison and five years on probation following his false conviction of rape and kidnapping charges a decade ago. 

After verbally committing to Southern Cal at the age of 16, a high school classmate accused him of rape.

The woman recanted her claim and offered to help Banks clear his name after he was out of prison. That helped lead to the conviction being overturned by a California court and Banks' record cleared in May of last year.

The 27-year-old Banks will be given a chance to win a spot on the team at inside linebacker. 

"All I can do is my best and however the turnout will be, I thank God for the opportunity, he said."

Banks will take part in the Falcons' offseason workouts, which are set to begin on April 22.

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Dolphins Sign CB Grimes To One-Year Deal

Jamie Squire/Getty Images(MIAMI) --  The Miami Dolphins have signed cornerback Brent Grimes to a one-year contract worth $5.5 million, according to league sources.

Grimes played in only one game in 2012 with the Atlanta Falcons.  He sat out the majorty of the year because of an Achilles injury suffered in the season opener.

The 29-year-old Grimes made the Pro Bowl in 2010 and was considered to be one of the top free agents left on the market.

He is the latest signing in what has been a busy offseason for the Dolphins, who have also signed notable free agents Mike Wallace and Dannell Ellerbe, among others.

Grimes has 13 career interceptions in his six NFL seasons. 

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Falcons Sign Osi Umenyiora

NFL via Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- Osi Umenyiora is heading south.

The free agent reached an agreement Wednesday to join the Atlanta Falcons on a two-year contract, replacing long time Falcon John Abraham.

According to ESPN, the deal is worth $8.5 million with $5 million guaranteed and could be worth up to $12 million.

Umenyiora has played for the New York Giants since 2003, and recorded a career-high 14 1/2 sacks in 2005. Over his career, he has amassed 75 sacks and 31 forced fumbles.

Last season, health was an issue for the 31-year-old Umenyiora as he started only four of the 16 games and logged just six sacks.

Abraham was released by Falcons on March 1.

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RB Steven Jackson Agrees To 3-Year Deal With Atlanta Falcons

NFL via Getty Images(ATLANTA) -- The Atlanta Falcons have agreed to a three-year contract with free agent running back Steven Jackson on Thursday. Financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed.

The 29-year-old Jackson will replace Michael Turner as the starting running back, after the Falcons cut Turner loose before the start of free agency.

Jackson was originally drafted out of Oregon State by the Rams with the 24th overall pick in the 2004 NFL draft. In nine seasons with the Rams, Jackson rushed for 10,135 yards and 56 touchdowns on 2,395 carries. He also has 407 receptions for 3,324 yards and eight touchdowns.

Last year, the three-time Pro Bowler topped the 1,000-yard mark for the eighth consecutive season.

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Falcons Agree to Five-Year Deal with William Moore

Joe Robbins/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- Safety William Moore has agreed to a five-year, $30 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons Saturday, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Moore was drafted by the Falcons in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft, and has been a starter for the team since 2010.

Moore, 27, compiled 75 tackles, four interceptions, two forced fumbles and one sack while appearing in 12 games last season. He was also selected to his first Pro Bowl in 2012, despite missing four games due to a hamstring injury.

In his four NFL seasons, Moore has played in 42 games collecting 203 tackles while intercepting 11 passes.

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Atlanta Falcons Release Star-Studded Trio

David Dermer/Diamond Images/Getty Images(ATLANTA) --  The Atlanta Falcons have announced that they released veterans Michael Turner, John Abraham, and Dunta Robinson on Friday in an attempt to clear major salary-cap space.

The moves saved the Falcons $15.9 million in salary and moved them under the cap, which is set at $123 million for this season.

"As a football coach it is never easy to cut any player, especially veteran players who have been valuable members of the organization," Falcons head coach Mike Smith said. "The guys we released today have contributed to the success that we have had over the last five years, and we greatly appreciate their efforts."

The 31-year-old Turner was Atlanta's leading rusher in 2012, gaining 800 yards on the ground to go along with 10 touchdowns.  Abraham led the defense in sacks last season with 10.  He collected 68.5 sacks in seven seasons with the Falcons.

Robinson was cut after three seasons with the team, totaling over 200 tackles and four interceptions.

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Tony Gonzalez Will Probably Retire From The NFL

Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images(ATLANTA) --  Atlanta Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez said that Sunday's NFC Championship Game against the San Francisco 49ers was probably his last game in the NFL.

The 36-year-old Gonzalez had made similar statements throughout the season, saying he would retire after the Falcons' postseason run.

"It's probably the last time I'm going to wear that uniform," Gonzalez said after the Falcons' 28-24 loss. "I didn't want to take it off, to tell you the truth. All good things come to an end, and like I said all season long, this is probably my last one. What an unbelievable ride."

If Sunday was his final game, Gonzalez made it a good one, with eight catches for 72 yards and a touchdown.

He hadn't won a playoff game until the Falcons beat the Seattle Seahawks in the divisional round, and was hoping to play in his first Super Bowl.

Gonzalez was drafted in 1997 by the Kansas City Chiefs. He is second on the NFL career receptions list with 1,242.  His 14,268 receiving yards rank seventh all-time.

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Scoreboard Roundup - 1/20/13

Hemera/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- NFL - NFC Championship Game: The San Francisco 49ers dispatched the Atlanta Falcons, 28-24 to advance to the Super Bowl.

AFC Championship Game: The Baltimore Ravens smashed the New England Patriots, 28-13 to advance to the Super Bowl.

NBA: The Toronto Raptors (15-26) vanquished the Los Angeles Lakers (17-23), 108-103.

The Dallas Mavericks (18-24) popped the Orlando Magic (14-26), 111-105.

The Detroit Pistons (15-25) crashed the Boston Celtics (20-20), 103-88.

The Denver Nuggets (25-18) silenced the Oklahoma City Thunder (32-9), 121-118 in overtime.

NHL: The Buffalo Sabres (1-0-0) sliced the Philadelphia Flyers (0-2-0), 5-2.

The San Jose Sharks (1-0-0) doused the Calgary Flames (0-1-0), 4-1.

The Pittsburgh Penguins (2-0-0) smashed the New York Rangers (0-2-0), 6-3.

The Minnesota Wild (2-0-0) blanked the Dallas Stars (1-1-0), 1-0.

The Edmonton Oilers (1-0-0) edged the Vancouver Canucks (0-1-1), 3-2 in a shootout.

The Chicago Blackhawks (2-0-0) quieted the Phoenix Coyotes (0-2-0), 6-4.

Top 25 Men's College Basketball: (2) Indiana (16-2) managed the Northwestern Wildcats (11-8), 67-59.

(14) North Carolina State (15-3) eluded Clemson (10-7), 66-62.

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