The Amateurs
By: Robert Craft
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The NCAA’s amateur model is crumbling right before our eyes.
The free agency market for college athletes is taking shape.
The preliminary injunction against the NCAA that will prevent the association from prohibiting athletes from negotiating NIL compensation with collectives and boosters – shouldn’t even be considered momentous. It should be considered obvious and overdue.
This is a landmark ruling in college sports, and this ruling is in effect and largely consequential because an entire industry has been conditioned for decades to believe that it’s against NCAA rules for athletes to be able to gauge the true value of their labor like any other American.
Now, Judge Clifton L. Corker, ruling in the NIL lawsuit filed by the attorneys general of Tennessee and Virginia, is signaling that the NCAA’s suppression of a free market – at least as it pertains to NIL – is on the wrong side of the law.
“Without the give and take of a free market, student-athletes simply have no knowledge of their true NIL value,” Corker wrote in his decision. “It is this suppression of negotiating leverage and the consequential lack of knowledge that harms student-athletes.”
The court ordered that the NCAA and “all persons in active concert or participation with the NCAA” are restrained from enforcing the interim NIL policy, NCAA bylaws or any other authority that prohibits athletes from negotiating NIL compensation.
God forbid a college athlete, like the rest of us, can gauge what he/she is worth on the open market before they make life changing decisions about their future.
It’s another loss for the wigs and suits and the NCAA, and a massive one.
Athletes shouldn’t have been brainwashed to the point where news like this is celebrated. This needs to be normal. It is a good step in the right direction from a business ethics standpoint.
However, the athletes’ free market model needs to expand to further benefit the people who make the NCAA what it is.
What this decision represents is the continued demise of the NCAA’s amateurism model.
Here is what will take hold: another much-needed step toward the formation of a long-overdue free market for the athletes.
Athletes also need the ability to gauge how large of a slice of the enormous broadcast rights pies they deserve. They need to be empowered to collectively bargain with schools, leagues or the College Football Playoff on any number of issues related to compensation, health, welfare matters and much more.
The fact that 10 FBS commissioners engaged in a nearly nine-hour College Football Playoff meeting Wednesday and broached the possibility of expanding the newly expanded 12-team tournament to 14 teams without a peep of input from athletes tells you how far college sports still needs to go.
But change is coming. Considering the pace of change in 2024 alone, it’s coming fast.
Time will tell how the case plays out. In the meantime, we are now witnessing, in real-time, the NCAA’s amateur model crumbling. And we’re seeing the college athlete free market take shape, a change as obvious as it is overdue.
The SEC Mine Field
By: Joe Delaney
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
This year for the first time ever in college football we have a new piece to the equation. That’s the new 12 team playoff scenario.
Many across the country felt that Georgia was the best team in the country in 2023. And that was after the Michigan Wolverines spanked the Washington Huskies in the NCAA National Championship game.
But they picked a bad time to play a very average game and lost the SEC championship to old nemesis Alabama 27-24. With the 4-team playoff in place all Georgia could say was woulda, coulda, shoulda.
Well hopefully this new format will give a more rounded playoff and throw a little more excitement into it. Let’s take a way too early look at the SEC contenders for a spot in the 2024 playoffs.
ALABAMA: The biggest news in college football this year was Nick Saban heading off into the sunset.
In comes Washington Huskies Kalen DeBoer to lead the Crimson Tide. Offensively the Tide return Jalen Milroe, who came on at the end of the season and was instrumental in the upset of then #1 Georgia.
Add in budding star Justice Haynes at RB and a solid returning O-line with experience and the Tide could be tough on Offense. Losing Isiah Bond and Amari Niblack to the portal won’t help though.
The defense was wrecked by the NFL draft, the portal, and the coaching change. While they ranked 17th in the country giving up only 19 PPG in 2023, 2024 could be a different story. Bama’s season will rest on the D.
GEORGIA: While Dawg nation had all the respect in the world for Nick Saban, they are damn glad he’s gone.
Playing a sub-par game when it counted, the Dawgs fell 27-24 to the Tide in the SEC championship and missed a chance at a 3-peat.
Well, the Dawgs are back and reloaded for 2024.
Back is Carson Beck, who threw for 22 touchdowns and only 6 interceptions. He has first round NFL written all over him.
The RBs should be one of the best in the country with the addition of Trevor Etienne. Add in a massive, talented O-line and a very good returning receiving corp and the Dawgs are loaded on offense.
Defensively, the Dawgs return starters and experience throughout. Nazir Stackhouse, Mykel Williams, Smael Mondon, Daylen Everett, and Malaki Starks all return.
There is talent, speed and experience and the defense should be solid.
Add in a great placekicker in Peyton Woodring and the Dawgs are ready for run. The #1 recruiting class this year won’t hurt either.
TEXAS: Welcome to the SEC, Texas!
The Longhorns bring a great winning tradition, a rabid fanbase and a loaded experienced outfit to the SEC in 2024.
Texas returns Quinn Evers at QB and 4 of 5 starters on the O-line. That’s 2 major pieces to the puzzle in the rugged SEC.
The WR room has been bolstered by the addition of Matthew Golden and Silas Bolden from the portal. Add in Isiah Bond from Alabama and this could be a team strength.
On the defensive side the Horns will miss T’Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy II.
They do have returning experience and starters throughout the defense and should be solid. This will be a very good football team in 2024.
How they deal with the week-in week-out physicality of the SEC will be fun to watch.
So, those are the three top dogs in the SEC for 2024? But there is a sleeper or two.
OLE MISS: Nobody likes the Portal as much as Lane Kiffin.
And so far in 2024 the Rebs have added 17.
Ole Miss returns Jaxson Dart at QB and he leads an offense that is flat loaded.
The O-line is experienced and SEC proven and includes Jeremy James, a two-year starter who grew up in Brunswick and played for our U-12 all-stars, the Broncos. Great kid and family.
Add in a great group of WRs for Dart to connect with and the Rebels will be formidable on offense.
Defensively Pete Golding likes to rotate, rotate, then rotate players. That leads to a lot of experience on that side of the ball. Add in the portal additions and the Rebels will be improved on D in 2024.
LSU: You’ve got to hand it to Brian Kelly, the dude can coach football.
He brings a squad to the table that on any given day can beat any of the above.
Offensively, look for Garrett Nussmeier to have a great year. The second-string gunslinger from 2023 will lead the Tigers in 2024 and he is one of the better QBs in the league right NOW.
The O-line is physical and returns 4 starters.
The defense is experienced and returns players throughout the lineup. Add in Harold Perkins, one of the most electric defensive players in the nation and LSU is loaded. You better bring you’re A game with these guys.
The SEC is going to be fantastic in 2024. We could very easily see 3 teams in the 12-team playoff.
Don’t sleep on Missouri, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Oklahoma. I just hope we haven’t beaten ourselves to death by playoff time.
Around The South
By: Kenneth Harrison
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The 2024 NFL Draft is in April so it is coming up soon. Let’s take a look around the NFC South and see who each team will take with their first pick.
Atlanta (7-10): The Falcons have the No. 8 pick. They fired head coach Arthur Smith shortly after losing to the New Orleans Saints in the season finale. Raheem Morris was hired as the new head coach.
They need to obtain a franchise quarterback but they are picking too late to address that. The top three quarterback prospects; Caleb Williams, Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels should be selected with the first three picks.
Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy might still be on the board so he might be an option. Atlanta still has the option of trading for a veteran free agent quarterback like Russell Wilson or Justin Fields. I believe they will do that, so I think they will select a pass rusher.
Florida State defensive end Jared Verse might prove to be the best pass rusher in the draft. He’s 6’4 and 260 pounds so he has good size.
In his two years in Tallahassee, he had 18 sacks and 29.5 tackles for loss. It seems like we talk about how Atlanta cannot get to the quarterback every season, so this would be a great pick.
New Orleans (9-8): They have the No. 14 pick. The Saints finished second in the division and had a winning record. Head coach Dennis Allen is entering his third season and he wants to make the playoffs next season.
Quarterback Derek Carr played well in his first season in the Big Easy and he dramatically reduced his interceptions.
The biggest area that needs to be addressed is the interior defensive line.
Defensive lineman Byron Murphy II (Texas) would be a good pick here. He’s 6’1, 308 lbs. and he has the size to clog up the middle and stop the run.
The interior defensive line might become a strength because he will be paired with 2023 first-round pick Bryan Bresee.
Tampa Bay (9-8): The Bucs have the No. 26 pick. They surprised everyone last season by making the playoffs and beating the reigning NFC Champion Philadelphia Eagles 32-9 in the Wild Card round.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield revived his career and played well.
Pro Bowl wide receiver Mike Evans is expected to be a free agent. The general belief is that he will leave Tampa to go to a contending team. They will need to draft a No. 1 receiver to help fill that void.
Wide receiver Keon Coleman (Florida State) could be his replacement. Like Evans, he’s a big target at 6’4 and 215 pounds. He has not had an amazing season in college so he still needs to develop.
His best season was as a sophomore at Michigan State when he had 58 catches, 798 yards and 7 touchdowns.
Last season at FSU he had 50 catches, 658 yards and 11 TD’s.
Carolina (2-15): The Panthers were awful last season. They traded up to select QB Bryce Young with the No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft and they traded away their 2024 first round pick.
They will have the first pick of the second round at No. 33.
They need to help Young by surrounding him with weapons. They may select wide receiver Adonai Mitchell (Texas). He spent his first two seasons at Georgia before transferring to Texas in 2023. Last season he had 55 receptions, 845 yards and 11 scores. He’s 6’4 so he is a big target.
To The River City
By: Jeff Doke
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Much like the end of the 2023 season, the lead up to the 2024 NFL Draft is not what Jaguar fans were expecting even as recently as six months ago.
Prior to the late season collapse that saw Jacksonville lose five out of their last six games and miss the playoffs thanks to a final week loss to their hated rivals from the Volunteer State, your average Jags fan thought the team was trending in the right direction.
Now, not so much. While the team is still considered upper tier, they’re not as close to “legitimate contender” status as we were hoping leading into the 2023 season. Once again, this year’s draft will prove to be vital, and that’s a situation Jacksonville fans are tired of being in.
At first glance, one would think the Offensive Line would be a top priority. Thirty-five sacks of your generational-talent quarterback would lend credence to that assumption.
Notre Dame’s Joe Alt is the top-rated prospect this year, but he’ll likely be long gone by the time the Jags finally get on the clock at #17.
Same thing for Penn State’s Olu Fashanu. UGA’s Sedrick Van Pran would likely be available, but he’s a Center, and Luke Fortner is looking pretty solid coming into his third year in the league. O-Line help, though desperate, may unfortunately be a second- or third-round target.
Crazy enough as it seems, Wide Receiver is another top concern for Baalke & company.
Calvin Ridley wasn’t as quick to recover from his suspension as some had hoped, and there’s still a chance he doesn’t get re-signed.
Personally, I think that would be a mistake. Thanks to his recent legal issues, Zay Jones might get cut, and Christian Kirk is on the last year of the deal that no one thought he could live up to but somehow did.
If they do go the receiver route, look for the Jags to call Bulldog-turned-Longhorn Adonai Mitchell’s name, possibly Brian Thomas Jr. out of LSU. If he’s available in 2nd or 3rd round, I absolutely would not complain if they brought Ladd McConkey to the banks of the St. Johns.
Cornerback is another area of need, and there’s a pair of Alabama products that wouldn’t be out of the question with the 17th overall pick.
Kool-Aid McKinstry and Terrion Arnold are both first-round worthy considerations, and to be honest, either of them falling to 17th would be hard to turn down.
If they go a different direction in the first, hope against hope that Clemson’s Nate Wiggins or Iowa’s Cooper DeJean are still out there in the second round. Admittedly this is a homer pick, but I’d love to see them bring Auburn’s Jaylin Simpson back this side of the Chattahoochee.
The one area that shouldn’t be a concern – but yet somehow is – would be the Edge/LB.
Josh Allen was tied for second in pressure rate, second in sacks and third in quarterback hits in 2023, and yet there’s still the chance he gets hit with the franchise tag.
Seriously, Mr. Khan, just pay the man. He’s earned it. Same for Travon Walker, who saw his sack total jump from 3.5 his rookie year to 10 in his sophomore effort.
If we’re going to look to the future, Texas A&M’s Edgerrin Cooper would be solid, as would the twin towers of the Bama defensive backfield, Dallas Turner & Chris Braswell.
In short, the Jaguars’ needs are more plentiful than we hoped at this point.
While the marquee players are pretty much in place, the needs in the trenches are still noticeable. General Manager Trent Baalke sees this and has commented as such in recent pressers.
Hopefully with the new assistant coaching staff in place and their eyes on the future, this year’s draft haul will be one that is seen as the difference maker, not one that sets the franchise back as so many in the last 20 years have done.
Underpaid
By: Kipp Branch
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Ronald Jose Acuña Jr. is the best player in baseball. Repeat after me one more time Ronald Jose Acuña Jr. is the best player in baseball. Now that we have that understood let me show you the top ten paid players in baseball:
Ten highest paid players in MLB 2024
Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers – $70 million
Max Scherzer, Texas Rangers – $43.333 million
Justin Verlander, Houston Astros – $43.333 million
Jacob deGrom, Texas Rangers – $40 million
Aaron Judge, New York Yankees – $40 million
Anthony Rendon, Los Angeles Angels – $38.571 million
Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels – $37.116 million
Gerrit Cole, New York Yankees – $36 million
Patrick Corbin, Washington Nationals – $35.416 million
Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals – $35 million
The current NL MVP is not on this list, but he soon should be.
Ronald Acuña Jr. is not eligible to become a free agent until after the 2026 season, but he is already thinking about a contract that will keep him with the Atlanta Braves for life.
Speaking to reporters from spring training last week, Acuña said it’s “not a secret” he wants to be “a Brave for life” and is hopeful they can “make that happen soon.”
Acuña was the first Braves player who signed one of those team-friendly deals that have become so common with the Braves over the years. He agreed to a 10-year, $100 million deal in 2019, when he was 21 years old. The contract has since been re-worked with an option of free agency after year eight.
I cannot fault the Braves for doing team friendly deals with players that project out to be future superstars. Acuña falls in that category.
Would the Braves risk letting this superstar walk in a couple of seasons? This situation has the potential to not turn out so well if the Braves are not willing to have extension talks with the Acuña camp.
Surely the Braves organization feels that Acuña should be one of the top paid players in the game. I can guarantee you that the Dodgers, Yankees, Red Sox, and Mets feel that way.
The longer Atlanta allows extension talks drag out then you allow bitterness to creep in, and if this drags out over a year or so you hurt your chances of resigning the best player in baseball to a long-term extension that will keep Acuña a Braves for life.
After an MVP season the Acuña camp understands their market value, and so do the Atlanta Braves. The Braves knew this day would come.
Grossly undervalued team friendly contracts frustrate me as a fan, but I do understand the business side of it. It feels like a team takes advantage of a young player who comes from a tough background in a developing country. This was Acuña’s case and the Braves threw a big number in front of him at an early age for long-term. The Braves know that if the player develops into a superstar, like in Acuña’s case, then you a very team friendly situation. However, this creates a perception problem.
He led MLB with a .416 on-base percentage, 217 hits and 73 stolen bases last season.
The Braves have Acuña on the books for $17M for 2024. The Yankees are paying Aaron Judge $40M in 2024. The Braves are getting a sweetheart deal here.
Acuña became the first player in MLB history with at least 40 homers and 70 stolen bases in a single season during the 2023 season.
Acuña, the first 40/70 player in MLB history, is the fourth highest paid player on his own team. Matt Olsen, Austin Riley, and Charlie Morton are all compensated better than Ronald.
You must be kidding me. Braves, please get serious about locking down the best player in baseball for life.
Acuña at a minimum deserves Aaron Judge money. Period. End of story. Please get it done Braves. The last thing Braves fans want to hear is the word holdout associated with Ronald Acuña while he is an Atlanta Brave.
Herons New Hire
By: Kipp Branch
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Brantley County has their new man in David Shores.
Coach Shores comes to Brantley County after a 3-year stint at Brunswick High School.
Shores served as the Assistant Head Coach, Special Teams Coordinator and Safeties coach for the Pirates.
During the school day, Coach Shores also wore the hat of Strength and Conditioning Coordinator for the Pirates.
Before Brunswick, Shores served as the Defensive Coordinator at Camden County High School from 2017-2020. Prior to Camden, Shores orchestrated defenses at Lowndes (2015-16) and Peach County (2014).
Coach Shores has coached in the GHSA playoffs nine out of ten seasons, since moving to Georgia, from his home state of Alabama.
In his thirteen-year tenure as a high school coach in Alabama, Coach Shores was a part of 2 State Championships, 1 6A Runner-Up, 3 Quarter-Final appearances, 1 Second-Round and 3 First-Round appearances.
Shores began his coaching career as graduate assistant at Auburn University in 1998. From Auburn, Shores served as an assistant coach at both Opelika High School and Hoover High, before going back to the SEC to work as an analyst at Louisiana State University, under Nick Saban.
Shores became defensive coordinator at Pelham High School in 2005, before taking the same title at Spain Park High the following season. He then served as Head Coach at Spain Park from 2008-2010 and Head Coach/Athletics Director at Pell City High School from 2011-2013.
Coach Shores’ record as head coach currently sits at 27-18, with a 3-2 playoff record and 19-11 in region play.
Coach Shores is married to the former Alison Still, of Waycross. Alison currently serves as the President of the Camden County Chamber of Commerce. David and Alison are extremely excited to join the Heron family!
Coach Shores had this to say to me after his hiring became official:
“I am excited about the opportunity ahead of me at Brantley. I feel like this opportunity was meant to be.
I have had a desire to be a head coach again for quite some time and usually apply for numerous openings, but this one just felt right and was the only opening I applied for this year.
It is close to home and Alison, and I really love this area. I grew up playing high school football in a small town. The small-town atmosphere really appeals to me. I feel like smaller communities are more supportive and really buy-in to what we are trying to accomplish with the young people in our program and community.
There are a lot of wonderful things happening at Brantley County High School and I hope to be a great ambassador for the county and play winning football on top of it.
Coach Cannon did a fantastic job here, and he played a lot of kids so we have some experience coming back in 2024, and we will need it because we are in a new region that includes Thomasville, Fitzgerald, and Worth County. Iron sharpens iron is our approach and people better buckle up when they play us.
I begin on March 1st, and we have a lot of work to do between then and August, but we have good kids in the program, great community support, great support from the school system and BCHS administration. I am ready to get to work! Go Herons!”
This is a great hire for Brantley County. David Shores has a great defensive mind and will run the Brantley defense.
He will bring in an offensive coordinator and will not change much scheme wise in year one. Brantley plays single A football and should compete for a playoff spot this fall.
A lot of exciting things are happening in Brantley County, and for the Shores family.
Dynasty
By: Robert Craft
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Go ahead and crown the Kansas City Chiefs as the fourth NFL dynasty of the Super Bowl era.
They have joined the post-2000 New England Patriots, 1980s San Francisco 49ers and 1970s Pittsburgh Steelers in a class apart from all others. Theirs is a dynasty in progress — just getting started, perhaps. But these Chiefs have done enough to belong.
That is the big-picture takeaway from the Chiefs’ 25-22 overtime victory over the 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII which delivered Kansas City its third Lombardi Trophy in only five seasons.
What makes an NFL dynasty? Patrick Mahomes- obviously, and there’s more to it than just that.
The Joe Gibbs-era Washington Redskins and early 1990s Dallas Cowboys were great, but they belong in separate categories, as we’ll explain.
The public-address announcer at Allegiant Stadium introduced the Chiefs as a “dynasty in the making” before the team ran onto the field.
For much of the game, the Chiefs played like a dynasty in the unmaking. They fumbled, wasted timeouts, incurred costly penalties and were fortunate to trail only 10-3 at halftime.
But when Kansas City had to score or else, Mahomes and the Chiefs did, just as even the most ardent 49ers fan should have expected.
Here they are, with three Super Bowl victories in five seasons, are they a dynasty?
After studying the greatest Super Bowl-era runs, the 1974-79 Steelers, 1981-94 49ers, 2001-18 Patriots and 2019-23 Chiefs emerged as the only teams fitting what I think are logical requirements for dynasty status:
After studying the greatest Super Bowl-era runs, the 1974-79 Steelers, 1981-94 49ers, 2001-18 Patriots and 2019-23 Chiefs emerged as the only teams fitting what I think are logical requirements for dynasty status:
- Winning three-plus Super Bowls over five-plus seasons
- Posting the NFL’s best regular-season winning percentage, beginning with the first Super Bowl-winning season and ending with the most recent one
- Reaching the conference championship round more than half the time during the dynasty
These benchmarks display dominant success over time.
The Chiefs to their dynastic peers in the Super Bowl era. All the relevant boxes are checked. Kansas City, like New England, has won big in the free-agency era, which complicates keeping great teams together.
For now, the Chiefs are the first team to win back-to-back Super Bowls since the 2003-04 Patriots.
If they become the first team to win three in a row, they’ll match those 1970s Steelers with four Super Bowl victories in a six-season span, leaving only the 1980s 49ers and post-2000 Patriots left to conquer.
That will take time, maybe some luck.
Mahomes did it again on the biggest stage. Just think how many Super Bowls the Chiefs will win once they get Mahomes a little more help on offense. They’ve already given him a young defense that ranked among the NFL’s top five in EPA (Expected Points Added) per play this season.
Red, yellow and white confetti falling at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas was the confirmation of their coronation. Once again, the Chiefs experienced the feeling only one team achieves in an NFL season, accomplishing a daunting objective that leads to an exhilarating sensation.
To quote Ric Flair,”Whether you like it or not, learn to love it, because it’s the best thing going. Wooooo!”
Top Chiefs
By: Kenneth Harrison
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The 2023 NFL season officially has ended.
The Kansas City Chiefs beat the San Francisco 49ers 25 – 22 to win Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas. The Chiefs have repeated as world champions, which has not happened since the 2003-04 New England Patriots.
This is the third Super Bowl win for head coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Reid coached the Philadelphia Eagles from 1999 – 2012 and he never won a Super Bowl with them. Now that he has an elite QB, he cannot be stopped.
“This is awesome. This is legendary,” game MVP Mahomes said after the win.
Since they won two in a row, Mahomes answered the question of if they should be considered a dynasty now. “It’s the start of one. We aren’t done,” the now three-time Super Bowl champion quarterback said.
Mahomes threw for 333 yards, 2 touchdowns, I interception and rushed for 66 yards on 9 carries.
San Francisco was a more talented team but they faced the best quarterback in the game.
Brock Purdy was the last pick in the 2022 NFL Draft (262nd overall), making him Mr. Irrelevant. He has far outperformed what anyone could have expected from him. He will have to live with questions about his talent this offseason.
Purdy had 255 passing yards, 1 TD and 12 yards rushing on 3 carries.
NFL Offensive Player of the Year and First-team All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey was the focal point of the offense. He rushed for 80 yards on 22 carries, which is only 3.6 yards per carry. He also lost a fumble in the first half. He led the team in receiving with 8 catches, 80 yards and a score.
KC was down 10 – 0 in the second quarter before they kicked a field goal before halftime.
Pro Bowl tight end Travis Kelce only had 1 catch for 1 yard at halftime. He finished the game with 9 receptions and 93 yards so they started getting the ball to him in the second half.
He’s best known this season for dating pop star Taylor Swift, who was in attendance.
“Vivaaaaaaaaaaaa, Vivaaaaaaaa, Las Vegasssssssssssssss!!” a hoarse Kelce, Lombardi Trophy in hand, scream-sang into the microphone as CBS’ Jim Nantz interviewed him on stage.
San Fran head coach Kyle Shanahan has the unique distinction of coaching in both of the Super Bowl games that went into overtime. He was the offensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI, when they blew the infamous 28 – 3 second half lead. This is also his second Super Bowl loss to Kansas City as the coach of the 49ers.
The 49ers have several playmakers on offense but they did not get the ball to them. Deebo Samuel had 11 targets but only had 3 catches for 33 yards. He also had 3 carries for 8 rushing yards. Tight end George Kittle had 2 catches for 4 yards. Brandon Aiyuk had 3 receptions and 49 yards.
In overtime, both teams get one possession in the playoffs. Several 49ers players said they were not aware of this after the game. They won the coin toss and decided to receive the ball first. They kicked a field goal to take a 22 – 19 lead.
Mecole Hardman caught a three-yard TD to win the game.
“I knew I was going to get the ball, caught the football, and I blacked out,” said Hardman after the game. “I’m not going to lie, I blacked out. I (saw) Pat running towards me, and I’m thinking, ‘We just won.’ I understand now and after that.”
The Franchise
By: Kipp Branch
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The 2024 quarterback class may be the deepest in years at the position.
There is the potential to have as many as six QB’s selected in the first round when April rolls around. Let us look at the top 6 QB’s in the draft:
Caleb Williams, USC: Regarded as the best QB prospect in years, all signs point to Williams being selected by the Chicago Bears with the first overall selection in the draft.
Williams, a former Heisman winner, has the arm and mobility to be a franchise QB in Chicago.
The Bears will part ways with Justin Fields and hopefully learned a valuable lesson about putting pieces around a young QB so he can be successful. Atlanta Falcons are you paying close attention to this situation?
Drake Maye, North Carolina: Expect a run on QB’s with the first few selections, and now the beauty contest begins.
With the third overall pick in the first round the New England Patriots select the big bodied, big armed prototypical QB that fits right into the Patriot way.
Mac Jones will be cast off to greener pastures and Maye will lead a proud franchise for the next 12-15 years. Maye will have a distinguished career for the Patriots.
Jayden Daniels, LSU: The 2023 Heisman winner revives football in the nation’s capital.
The Commanders select Daniels with the second overall pick in the first round and Commanders begin the March back to being a playoff team in the NFC East.
Michael Penix Jr., Washington: Experts think Penix will drop into the second or third round, but his productivity cannot be questioned.
Could the Bucs at 26 or the Steelers at 20 take a shot at a productive player like Penix Jr.?
I can hear the so-called draft experts use every draft day buzz word phrase regarding this player. Penix could be a steal for someone. I predict the Raiders will take the QB with the 44th overall selection in the second round.
Bo Nix, Oregon: Bo Nix is quietly rising up draft boards. I now fully expect Bo Nix to be drafted by the Denver Broncos with the 12th selection to be the replacement for Russell Wilson, who will get traded before the 2024 draft.
Sean Payton will have his QB moving forward to turn Denver into a Super Bowl contender.
J.J. McCarthy, Michigan: Jim Harbaugh thinks his national title winning QB should be one of the first QB’s off the board.
I will take it a step further as I think the Minnesota Vikings will draft McCarthy with the 11th pick in the first round to replace Kirk Cousins who will be somewhere else this fall.
McCarthy has the arm talent and mobility that the Vikings want moving forward.
Sleeper Selection: Spencer Rattler, South Carolina: I think Rattler could be on the biggest steals of this draft.
The QB was the only bright spot on a bad football team in 2023. Regardless of what the New York Giants say publicly about Daniel Jones they are not saying it privately.
The Giants take their QB of the future with pick seventy in the third round.
This 2024 QB class will go down as one of the greatest QB draft classes in history a decade from now.
Help Needed
By: Colin Lacy
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Just a couple of days after the 2023 Atlanta Falcons season came to a close in New Orleans, the change at the top was made with Arthur Smith out.
Earlier in the month Arthur Blank announced that Raheem Morris would be the new head ball coach in Atlanta.
As the fresh staff begins to roll into Flowery Branch, the biggest question is “How do the Falcons answer some key questions in the NFL Draft?”
The NFL will flock to Detroit on April 25th through 27th for the 89th annual First Year Player Draft, and the 8th name that will be read by Commissioner Roger Goodell will be the newest Atlanta Falcon.
With the 8th pick in the first round, most Falcon fans are praying for a quarterback. Draft experts however aren’t convinced that there will be that first round QB talent available after the seven previous picks are made. So, what are the QB options available?
Most “experts” believe that former USC quarterback Caleb Williams will be the first signal caller to hear his name on draft night. It’s believed that Williams will be taken off the board by the Bears with the number one pick, or at the very latest, will be reunited with former USC coach Kliff Kingsbury in Washington (hired as Commanders OC) with the second pick.
Seems all but certain that Williams will not be on the board for the 8th selection.
The next couple of QB prospects have at least a possibility (some slight, but still possible) of being on the board when Atlanta is on the clock.
North Carolina Drake Maye was destined to be the unanimous first selection, but a up and down 2023 season with the Tar Heels has seen his stock dip just a touch.
Maye is undoubtably uber talented and looks the part at 6’3” 230 pounds. Maye’s combination of accuracy with the arm and ability to make plays on the ground has shown his proficiency at times to run a high-powered offense.
The third “high first round” option potentially available for the “Dirty Birds” is Jayden Daniels. The reigning Heisman Trophy winner may be the player that had his draft stock soar the most in 2023 leading the LSU Tigers.
To me, Daniels seems to be the most realistic and to me frankly seems to be the best fit with the Falcons organization.
Daniels turned into a “human highlight reel” for the Bayou Bengals throwing 40 touchdowns (rushing for 10 more) and only four interceptions on the year.
The biggest improvement (and one of the largest knocks on Daniels entering 2023) was the deep ball, but Daniels proved all the naysayers wrong launching numerous balls down field with impressive, improved accuracy.
There are a couple other QB options in this draft, that if in desperation could be on the board, but I don’t believe are top 10 picks.
A couple names that will be heard in the first two to three rounds will be JJ McCarthy from Michigan, Michael Penix Jr out of Washington, and Bo Nix from Oregon.
To me the Falcons first round selection turns into one question. Do we think either Williams, Maye or Daniels will be available when we hit the clock?
If the answer is yes, fantastic. I think the Falcons will have to make a trade to move up a couple of spots (maybe as few as two spots to the 6th pick). To me, Jayden Daniels should be the play, and a lot depends on if the Bears take a quarterback with the first pick. If so, Atlanta will have to move up to get the former LSU Fighting Tiger.
What are the other needs? What happens if all -you know what- breaks loose, and the three quarterbacks are gone?
The next biggest need for new Head Coach Raheem Morris is an edge rusher on the defensive front. Dallas Turner from Alabama would be a powerful addition to the Falcons organization and would help erase a question that has been near the top of the Atlanta faithful for a number of years.
Overall, the Falcons have the potential to be an up-and-coming team in the near future and I understand that the draft is a full weekend of multiple rounds and the Falcons have eight picks in the Draft, but Atlanta unequivocally needs a quarterback pronto and the draft would be a huge key in addressing the need!
