Bishop Media Sports Network
NFC South New Additions
By: Kenneth Harrison
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Let’s take a look around the NFC South and give power rankings for each team that includes the rookies that were added in the draft.
Atlanta Falcons: The Falcons needed WR, OL, DL, CB and LB.
They selected CB Avieon Terrell, WR Zachariah Branch, LB Kendal Daniels, DT Anterio Thompson, LB Harold Perkins Jr. and OT Ethan Onianwa.
I give their draft a B- grade. They did not have a first-round pick because it was traded to the LA Rams last year.
They picked Terrell (Clemson) who is the younger brother of current Falcon A.J. Terrell.
Branch (Georgia) should be able to contribute right away.
Atlanta has questions at the most important position, quarterback. They signed Tua Tagovailoa in free agency and he played poorly in 2025. Michael Penix tore his left ACL in November so I’m not sure if or when he will play this season.
For that reason, I expect them to finish last in the division.
Carolina Panthers: Their biggest team needs heading into the draft were OL, S, WR, TE and DL.
They drafted: OT Monroe Freeling, DT Lee Hunter, WR Chris Brazell II, CB Will Lee III, G/C Sam Hecht, S Zakee Wheatley and LB Jackson Kuwatch.
I give their draft grade an A.
They signed left tackle Rasheed Walker (Green Bay) in free agency to fill-in while Ikem Ekwonu is coming back from a patellar tendon injury.
Freeling (Georgia) was a Second-team All-SEC left tackle last season. I think he can come in and start right away. Nose tackle Hunter (Texas Tech) was a First-team All-American last season.
The Panthers won the division last season with an 8-9 record. QB Bryce Young drastically improved in his third season. Rookie WR Tetairoa McMillan was the Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2025.
I think Carolina is the second-best team in the division but I think they will have a winning record in 2026.
New Orleans Saints: Their biggest team needs were WR, Edge, CB, DL and OL.
They picked: WR Jordyn Tyson, DT Christen Miller, TE Oscar Delp, G/C Jeremiah Wright, WR Bryce Lance, S Lorenzo Styles Jr., WR Barion Brown and CB T.J. Hall.
I give their draft grade a B+. They needed another WR to compliment Chris Olave so they drafted Tyson (Arizona State). He was First-team All-Big 12 in 2024 and 2025. He’s very talented but he dealt with injuries in college.
Miller (Georgia) was First-team All-SEC last season.
The Saints found their new franchise QB with rookie Tyler Shough. They signed RB Travis Etienne in free agency.
I think they’ll improve in 2026 and finish third in the division.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Their biggest pre-draft needs were Edge, CB, LB, OL and DL.
They drafted EDGE Rueben Bain Jr., LB Josiah Trotter, WR Ted Hurst, CB/S Keionte Scott, DT Demonte Capehart, G/C Billy Schrauth and TE Bauer Sharp.
I give their draft grade an A-.
Bain (Miami) was great in the College Football Playoffs. He won the Ted Hendricks Award and he was a Consensus All-American last year. He was also the ACC Defensive Player of the Year. I think he’s going to drastically improve the pass rush.
Trotter (Mizzou) was First-team All-SEC in 2025. His father is former NFL linebacker Jeremiah Trotter and his older brother, Jeremiah Trotter Jr. is also in the NFL.
They lost veteran WR Mike Evans in free agency to San Francisco. They hope Baker Mayfield can play like he did in 2024. Rookie WR Emeka Egbuka started the season strong last year but his play dropped off.
I think the Bucs will win the division.
Jason Bishop Show May 7 2026
What Ronald Acunas Latest Injuries Means For Atlanta Braves Long Term?
By: Michael Spiers
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
There is a certain moment Braves fans have come to recognize, and unfortunately, it played out again over the weekend.
Ronald Acuña Jr. pulling up on his way down the first base line brought a familiar wave of concern, the kind that settles in quickly when a player of his caliber grabs at a leg and walks off the field.
The reaction was understandable. This is a player whose career has already been interrupted by multiple lower body injuries, and any sign of trouble in that area feels magnified.
The good news, though, is that this time it appears to be as minor as it could be.
Acuña has been diagnosed with a Grade 1 hamstring strain, the least severe version of the injury, and while it will require a stint on the injured list, the expectation is that he could return within a matter of weeks.
Even so, there is no such thing as a simple injury when it comes to Acuña. His history makes it difficult to view any setback in isolation.
Every missed game carries a little more weight, not just because of what he means to the lineup, but because of what he represents to the organization and its long-term aspirations.
What makes this situation different is the position the Braves find themselves in as a team. Atlanta is not trying to stay afloat. The Braves have opened the season as the best team in baseball, with the top run differential in the league.
They have created early separation in the standings and have done so while already dealing with injuries on the pitching side. That context shifts the conversation from survival to sustainability.
Acuña’s absence will be felt, regardless of how long it lasts. He is not simply another productive bat in the lineup. He is the tone setter, the player who can change the course of a game with one swing, one stolen base, or one burst of energy that lifts the entire team.
Even in a season when his traditional numbers have not fully taken off, the underlying metrics show he remains an elite presence at the plate.
The challenge now is not to replace him, because that is not realistic. Instead, the Braves must absorb the loss collectively.
That responsibility spreads across the roster, from the outfield rotation to the middle of the order.
Players like Michael Harris II become even more important, and others, including Austin Riley, find themselves under a brighter spotlight as the team looks for steady production.
Moments like this tend to reveal the true makeup of a team. The Braves have built a reputation for their ability to withstand adversity, often finding ways to maintain momentum despite injuries to key players. That resilience has become part of their identity, but the expectations surrounding this team have changed.
This is no longer a group trying to prove it belongs. This is a team expected to contend deep into October.
That expectation raises the stakes, but it does not require panic. Atlanta has the depth and balance to navigate a short-term absence from its biggest star.
It may mean a slight shift in approach, whether that involves manufacturing runs, leaning more heavily on pitching, or asking different players to step into larger roles.
In the larger picture, this stretch without Acuña should not define the Braves’ season. If anything, it presents an opportunity to reinforce what has already made them successful.
A team built for the long haul must be able to endure moments like this without losing its footing.
Ultimately, the focus remains on where this team is headed. The goal is not to dominate early, but to be at full strength when it matters most.
If Acuña returns healthy and the Braves continue to perform at a high level in his absence, this injury may become just a brief interruption in what still has the potential to be a special season.
AFC South Draft Newcomers
By: Kenneth Harrison
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The 2026 NFL draft is now over. We will take a look around the AFC South and see how each team did and give power rankings based on these moves.
Houston Texans: The biggest needs entering the draft were OL, DL, LB, edge and DB.
Draft picks: G/C Keylan Rutledge, DT Kayden McDonald, TE Marlin Klein, G/C Febechi Nwaiwu, LB Wade Woodaz, S Kamari Ramsey, WR Lewis Bond, LB Aiden Fisher.
Rutledge (Georgia Tech) was picked in the first round with the 26th pick. He’s 6’4, 316 lbs. and he has a lot of experience. He plays relentlessly through the whistle, finishing blocks with the ability to put defenders on their back. The Texans need the strengthen the offensive line so this was a good pick.
Quarterback C.J. Stroud has gotten worse in each of his three seasons. He made the Pro Bowl (2023) as a rookie but has struggled to play like that again.
Houston added running back David Montgomery (Detroit) in free agency. They have also overhauled the offensive line.
Houston has an elite defense that ranked first in total defense in 2025. Drafting defensive tackle Kayden McDonald (Ohio State) will strengthen the interior defense and help stop opponents from running the ball.
I think they’re the best team in the division and that’s considering inconsistent quarterback play. If Stroud can play like he did in 2023, the Texans will be Super Bowl contenders.
Indianapolis Colts: Their biggest team needs before the draft were edge, LB, S, OL and WR.
Draft picks: LB C.J. Allen, S A.J. Haulcy, G/C Jalen Farmer, LB Bryce Boettcher, EDGE George Gumbs, EDGE Caden Curry, RB Seth McGowan, WR Deion Burks
The Colts did not have a first round pick this year or next because they traded that to the Jets for CB Sauce Gardner.
I like the CJ Allen (Georgia) pick because they have a vacancy at middle linebacker. They traded LB Zaire Franklin to Green Bay for DT Colby Wooden. Franklin averaged 161 tackles over the last four seasons.
Indy started the season 8-5, then QB Daniel Jones went down on December 7, 2025 against Jacksonville with a torn Achilles. That injury typically takes one year to come back from so he should miss most of the 2026 season.
I pick them to finish third in the division.
Jacksonville Jaguars: The biggest team needs were LB, edge, DL, OL and S.
Draft picks: TE Nate Boerkircher, DT Albert Regis, G/C Emmanuel Pregnon, S Jalen Huskey, EDGE Wesley Williams, TE Tanner Koziol, WR Josh Cameron, WR C.J. Williams, EDGE Zack Dufree, LB Parker Hughes
Their first pick was at No. 56, where they drafted blocking tight end Nate Boerkircher (Texas A&M). The best player they drafted was OG Emmanuel Pregnon (Oregon). He has potential to become a starter right away.
The Jags hope Travis Hunter can return from his torn LCL and make a big impact in 2026.
They did lose their leading rusher Travis Etienne in free agency when he signed to New Orleans.
They should be second in the division but I’m not sure they’ll make the playoffs.
Tennessee Titans: The biggest team needs were OL, edge, WR, RB and LB.
Draft picks: WR Carnell Tate, EDGE Keldric Faulk, LB Anthony Hill Jr., G/C Fernando Carmona, RB Nicholas Singleton, DT Jackie Marshall, G/C Pat Coogan, TE Jaren Kanak
Carnell Tate (Ohio State) was the first receiver drafted at No. 4. It’s good they paired a weapon with second year QB Cam Ward. I think they drafted extremely well but they’re still a bad team.
Tennessee will finish last.
Out Of A Legend’s Shadow?
By: Robert Craft
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Kalen DeBoer may have a long way to go to step out of Nick Saban’s shadow, but he is now guaranteed to surpass Saban in one area: Salary.
Alabama gave DeBoer a seven-year contract extension that will pay the coach $12.5 million this year.
That’s more than the $11.1 million Saban earned during his final season in 2023 — when he was the highest-paid coach in college football.
DeBoer’s first two seasons have led to some angst in the Alabama fan base and talk of a hot seat.
Athletic director Greg Byrne’s contract extension seeks to quiet that talk: DeBoer’s previous contract called for Alabama to owe him 90 percent of the remaining value of the contract if it fired him without cause.
Assuming that remains the case for this contract, Bryne is doubling down on his belief that DeBoer is the right man for the job.
DeBoer, 51, was hired to replace the retired Saban and earned $10.8 million in his first season, with his contract calling for raises of $125,000 per year through 2031.
Alabama’s first two seasons under DeBoer have been modestly successful: 9-4 his first season, missing the College Football Playoff; 11-4 his second season, making the CFP quarterfinals, where the Crimson Tide lost to eventual champion Indiana.
Saban coached Alabama to six national championships, most recently during the 2020 season, and in his final season had the Crimson Tide in the CFP semifinals, the final year of the four-team playoff.
When he retired, Byrne went outside the Saban coaching tree and the Alabama family to hire DeBoer, who had just coached Washington to the national championship game.
DeBoer’s new contract takes him through the end of the 2032 season, ending on Jan. 31, 2033.
“We are pleased to extend Coach DeBoer and are proud to have him leading the Crimson Tide football program,” Byrne said in a statement. “He is an excellent coach and has done a commendable job developing our student-athletes.”
Alabama hauled in the nation’s No. 2-ranked high school recruiting class for the 2026 cycle, continuing in the Saban tradition.
But the Crimson Tide also lost key pieces in the transfer portal, and the portal class did not rank among the top 25 in rankings.
DeBoer said in late January that he expected his team to be relatively young again, perhaps setting the expectations a bit lower once more.
Now he has a new contract that would seem to give him more leeway, though Alabama, like any SEC school, isn’t exactly hurting for money.
“This University has become a special place to us, and I look forward to working to ensure that Alabama football remains at the forefront of college football,” DeBoer said in a statement. “This program has a long history of success and an unmatched tradition that I was eager to be a part of two years ago, and I cannot wait to keep coaching our guys and bring more championships to Alabama.”
Alabama also announced a contract extension for men’s basketball coach Nate Oats, also through the end of the 2031-32 season.
Oats’ previous deal was set to expire after the 2029-30 season and pay him $6.02 million this year. His salary was increased to $6.275 million this year, with gradual increases to $7.25 million by the end of the deal.
Oats, 51, has led Alabama to five Sweet 16 appearances since being hired in 2019, including a Final Four two years ago.
Rising Up?
By: Colin Lacy
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
First year for the new regime for the Atlanta Falcons hit the first landmark with the NFL Draft this past weekend.
Ian Cunningham as the GM spearheaded his first draft week in line with new Head Coach Kevin Stefanski and Director of Football Matt Ryan and made an impact especially on the defensive side of the ball.
After the deal last season to trade up and pick Michael Penix Jr, the Falcons didn’t have a first-round pick in 2026, so the Birds didn’t make a selection until the 48th overall pick in the 2nd round.
The Falcons went to the ACC for their first selection with a cornerback from Clemson and kept the football in the family. Avieon Terrell, younger brother of current Falcons DB AJ Terrell, became the newest Falcon after 3 years with Clemson, including an All-ACC season last year for the Tigers.
In 2025, Terrell had a nose for football forcing a Clemson single season record 5 forced fumbles to go along with 9 pass breakups, 4.5 TFLs and 3 sacks. There are questions where Terrell will land if he stays at corner or comes inside at safety but could be an impactful piece for the Falcons in the fall.
In the 3rd round, Atlanta kept it close to home with pulling Georgia receiver Zachariah Branch off the board.
Branch molded into a slot receiver who can turn a medial gain into an explosive play with his speed in his time in Athens. Branch brings a multitude of weapons to the NFL both as a receiver but also on special teams as a kick/punt returner. There is some fine tuning of routes and mechanics that NFL scouts have pointed out, but Branch expects to contribute early for the Falcons.
The page turned to the 4th round and the Falcons had pick number 134. With that 4th round selection, Atlanta turned to Oklahoma to snag former Sooner linebacker Kendal Daniels.
Daniels converted from safety to linebacker in his time at Oklahoma and earned a reputation in the SEC as being able to use his speed to fill the gap in run defense. After 4 seasons at Oklahoma State, Daniels moved to Norman and racked up 9 TFLs in 13 starts in the middle of the Sooner defense.
Without a selection in the 5th round, the Falcons made a move to pick up an extra 6th round selection.
With the first 6th round pick, the Falcons looked to beef up the defensive line that made a huge step forward in 2025 and added Washington D-Lineman Anterio Thompson.
Thompson spent his time at Washington as a defensive tackle on the interior of the D-line, but may see a move to the edge in the NFL. The leaps that Thompson has made in his time in college profiles him to be able to do it.
What, in my opinion, could be most impactful pick for the Falcons in 2026 when it’s all said and done came with the second 6th round pick when the ATL called upon the LSU Linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. Perkins missed all of 2024 with an ACL tear but was the key to the LSU success in his time in Baton Rouge.
The Falcons wrapped up the draft with their 7th round pick and the 231st overall selection of O-lineman Ethan Onianwa from Ohio State. The 6’6” 333 pounder tackle looks to give depth to the Falcons O-Line and progress under leadership and experience of Jake Matthews on the Falcons’ front.
While there’s not the first round, high profile talent in the draft class, but an extremely solid class that could prove to be impactful in the near future as a whole for the ATL.
Flying To New Heights?
By: Colin Lacy
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
For the first time since the 2022-23 season, the Atlanta Hawks have marched into the postseason as the 6-seed in the Eastern Conference side of the NBA Playoffs bracket.
The Hawks finished the regular season with a 46-36 overall record and with a late push in the second half of the season propelled their way to the South Division title finishing with a 20-6 record after the All-Star Break.
As odd as it sounds, the shift in the season came when the Hawks traded away All-Star Trae Young in the first half of the year, but the team molded together.
Thanks in part to emerging stars CJ McCollum & Nickeil Alexander-Walker along with a commitment to the defensive side of the ball, the Hawks found the secret sauce in the ATL.
Now don’t get me wrong, one of (if not the single) headlines for Atlanta was Jalen Johnson who paced the team with 22.5 points per game, 10.3 rebounds and just shy of 8 assists per game in his first All-Star selection year.
As much as defense can be optional at times in the NBA, that wasn’t the case for Atlanta this year. Led by Dyson Daniels, the Hawks turned in a top 10 defensive rating this season.
In the Opening round of the NBA Playoffs, the Hawks drew the 3-seeded New York Knicks who finished the season 53-29 and secured the home court advantage in the opening round.
Game one of the series at Madison Square Garden went the way of the Knicks who leaned on the back of Jalen Brunson who scored 28 points along with Karl-Anthony Towns who helped seal the game with 19 of his 25 points coming in the second half of the game.
The second game of the series from “the Garden” came with dramatics. The Knicks led by 12 after three quarters, but the Hawks chipped back until taking a lead with 2:09 to play at 101-100.
A back-and-forth affair the last 2 minutes of the game traded baskets until Jalen Johnson slammed one home with 10 seconds left to make the game 107-103 Hawks.
Brunson would knock down a 3 to cut it to a 1-point game. The Knicks fouled CJ McCollum (who finished with 32 points on the night) with 6 seconds remaining.
As McCollum tried to ice the game at the line, he would end up missing both free throws. The Hawks would be able to take a sigh of relief as a Knicks’ fadeaway jumper would miss and give the Hawks the win and even the series at one each with the 107-106 final.
The series would come home to the ATL for game three on, but the dramatics would make the plane flight too. CJ McCollum once again found the ball in his hand at the end and would connect.
After the Hawks led by as many as 18 in the first half, the Knicks rallied to take the lead 108-105 with 1:03 remaining, but a few possessions later with 12.5 seconds left, CJ McCollum hit a 15-foot fadeaway to put the Hawks back on top and secure the Game 3 win 109-108.
Game four in Atlanta would swing the pendulum back in the way of New York with a 114-98 Knicks win. The Knicks would lead virtually the entire game thanks in large part to Karl-Anthony Towns finishing with a triple-double (20pts/10reb/10ast) to knot the series at 2 games apiece and send the series back to New York for Game 5.
The Hawks haven’t advanced past the Opening Round of the NBA Playoffs since the 2020-21 season but will rely on Jalen Johnson and CJ McCollum to try to change that in 2026 with a couple road wins at Madison Square Garden.
The Jason Bishop Show April 24 2026
Natty Or Bust?
By: Joe Delaney
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Well, spring is here and one of the most beautiful places in the state is Athens. With a temperature in the 70’s and the azaleas busting out everywhere, Athens is hard to beat.
Throw in a couple tickets I had to see the Tennis Dawgs take out South Carolina on a Friday night and the Baseball Dawgs do the same the next day to those Florida Gators and well, it’s just special.
At that same time, we got glimpses of the 2026 Football Dawgs as they were hard into spring practice.
The general consensus was that the football Dawgs could be very special this year. VERY special.
The next week was the spring game and after seeing it, I can see why. These Dawgs are tight. They have leadership, athleticism, depth, and a hunger to go back to the top.
From Kirby on down, these guys want all the marbles in 2026. The great Georgia guru Rusty Mansell put it out there. Georgia has “a roster built to play for a national championship”.
Are they as loaded as the back-to-back National Champions of a couple years back? Maybe not, but they might be just as good. Let’s take a look.
It starts with the top. Georgia has Kirby. The Dawgs also have one of the best overall staffs in the country. Throw in an administration and athletic director that are all on the same page and few programs in the country can match the Red and Black.
On the field it all starts with the QB, and Georgia has a good one in Gunner Stockton. While he might not be as flashy as some, he has that something that his teammates love; grit, determination, and a will to win.
With his experience running this offense, he is one of the top returning signal callers in the country. Behind him are 4 others with Ryan Puglisi currently number 2. Watch out for upcoming Ryan Montgomery who is pushing up the depth chart. The key to these guys is keeping Gunner healthy.
The backs will be very good, led by Nate Frazier. Throw in Chauncey Bowens, the electric Dwight Phillips and a couple of highly touted youngsters and Georgia will run the ball. And look out for Dante Dowdell, a transfer with speed, size and experience. His 20 something yard run while hurdling a defender was one of the spring game highlights.
Next are the wide receivers and tight ends. The wideouts will be bolstered by transfer Isiah Canion, and have talent all over with returners Landon Humphreys, C J Wiley, Talyn Taylor and newcomer Kaiden Prothro a 6’ 6” 230 lb 5-star freshman who starred in the spring game.
This group should be solid especially when paired with the best tight end group in the country. Between Lawson Luckie, Elyiss Williams, Ethan Barbour, and Jaden Reddell, the only problem will be how to get them all on the field.
Reddell showed out in the spring game and there are 2 or 3 others behind these guys. Like I said, this is the best TE group in the country. Look for the Dawgs to run some 3 or 4 TE sets with 1 running back.
None of the above means a thing if the O-line can’t do its thing but Georgia should be deep and very good on the line.
Drew Bobo will anchor the O-line at center. Add in returning starters Dontrell Glover, Juan Gaston, Earnest Green and it will be solid. Oh, and don’t forget newcomers Zykie Helton, and Jah Jackson, all 6’10” 350 lbs of him. This offense will have a hundred different ways to score and should be lethal.
Defensively the Dawgs will be loaded with returning starters all over the place. The D-Line will be big, deep, and athletic with plenty of experience.
Josh Horton, Xzavier Mcleod, Joseph Jonah-Ajonye, Nnamdi Ogboko all return and are back along with Elijah Griffin who has All-American written all over him. There is depth there also.
What the TE’s bring to the offense the LB’s are to the Georgia defense.
Raylen Wilson, Justin Williams, Chris Cole, and Gabe Harris make this group elite and remember the Name Chase Linton. Look for him this fall. There is also depth behind these guys with Nick Abrams, Zayden Walker and others..
The DB’s should be solid with returners Ellis Robinson IV, K J Bolden, Demello Jones, Rasean Dinkins, Kyron Jones, and transfers Braylon Conley, Khalil, and Gentry Williams.
The kicking is in good hands with Peyton Woodring although the punting cannot match the loss of thunderfoot Brett Thorson.
The special teams should be very good with a host of players vying for playing time to get on the field and impress.
All and all this is a loaded football team. Big, fast, physical with depth all over.
To me the keys to a run at the Natty are things that need to be improved on from a 12-2 team in 2025.
First is rush the passer, Georgia was lacking in this last year and the injury to transfer Amaris Williams during the spring didn’t help. That’s priority number one.
Next is, keep Gunner healthy. While there is quality behind him, Gunner is the man.
And last is get a little luck. This team can beat any team in the country if they are on. But they are not the 21 or 22 outfits. They’ll need a little luck here and there. If those three keys come to fruition, I like our chances.
I Am Iron Man
By: Michael Spiers
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
In today’s sports world, we hear a lot about rest days, fatigue management, and carefully monitored workloads. Teams track every swing, every step, and every strain on a player’s body.
And then there’s Matt Olson, who seems to live by a much simpler philosophy.
Just show up and play.
The Atlanta Braves first baseman has quietly built one of the most impressive durability streaks in modern baseball. Olson has now played in more than 800 consecutive games, putting him among the longest streaks this century and creeping closer to the top ten all time.
For Braves fans, that number means something. Baseball is a grind. It’s 162 games spread over six months with very few days off.
Most players miss time somewhere along the way. Something usually pops up, like a sore hamstring, a tight back, a scheduled rest day. Olson just keeps playing.
He’s not chasing Cal Ripken Jr.’s legendary 2,632 game streak. No one realistically expects that record to fall anytime soon.
But Olson’s run still stands out because it’s happening in an era where teams are more cautious than ever about protecting players’ bodies.
And the thing Braves fans appreciate most is that Olson isn’t just showing up to keep the streak alive. He’s producing.
Everyone remembers the 54 home run season in 2023, when Olson crushed baseballs all summer and drove in 139 runs.
But even in the seasons around it, he’s been incredibly steady. Nearly 30 home runs. Around 100 RBIs. Extra base hits piling up all over the place. Night after night, the Braves know what they’re getting.
But Olson’s value goes way beyond the batter’s box. If you watch closely, you’ll notice how many throws he digs out of the dirt at first base. His size and reach turn bad throws into outs.
It’s the kind of thing that doesn’t always show up on highlight reels, but it saves runs and wins games over the course of a long season.
The funny part is Olson doesn’t make any of this sound complicated. He’s not the type who talks about extreme diets or crazy recovery routines. There’s no dramatic training method being marketed here. He just sticks to his routine, keeps himself in shape, and gets ready to play again the next day.
That mindset fits perfectly with the culture the Braves have built over the years. Atlanta has always valued players who take pride in being available. Austin Riley has been the same way, rarely missing games over the past several seasons.
The Braves lineup is usually the same group of guys every night, and that consistency matters. Baseball teams thrive on rhythm. Players get comfortable hitting around the same teammates, fielders learn each other’s tendencies, and the clubhouse builds trust.
Matt Olson has become one of the anchors of that environment and he understands what it means to wear a Braves uniform.
Olson grew up around Atlanta and watched the organization during its run of division titles when he was a kid. He knows the expectations that come with being part of this franchise.
And one of those expectations has always been simple. Be ready to play.
Eventually every streak comes to an end. Baseball has a way of reminding everyone that nothing lasts forever. But right now, Matt Olson keeps doing something that feels almost old school.
He shows up. He plays hard. And the next day, he does it all over again.
For us Braves fans, that kind of reliability is something worth appreciating every single night when the lineup card comes out.
