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4400 Falcon Parkway
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Flowery Branch, GA 30542
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACTS:FALCONS – 2 1/14/09
Reggie Roberts (770) 965-2761Frank Kleha (770) 965-2763Ted Crews (770) 965-2764Matt Conti(770) 965-4350
ATLANTA FALCONS EARN ACCOLADESFROM
THE SPORTING NEWS
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga.
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Atlanta Falcons Head Coach Mike Smith and members of his team earned national honors from
The Sporting News
magazine today. Smith wasnamed Coach of the Year while quarterback Matt Ryan was tabbed Rookie of the Year.Running back Michael Turner received first-team All-Pro recognition by the magazineand Ryan, along with linebacker Curtis Lofton, also garnered All-Rookie team accoladesby
The Sporting News
.Smith guided the Falcons to an 11-5 regular season record and the team’s first playoff berth since 2004 in his first season as a head coach. The seven-win improvement fromthe 2007 campaign ranks tied for the sixth-highest by a first-year head coach in leaguehistory (since 1970 merger). Smith became only the fourth Falcons coach in franchisehistory to reach 11 regular season wins in a season and was also named 2008
Associated Press
NFL Coach of the Year.Ryan pieced together a spectacular rookie season after completing 265 of 434 passesfor 3,440 yards and 16 touchdowns en route to being named
Associated Press
NFLRookie of the Year. Ryan and Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning are theonly rookie quarterbacks in league history to throw for more than 3,000 yards in their first season. Along with Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, Ryan became thefirst rookie in the NFL to start all 16 regular season games and lead his team to theplayoffs. Ryan’s 11 wins are the most for a rookie in franchise history as he threw for nine consecutive 200-yard passing outings. He was also named NFC Rookie of theMonth (October) and NFC Offensive Player of the Week (9).Turner finished the season ranked second in the NFL in rushing yards with 1,699 whilesetting a team record with 17 rushing touchdowns. The five-year veteran topped the1,000-yard rushing plateau for the first time in his career and tied a team record withfour touchdowns in one game against the Carolina Panthers (Week 12). In his first
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