Los Angeles Times

Falcons release veteran kicker Bryant but he’s not retiring yet

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The Atlanta Falcons released kicker Matt Bryant, ending the 10-year run of the team’s all-time leading scorer.

The decision to not renew the team’s option on the 43-year-old Bryant comes despite another strong season in 2018, when he made 20 of 21 field goals and 33 of 35 extra points.

Bryant’s only missed field goal was from 53 yards at Green Bay. Health concerns could have played a role in the Falcons’ decision. Bryant missed three games with a hamstring injury.

Bryant insisted he is healthy. “I’m not retiring and I feel fine and plan on feeling even better with some changes to my offseason program,” he said on Twitter.

Minnesota Wild captain Mikko Koivu needs season-ending surgery after tearing a ligament and cartilage in his right knee . ... The Nashville Predators made two trades, adding size and toughness by getting Brian Boyle from the New Jersey Devils and bringing back forward Cody McLeod from the New York Rangers. The Predators swapped a second-round pick in June’s NHL draft for Boyle and will send the Rangers a seventh-round pick in the 2020 NHL draft for McLeod . ... Andre Boudrias, the former Vancouver Canucks captain and Montreal Canadiens assistant general manager, died in Whistler, Canada, on Tuesday at 75.

In Montpellie­r, France, former champion Tomas Berdych swept aside Benoit Paire 6-2, 6-0 in less than one hour to reach the Open Sud de France quarterfin­als. The unseeded Czech next faces Filip Krajinovic of Serbia in their first meeting on the ATP Tour.

In Are, Sweden, Dominik Paris crowned what was already a stellar season by winning the super-G at the world championsh­ips. The Italian finished 0.09 seconds ahead of Johan Clarey of France and Vincent Kriechmayr of Austria, who tied for silver.

The Sparks signed Ashley Walker, a 6-foot-1 forward who is playing for Mersin in the Turkish league. Walker is averaging 20.0 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.5 steals while shooting 54% from the field in Euroleague play.

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