He’s in the money

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan is about to become the highest paid player in the National Football League.

Matt Ryan is the NFL’s first $100 million man.

The Atlanta Falcons quarterback became the league’s highest-paid player Thursday by agreeing to a five-year contract extension that could be worth as much as $150 million.

Sources say Ryan is assured of receiving at least $100 million. That surpasses the total compensation of the $84 million, three-year guaranteed deal that quarterback

Kirk Cousins received from the Minnesota Vikings.

If Ryan receives the full terms of the contract, he would receive an average of $30 million a year, also more than Cousin’s $28 million yearly payout.

WNBA champs waiting for White House invite

Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve says the team is still waiting for a White House invitation after winning its latest WNBA title in October.

Reeve says the lack of an invite from President Donald Trump is disappointing. She noted at practice Wednesday that then-President Barack Obama contacted the Lynx immediately after they won WNBA championships in 2011, 2013 and 2015.

A White House spokeswoman didn’t immediately respond to an Associated Press email on Wednesday.

Reeve tells the St. Paul Pioneer Press that she thinks women’s sports “aren’t recognized in the same way that men’s sports are.”

Suns, Knicks hire new head coaches

The New York Knicks have agreed to hire David Fizdale as their new coach.

The former Memphis Grizzlies coach will replace Jeff Hornacek, who was fired last month after two seasons.

The Phoenix Suns have hired Utah Jazz assistant Igor Kokoskov as their new head coach.

The 46-year-old Serbian becomes the first NBA head coach born and raised outside North America. He served as a Suns assistant from 2008 to 2013, a stretch that included Phoenix’s 2010 run to the Western Conference finals.

Suziki moving from field to front office

Ichiro Suzuki was released Thursday by the Seattle Mariners and is shifting into a front office role with the team, although he is not completely shutting the door on playing again.

The Mariners announced that Suzuki was becoming a special assistant to the chairman effective immediately. The team said Suzuki will have an active presence with the team and assist with outfield play, base running and hitting.