Braves and Falcons Prepare for Crazy Week

             

     Get ready for one crazy week in sports. With the NFL back in operation and the MLB trade deadline closing in, the love of every sports fan, rumors, will be swirling so loud you won’t be able to hear yourself think.

   The trade talks in Atlanta have already been circulating for the better part of 10 days with fans, talk show hosts, and so called “experts” speculating that the Braves General Manager, Frank Wren, is looking to add a big bat to the lineup. Reports are that the biggest target is Met’s OF Carlos Beltran, a proven clutch hitter in the playoffs, while Tampa Bay OF B.J. Upton is also being intently pursued.

     The trade deadline is less than a week away, and that means trade rumors will only continue to build from here. Word has it that Beltran, who has the ability in his contact to veto any trade, is only willing to go to another National League team. Reports have also come out that talks between the Mets and Braves have slowed down in the past 24 hours, citing that the Braves aren’t willing to give up the prospects the Mets want. If that is the case, one would have to think that B.J. Upton would be the logical second choice for Wren. Two bonuses to Upton: he has one more year on his contract (which means the Braves would have a center fielder for next year), and he is a true center fielder. Beltran, while he has dabbled in center field, doesn’t truly feel home at the position. He is more of a corner out field type of guy.

    While MLB trade talks are running rampant, NFL free agency is almost open. With training camps only days away, you have to believe players and franchises will be looking to reach deals very soon. On the Atlanta home front, the Falcons most important goal right now has to be to keep the powerful right tackle Tyson Clabo from signing with another team. With so much of this teams success dependent on the run game, and the likelihood that the Falcons could lose two other offensive linemen, it is vital to keep a proven commodity like Clabo in the Georgia Dome.

    It’s going to be a crazy week all over the sports landscape of America, and in Atlanta it will be no different.

    Stay tuned for all the mayhem.

    Here’s to Frank Wren working some magic.

    Here’s to Arthur Blank throwing a lot of money at Tyson Clabo.