PHILADELPHIA —
Matt Ryan doesn't plan to visit his favorite cheesesteak shops or saloon on this trip home.
It's all business.
Ryan returns to Philadelphia when the Atlanta Falcons (6-0) play the Eagles (3-3) on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field. The star quarterback grew up in nearby Exton and was a three-sport captain at Penn Charter High School in Philadelphia.
"I won't be able to hit any of the spots I want to when I come back for a game," Ryan said, noting a few of the places he wishes he could visit. "I'll get there sometime during the offseason I suppose."
Ryan is 0-2 in his hometown, losing to the Eagles in 2008 and 2010. He led the Falcons back from a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit in a 35-31 win over Philadelphia in the Georgia Dome last year.
"At this point, it's another game," he said. "I've played up there a couple of times. I've been up there in college a couple of times. It's nice, it really is. It's nice to get back. There's family there, which is always a good thing. But when you're playing, it's another week."
Michael Vick looks at it the same, even though he's trying to beat his former team for the first time as a starter since returning to the NFL in 2009. He was injured when the Eagles beat the Falcons in 2010 and left with a concussion in Week 2 last year.
"It's just another game," Vick said. "Last year going back to Atlanta, that was special. It added a little bit to the game. Now it's two good teams going at each other. It's nothing extra added to it."
Vick was picked No. 1 overall by Atlanta in 2001 and established himself as one of the game's most dynamic players in his six seasons there. He left the Falcons in disgrace following his imprisonment for his role in a dogfighting ring.
Vick overcame it and was The Associated Press Player of the Year in 2010. All that is history, though. Right now, Vick and the Eagles need a win much more than Ryan and the Falcons.
Coach Andy Reid's job is on the line this season and Vick's starting spot isn't safe if he continues to play inconsistent and commit turnovers.
"It's a big game for us," Vick said. "The last two games, we were in position to win the games and we didn't close it out. So, that can be tough. We've got to put it all together as a team and the teams that do that are the teams who are sitting at the top right now."
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Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) heads to the turf as Oakland Raiders defensive end Matt Shaughnessy (77) defends during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 14, 2012, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore) AP Photo/John Bazemore
Unbeaten Falcons face unbeaten-after-byes Eagles
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Identity Theft: Do all you can to protect your credit, debit cards
Pictured are a couple of skimmers, used here on an ATM machine and gas pump. The devices usually fit right over the original card reader or key pad, but are loose when tugged.
It's summertime and there may be only two words on your mind – road trip. As we hit the roads this summer for vacations we all make stops at the gas station and the ATM.
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Unfortunately, so do identity thieves. They set up machines called skimmers on gas pumps and ATMs that are designed to fool you and benefit them. The devices read your debit or credit card and record the number, which the thief can collect by retrieving the skimmer or even remotely using a smartphone and a wireless Internet connection. The information will then be used to create a duplicate card bearing the number, but a different name. - Tift Sheriff’s Office investigating scam
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Fields played, coached three eras of basketball
Imagine a player averaging 29 points per game for a career and receiving no college scholarship offers. That happened to Dona Fields.
Fields, as Dona Gaskins, is easily Berrien High's all-time leading scorer. She scored her 1,000th point as a sophomore and during her last three seasons was the Rebelettes' leading scorer in every game. She received no college attention, no offers. - Kilgore resigns baseball post at ABAC
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Fields played, coached three eras of basketball
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