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Gut punch for the A-T-L: Freeman, Ryan both depart

It was a 1-2 punch to the gut for Atlanta's sports fans.

In the space of an extraordinary week, two of the city's most beloved sports figures — Freddie Freeman and Matt Ryan — were gone.

Freeman departed first, his hopes of playing an entire career with the World Series champion Braves dashed by contract negotiations that went awry.

Then came Ryan, traded by the Falcons on Monday for a piddling third-round draft pick after the NFL team's clumsy attempt to line up his successor at quarterback blew up in its face.

A pair of MVPs with a combined 26 seasons between them will now take the field against the A-T-L.