NFC South

Marcus Mariota looking to restart his career with Falcons

ATLANTA — Falcons quarterback Marcus Mariota, who signed a two-year, $18.7 million deal Thursday, was not promised the starting job. “It really came down to the opportunity,” Mariota said Friday on a virtual call with the local media. “Obviously, (Falcons coach Arthur Smith) said, there’s a chance for (me) to play. A chance for (me) to start right away. You know, and really, for me at this point in time in my career, that’s what I was looking for.” Mariota, 28, was the second player taken overall, by the Titans, in the 2015 NFL draft. Mariota, who won the Heisman Trophy while playing at Oregon…