ATLANTA (AP) -An Atlanta Falcons offense already built for speed gained more than one set of fleet feet in Tuesday's trade with Denver for receiver Ashley Lelie.

The three-team trade, which sent burly running back T.J. Duckett to the Washington Redskins, also opens playing time for rookie running back Jerious Norwood as Warrick Dunn's top backup.

Norwood posted the fastest 40 time (4.33 seconds) of the running backs at the NFL draft combine and is seen as a better fit than Duckett for the Atlanta offens

Don't count on it.

``I went to the Pro Bowl last year, rushed for a lot of yards and I'm still not mentioned along with the other top backs,'' Dunn said Tuesday after wrapping up a two-hour-plus practice with the Atlanta Falcons. ``I guess I'll always have something to prove.''

Not that he's complaining. These days, Dunn has plenty of cold, hard facts to speak on his behalf.

If someone wonders whether a 5-foot-9, 180-pound back can handle the wear-and-tear of a 16-game

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) -Michael Koenen never stops moving, even during all that idle time he spends away from the field.

While talking to someone in the hallway of the Atlanta Falcons training complex, he yanks his left knee toward his chest, then does the same with his right, as if he's about to take off running at any moment.

When standing in line for a meal, he puts his right foot on the wrong side of his left, then shifts his weight to the other side, unconcerned by what those around him might thi

Tight end Brian Kozlowski was the only former Huskie the school could point to as having a thriving NFL career with the New York Giants, Atlanta Falcons and Washington Redskins.

``There was really nothing. I just had a good feeling,'' Fincher recalls as to why he chose UConn, adding that he liked head coach Randy Edsall and linebackers coach Todd Orlando. ``I wanted to play at that level because I

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) -The broiling tedium of training camp finally made the Atlanta Falcons snap.

Veteran Lawyer Milloy was among several players to lose his temper in the oppressive August heat Monday morning. DeAngelo Hall, Matt Lehr, Adam Jennings and Alge Crumpler were seething, too.

``This is football, and as long as it don't translate into the things in the locker room, everything will be fine,'' Milloy said. ``In my 11 years, this has been one of the toughest, if not the toughest, training ca

The rookie defensive back from Baylor was a star on special teams last Friday night when the Patriots opened their exhibition season with a 26-23 loss at the Atlanta Falcons.

Andrews, chosen 229th overall in this year's draft, averaged 16 yards on two punt returns and 21 yards on three kickoff returns. He also helped down a punt inside the Falcons' 10-yard line.

The Patriots have had good luck in the seventh round l

Last year, after resembling a traditional quarterback in a win at Miami, Vick told all the cynics to quit harping on his unique style and acknowledge that he could be effective as a dropback passer when he really put his mind to it.

But, as the Atlanta Falcons fell apart down the stretch, the Vick-isn't-a-real-quarterback lobby got louder. From national broadcasters to ordinary fans, he's still viewed by many as nothing more than a running back who just happens to take the snaps.

Vick has come to realiz

He was a star quarterback at Virginia Tech before being kicked off the team in January following his junior year, and the Dolphins signed him in May as an undrafted rookie and a long shot to make the squad.

The brother of Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick is considered too small to play that position in the NFL, so he's trying to make the transition to receiver. Two weeks into training camp he has won praise from teammates for his pass-catching skills and attitude.

``This g

ATLANTA (AP) -The first game of the preseason is a chance to sort out some of the fringe jobs on a football team.

For the Atlanta Falcons, all eyes will be on two guys contending to be the No. 3 quarterback - even though the player who comes out on top faces the very real possibility of watching the entire season from the sidelines.

Bryan Randall and rookie D.J. Shockley will split the snaps during the second half of Friday night's exhibition opener against the New England Patriots.

``It may not have

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) -DeAngelo Hall is one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL. Apparently, that's not enough.

The Atlanta Falcons star wants to show what he can do on the other side of the line, and he might just get a chance to go both ways this season.

``The offense gets the glory,'' Hall said.

The Falcons have given the 2005 Pro Bowler some snaps at receiver during training camp, though the transition was put on hold the past few days while Hall dealt with some soreness in his fingers.

``I act