FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Nose tackle Grady Jackson, who was embroiled in a civil suit against the Atlanta Falcons during the offseason, practiced today for the first time since training camp opened last week.
The 10-year veteran looked much closer to his listed weight of 345 pounds than he did last season, when he might have tipped the scales at 380 or more.
Coach Bobby Petrino just wanted to make sure Jackson, who occasionally battles sore knees, was ready to practice before the big fellow put on his pads.
Jackson filed a suit against the Falcons on March 28th, claiming defamation and invasion of privacy caused by the release of his medical records. But the two sides settled before camp started.
Atlanta lost veteran tackle Rod Coleman, who starts alongside Jackson, to a quadriceps injury in the spring, so the team clearly had to have its Number 1 nose tackle under contract. Petrino has indicated that Coleman is ahead of schedule in his rehab, but the Falcons could need Jonathan Babineaux to fill the spot for the first month of the season, possibly longer.
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved
