Falcons uncertain why nose tackle left team complex

FLOWERY BRANCH - Nose tackle Ellis Johnson left the Atlanta Falcons&#39; complex before practice Thursday morning and apparently did not ask for permission to miss the mandatory workout. <br> <br> At 5:45 p.m., Falcons spokesman Aaron Salkin was saying that no team officials knew of Johnson&#39;s whereabouts. <br> <br> Following practice, head coach Dan Reeves was upset that Johnson, who flew in from Indianapolis for player physicals yesterday, left the complex without giving an explanation. <br> <br> Johnson, a former standout at Florida and a first-round pick of the Colts in 1995, does not have an agent, choosing instead to represent himself. The 29-year-old told Reeves he wanted to retire the day after the Falcons lost 20-6 at Philadelphia in the NFC divisional playoffs on January 11. <br> <br> He reconsidered, however, when the team offered to extend the three-year, $4.3 million contract he signed September 1 through the 2005 season. Reeves also promised that Johnson, who lives on a farm outside Indianapolis with his wife and two young children, would be excused from the offseason conditioning program that began March 31 and the month-long passing camp that ended June 27. <br> <br> Several times last season, Johnson said he was struggling emotionally with spending so much time away from his family, which never moved with him to the Atlanta area.