Falcons' Peerless Price looking for big year

GREENVILLE, S.C. - After an agonizing first year with the Atlanta Falcons, Peerless Price is eager to make amends.

New coach Jim Mora, whose team practiced twice Sunday at Furman University, understands the receiver's frustration over a disappointing 2003 season.

``Yeah, coach Mora kids me all the time, like 'You're not going to be a decoy on this route,' `` Price said. ``I know those guys will make an honest effort to find ways to get me the ball so I can make plays.''

Atlanta's new offense, which first-year coordinator Greg Knapp designed to rave reviews the last three seasons in San Francisco, should be right for Price, who moved to flanker during the spring in hopes of creating favorable matchups with linebackers and safeties who might struggle to cover him.

``I think it's going to be a great year the kind of year I expected last year is going to happen a year later,'' Price said. ``I think it's going to give me more opportunities to make plays. Coach Knapp, you look at some of the guys he's coached Jerry Rice and Terrell Owens they played flanker and that's the spot I'm going to be playing.''

Knapp has the team's two fastest receivers, Michael Jenkins and Dez White, competing for the starting job at wideout. Brian Finneran moved to No. 2 flanker, but he is an exceptional blocker and coaches consider him the team's best route runner assets that could free Price to be even more dangerous in three- and four-receiver sets.

``We're learning a new offense, and you've got to get your timing and stuff down,'' said Price, whose one catch in the 24-0 preseason loss at Baltimore resulted in a 16-yard first down Thursday night. ``I've just got to fine-tune those skills.''

Great fanfare accompanied Price's arrival 17 months ago. The Falcons traded their first-round draft pick to Buffalo so quarterback Michael Vick would finally have the top-flight wideout he coveted. Owner Arthur Blank rewarded Price with a new contract that included a $10 million signing bonus, but the team's hopes crashed when Vick broke his leg in a preseason game.

Coming off a career year with the Bills that included 94 catches, 1,252 yards and nine touchdowns, Price finished 64-838-3, but the inaccuracy of Atlanta quarterbacks didn't help. The Falcons completed just 50 percent of their pass attempts, worst in the NFL, so it's no surprise that Price never had a chance on many of the 77 incompletions that were intended for him.

Price and Doug Johnson, Vick's former backup, had only one productive game together, but the receiver's 12-catch, 168-yard effort resulted in a loss to Minnesota.

More memorable were the times Johnson failed to connect with Price. Early in the first quarter of a 36-0 loss at St. Louis, Price was open down the right sideline, but Johnson badly overthrew him. Late in a 33-31 loss to Washington, Price ran in the left flats with no defender in sight, but the Redskins intercepted Johnson when he made a bad throw to tight end Alge Crumpler.

``I don't know, but for whatever reason me and Doug just couldn't get in a groove together,'' Price said. ``But all that's in the past now. We're a totally different offense. We're more efficient and better prepared.''

Not all the problems were Johnson's fault. Price knows he could've run some routes better, but former head coach Dan Reeves ran an offense that allowed opponents to shut down a No. 1 receiver by assigning a cornerback to cover him exclusively in a zone.

The return of Vick, who led Atlanta to the second round of the 2002 playoffs, and a consistent rushing attack should prevent the Falcons from finishing last in third-down efficiency and time of possession for the second straight year.

``Peerless is going to have a breakout year,'' Vick said. ``I can feel. He can, too.''

Notes: WR Terrence Edwards participated in his second straight practice Sunday morning after a mild concussion sidelined him for a week. ... TE Alge Crumpler, out since Aug. 5 with a bruised knee, believes he will heal in time for the home preseason opener Friday night against Minnesota. ... MLB Chris Draft is still recovering from problems relating to chronic asthma, and will try to practice Monday for the first time in 10 days.