Michael Koenen News

Jason Elam felt worse than anyone in the Falcons' locker room Tuesday night. A day after missing two field goals in New Orleans to contribute to Atlanta's first two-game losing streak under coach Mike Smith, Elam is still trying to figure out the source of his problems.

If I accidentally hit it, I accidentally hit it, Koenen said.3 who need big gamesWashington assistant Sherm Lewis, who had been out of the league since 2004, will try his hand at play-calling for embattled coach Jim Zorn on Monday night at Philadelphia.Rookie QB Mark Sanchez has to bounce back from his five-INT game last week for the Jets, who take ...

Dallas' Patrick Crayton slips away from Atlanta's Michael Koenen as he returns a punt 73 yards for a touchdown in the Cowboys' win on Sunday.

Turner-Cowboys connection? Michael Turner has developed into one of the league's top running backs since leaving the San Diego Chargers for the Falcons last season.

Cowboys rookie David Buehler is tied for third in the NFL with eight touchbacks.

Running back Jerious Norwood, who suffered a right hip flexor injury against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, said Wednesday he doesn't expect to play this weekend against the Dallas Cowboys.

A few pre-game notes as we await kickoff at the Georgia Dome: -- It'll be interesting to see who kicks extra points and field goals for the Falcons.

Jason Elam left it in the bullpen on Sunday. After what he said was his best practice week of the preseason and a good pre-game warm-up, the Falcons kicker had one of the worst days of his 17-year career.

The extremely handsome Matt Ryan has many admirers. So I watched the Falcons through their uninspiring preseason and was starting to think, "Maybe I overclubbed." But now I find I'm only one among many gushing pundits.

So let's say it's a regular-season game in Dallas, and a strong-legged punter from the visiting team wants to boom one out of his own end zone.

Falcons rookie safety William Moore, who underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee earlier this month, returned to practice Tuesday.

Eric Weems, a third-year reserve who played in six regular season games last year for the Atlanta Falcons, won't buy into the addage that NFL preseson games are boring.

Because of the increased passing threat that Jay Cutler presents, I can see increased opportunities for Matt Forte, even though his carries will probably decrease.

It was hard to tell who was having more fun at the inaugural Michael Koenen Sportsfest, the horde of kids running around trying to catch Koenen as a he darted and dashed away from would-be tacklers, or the Atlanta Falcons standout punter himself.

In 2009, the Atlanta falcons and their special teams unit set a new NFL record for least amount of punt return yards against them in a single season, with 49 yards.

We're down to the punters in our series of NFC South position rankings. The return men will come Wednesday before we move on to coaches and the front office.