FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Don't look for any complicated mind games or side competitions when Michael Turner takes the field in San Diego. The former Charger backup turned Falcons workhorse just wants to see some friends, talk some trash and play football.
Unfortunately, a story as big as All Pro LaDainian Tomlinson facing his four-year understudy just won't fade quietly to the back of the sports section.
"It's not a revenge game or anything but I knew it was going to be fun," said Turner, who leads the Falcons with 1,088 rushing yards and paces the NFL with 13 rushing touchdowns. "They will probably be doing some trash talking to me because you trash talk in practice. I don't think Sunday will be any different."
Turner rushed for 1,257 yards and six scores in four seasons with the Chargers. He often came in the game to relieve Tomlinson, who's working on his sixth Pro Bowl invite. The Falcons running back waited patiently for his turn, however, saying he was happy to help the team win and learn from someone sure to have a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
"Every day he approached like it was going to be his last," Turner said of Tomlinson. "He's very professional in everything he does and that's the one thing I really learned from him."
Turner's teammates will now try to learn from him, especially when it comes to stopping Tomlinson. The Pro Bowler has just 770 rushing yards thus far but has the same amount of yards from scrimmage (passing plus receiving) as his former backup (1,099). The Falcons aren't taking him lightly.
"LT is a great back," rookie linebacker Curtis Lofton said. "He's been to Pro Bowls; he's fast and elusive. We just have to play together as a defense to stop him."
Defensive end John Abraham scoffed at anything suggesting Tomlinson is not his game-changing self.
"He's still right up there like third in the AFC in rushing," he said. "He's still putting numbers up. We just don't want to give him that game to make (the media) remember him again."
IN THE FOLD: It will be a special Thanksgiving holiday for wide receiver Michael Jenkins and defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux. Both were rewarded with contract extensions late Tuesday that will keep them in the Falcons locker room for seasons to come.
“Anytime you can sign your own players back it’s a positive," Head Coach Mike Smith said after Wednesday's practice. "Jenks and Babs are team players and they are guys who you want around. We are excited about that."
This season Jenkins has posted 33 receptions for 498 yards and is on pace to set a career-high in receiving yards for a season (724). Babineaux has proved a versatile defensive tackle, recording 26 tackles, two sacks and a fumble recovering.
“I’m really excited to continue my career here in Atlanta,” said Jenkins. “The team-oriented program is something I want to continue to be a part of.”
"It feels real good," added Babineaux. "Coming into the year I didn't know what to expect from the new coaching staff but as the season's gone on and as we've progressed with the team I feel real comfortable with what Thomas (Dimitroff) and Smitty have done to this organization to get it on the right track. I'm happy to continue my career here. I look forward to the good years to come."
HARTSOCK TO IR: The Falcons wasted little time signing Ben Hartsock when free agency opened in February. The veteran tight end quickly emersed himself in the team's playbook and became a key blocker.
But Atlanta must go through the rest of 2008 without his services.
Hartsock was placed on injured reserve Wednesday morning. He was replaced on the roster by Jason Rader, a tight end that spent training camp with the team. He was also signed to the active roster briefly earlier in the season.
"It's going to be tough to replace Ben," Smith said. "He's done a very nice job in blocking and he's an integral part of our running game. We're very fortunate to be able to add Jason Rader back to the team. He is very familiar with our system and he was with us through training camp and different parts of the season. It’s a difficult loss, but we were able to add Jason so that’s a positive as well."
Through 11 games Hartsock totaled three catches for 26 yards. He primarily blocked along the line of scrimmage, helping clear the way for the Falcons second-ranked running attack.
CLOSE CALLS: Four of San Diego's seven losses have come within the final minute, including last week's defeat against Indianapolis. For that reason, many Falcons players think the Chargers could be the best 4-7 team in the league.
After all, they're close to being 8-3.
"They've lost four games in the last 20 seconds," center Todd McClure said. "Their record doesn't indicate the type team they are.
Atlanta could counter that extra motivation by jumping ahead quickly. The Falcons have outscored opponents 88-24 in the first quarter this season and took a 17-0 lead on the Panthers last week.
"You look at a team like that and they're going to play hard and we know that," wide receiver Roddy White said. "We have to go out there and score points early and kind of break their confidence early in the game."
DOUGLAS HONORED: Rookie wide receiver Harry Douglas was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week Wednesday morning. He's the third Falcons player to win a conference award this season (Turner and quarterback Matt Ryan won Offensive Player of the Week earlier in the year).
Douglas, who grew up a Falcons fan and played at Jonesboro High School returned a punt 61 yards for a touchdown against the Panthers. He also racked up 188 total yards and rushed for a score in the game.
But that's in the past.
"I kind of put it behind me because, once again, we play again this week in San Diego," he said.
“I’m very please not only for Harry, but for the entire special teams unit," added Smith. "Harry did a great job and I think he’s maturing quite well as a returner. Our guys have been challenged in terms of the return game, especially punt returns, and they have done a nice job. It’s great for Harry, but it’s also great for the guys who are out there blocking for him.”
MORE ON THE FALCONS-CHARGERS GAME:
- NOTEBOOK: Defense prepares for Tomlinson, Turner returns to roots
- PREVIEW PACK: More on the Falcons and Chargers game
- INJURY REPORT: More on team injuries from Saint Joseph's Hospital
- TRANSCRIPT: Head Coach Mike Smith
- FROM THE LOCKER ROOM: Ryan | McClure | Abraham | White
- FOE AUDIO: LaDanian Tomlinson | Norv Turner
- NEWS: Douglas earns NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors
- NEWS: Falcons place Hartsock on injured reserve
- RELEASE: Babineaux, Jenkins get contracts extended
- AWARDS: Pair of Falcons up for weekly awards on NFL.com
- J. MIKE'S MISSIVES: Jenkins, Babineaux Key Parts to Future | Birdseed
- FALCON AL: Cheerleader of the Game | Fan of the Game
