They Have Dangerfield Advantage

Until this season, the Falcons had a tough time getting attention in their own hometown.

“We were playing between the seventh-inning stretch of Braves’ games,” running back Jamal Anderson said. “At the same time, we knew Georgia is a tremendous football state and if we put a good product on the field, people would come. The fans have been coming and it’s tremendous to see.”

If they got little recognition in Atlanta, many players got even less recognition before joining the Falcons.

Their roster is studded with players who were ignored or repeatedly skipped in the draft: Anderson wasn’t chosen until the 201st pick, five-time Pro Bowl linebacker Jessie Tuggle was signed as a free agent, tackle Ephraim Salaam was chosen 199th in last year’s draft and center Robbie Tobeck was signed as a free agent. Quarterback Chris Chandler was released by five other teams, and backup Steve DeBerg played for six teams before coming out of retirement at age 44.

The Falcons like the no-respect image and use it as motivation. Asked if that has given him a chip on his shoulder, Anderson sneered in agreement. “Yeah. Don’t let this pretty face fool you,” he said.

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Randall Cunningham, who retired and missed the 1996 season, said earning a living installing tile and counter tops renewed his love for football.

“It was probably the hardest thing I’ve done in my life,” said Cunningham, who owned Custom Marble and Granite Accessories in Las Vegas. “I feel like I represent [his laborers] now. What they do is harder than what we do. When I go on the field I always have a little inkling of being a blue-collar worker.”

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The Falcons prepared for the din they’re bound to encounter today at the Metrodome by playing tapes of jets taking off. They’ve used the tapes before, but the idea is especially appropriate to prepare them for the Vikings’ rowdy fans.

However, the Falcons may get relief from the eardrum-shattering music. A Minneapolis TV station reported speakers that were placed behind the visitors’ bench last week and annoyed the Arizona Cardinals--and sparked an inquiry to the NFL from Falcon Coach Dan Reeves--were moved several dozen feet away.

“The noise has never bothered me,” Viking receiver Cris Carter said. “I don’t know why Dan Reeves is complaining.”

Chandler said he worked on establishing hand signals in case his cadence is drowned out. “The noise is going to be louder than we’ve ever had to deal with,” he said, “but we’ve got to go out and take care of business and hope the crowd gets quiet as the game goes on.”

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Anderson took a considerable amount of punishment in setting an NFL record of 410 carries, but a massage therapist brought in by Reeves helped soothe his aches and pains.

“You’ll never hear me complain about getting the ball,” Anderson said.

Asked if he might have to carry the ball 40 times for the Falcons to win today, he laughed. “I like the ball, trust me,” he said. “But 40 carries? I don’t know. Thirty-nine, maybe.”