SUPER BOWL NOTES

Atlanta Falcon running back Jamal Anderson takes a lot of pride in what he does.

He says he was the first, he says he is the best and he’ll strongly dispute anyone who thinks otherwise.

Is he talking about running style?

Anderson is pretty good with a football under his arm, having rushed for a career high 1,846 yards this season in an NFL record 410 carries.

But he’s talking about what he does with his arms when they are free of the football. He’s talking about the Dirty Bird, the arm-flapping celebration dance that has become the symbol of the Falcons’ unlikely season.

When asked who started the Dirty Bird, Anderson left no doubt.

“Are you kidding me?” he said. “I’m the originator. I did the dance first, but [tight end] O.J. [Santiago] was the first one to do it in a big-time game [at New England]. It kind of went national with O.J. But O.J. was like Jermaine Jackson. I’m like Michael Jackson. O.J. took us to the point where everyone recognized us, but I took us platinum. [Cornerback] Ray [Buchanan] is good, but I’m smoother. I’m a little more head and shoulders.

“There’s some bad Dirty Birds. Let’s just say there are some numbers I’ll give you of people who should not do the Dirty Bird. We’re working with [Coach Dan Reeves]. He did a pretty good one today.”

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Two Falcons--linebacker Lester Archambeau and tight end Brian Kozlowski--did not practice Monday, both because of sprained ankles.

Reeves said Kozlowski is probable in terms of the next full practice Wednesday; Archambeau is questionable.

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Bigger if not better: Reeves is shaking his head at how huge the Super Bowl has become since he first appeared in one in 1971 as a running back for the Dallas Cowboys.

“You can’t even start a press conference now,” said Reeves, who’ll be in his ninth Super Bowl Sunday, “unless somebody waves you in like the start of the Indy 500.”