Gandy ready to cross out ugly ending

Flowery Branch —- Wayne Gandy had a piercing thought when the cart came to take him off the field in Nashville last season.

Writhing in pain after blowing out the ACL in his left knee, he didn’t want his 14-year career to end that way.

“After playing so long, any veteran will tell you that you kind of want to be able to take your jersey off and say I’m done,” said Gandy, who was signed by the Falcons on Wednesday to provide depth along the offensive line. “You don’t want to be driven off on the cart.”

Gandy, whom the Falcons acquired in a trade with New Orleans prior to the 2006 season, started five games at left tackle before the injury last season against Tennessee. He was released Feb. 15 along with Alge Crumpler, Byron Leftwich, Lewis Sanders, Jamin Elliott, Marcus Wilkins and Rod Coleman in the new regime’s first roster purge.

Gandy, 37, could have peaceably retired to his Buckhead home, where he’s lived since 1995. But the thought of riding off LP Field on that cart wouldn’t let him.

“Really, that was all of the motivation needed to keep trying to come back,” he said. “I had to stay positive and hope that somebody might call and pick me up.”

The phone rang Sunday night.

Gandy was welcomed back in the locker room with open arms by Wednesday.

“It’s great to have Gandy back,” center Todd McClure said. “He’s a leader. He can teach some of these young guys a lot of things. Just to have him in the locker room is an honor.”

Gandy admitted he had some tough times during the rehabilitation period.

“The biggest part of rehab is, on those days when it’s not working, don’t get down on yourself,” Gandy said. “You go about three months and it feels good. You wake up one morning and its swollen and you get frustrated.

“You have to work back through that and you keep pushing it.”

Gandy was medically cleared before the start of this season. He sat by the phone and waited.

Falcons rookie tackle Sam Baker, who wears No. 72, Gandy’s old number, had discectomy surgery Thursday. He’s out for an indefinite period. Todd Weiner, his backup, is battling back from major knee surgery.

Gandy stayed in shape by working out and running three or four days a week with his trainer. He is still rehabbing his leg twice a week.

“They say at my age that muscles don’t work, but I’ve forced them to work,” Gandy said. “Hopefully, they can stand up out here in practice, and if I’m needed here Sunday or down the road I can play.”

The Falcons have some practice at getting a veteran ready to play quickly. Tight end Justin Peelle was acquired six days before the season opener and played against Detroit.

Gandy played for offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey for two seasons in Pittsburgh and has some familiarity with the Falcons’ attack.

“The verbiage and stuff, he’s accustomed to hearing,” coach Mike Smith said. “He’s not heard the verbiage of how we call plays and our formations. So that part of it [is new].”

Gandy, wearing jersey No. 68, plans to be ready if needed Sunday.

“I know about one-third of what they are talking about,” he said. “Hopefully, my experience of being able to improvise along the way will help. It’s still football. There are different terms for different things. I can probably catch on in about a week.”

Gandy said it was odd not being with a team and watching games on TV. He said he didn’t even know he had the DirecTV package at home.

He also said he kept track of the Falcons’ 4-3 start.

“I’ve been pulling for my guys, especially the [offensive] line,” Gandy said. “There are a lot of the same guys from when I was here. They have been playing very well. Running, blocking, I’m just happy for their success.”

NEXT FOR FALCONS

> Who: at Raiders

> When: 4:15 p.m. Sunday

> TV; radio: Fox; 92.9 FM