Making Falcons ‘very surreal' for Parkview grad

By Jeff Haws

For the AJC

FLOWERY BRANCH -- Some 30 miles from where he played high school ball, Michael Palmer was doing something Monday few undrafted players ever get to do -- stand at his Falcons locker and take questions.

The rookie tight end out of Clemson is a Parkview High grad and came into training camp as a long shot to make the final 53-man roster, as are all undrafted free agents. Palmer is the only one who made the final cut this year. Six are listed on the team's practice squad.

For him, finally making it is difficult to fathom.

"Being in there in the Georgia Dome and running out in a Falcons uniform, it's got a whole new meaning," said Palmer, who will start the season as the third-string tight end and will help on special teams. "Growing up a Falcons fan, it's just a very surreal experience. That's the best way for me to explain it. It's just very humbling and very surreal right now. I'm just trying to soak it in as much as possible."

A big part of that for Palmer has been taking cues from his teammates, and there are few better in the league from whom to learn the tight end ropes than Tony Gonzalez, who's entering his 14th season in the league.

"It was obvious that Michael had ability and all," tight ends coach Chris Scelfo said. "The game is not too big for him. He came in here, he's confident. He's very smart and he studies. He really paid attention to 88 [Gonzalez] and learned a lot from him -- the little things, the intricacies of how to be a pro."

Coach Mike Smith said the entire final cut process, which ended with the NFL's deadline Saturday, was the most challenging one he's had as Falcons coach.

"It was very, very difficult in terms of the decision-making process with a number of these guys," Smith said. "It was much different in terms of the caliber of player that we have on our roster, which has increased each and every year."

Suspension rules

Defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux and linebacker Robert James are both suspended by the NFL for the Week 1 matchup vs. Pittsburgh. Babineaux is out for one week in connection with a marijuana arrest, and James must sit out four weeks for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy.

Smith said, under league rules, Babineaux is allowed to be at the team facility this week but cannot participate in drills on the practice field with the team, while James can't even be at the Flowery Branch headquarters during his suspension.

Whether ‘Spoon?

Rookie Sean Weatherspoon has started each preseason game at linebacker for the Falcons, but Smith continues to say the coaching staff has not decided to start him against the Steelers.

"Our guys on defense, it really doesn't matter who starts the game because they're all going to play," Smith said. "All of the guys that are up and active are likely to play because we use a rotation. We have not settled into naming the starters."

NFL rules mandate a preliminary Week 1 depth chart be released Tuesday.

Walking wounded

Michael Jenkins (shoulder), Brent Grimes (groin), Corey Peters (strained knee) and Joe Hawley (undisclosed) were working out with the trainers during Monday's practice. Their tentative status for Pittsburgh won't be known until the league-mandated injury report is issued Wednesday.