Arizona outside linebacker John Abraham was having a quiet season until his previous game.
He broke loose for two sacks and two forced fumbles against Seattle and will be the X-factor when the Falcons face the Cardinals.
“It’s been nice,” Abraham said of his new team. “I still enjoy playing and just being around people who want me here, it feels good.”
After seven seasons, the Falcons released Abraham in the offseason. He contemplated retirement before signing with Cardinals in July. Before the Seattle game, he was off to a slow start.
“At first, I wasn’t starting,” Abraham said. “But, I probably missed more sacks than I got. I probably should have eight or nine sacks right now. I was just missing. I was actually going for the ball instead of the quarterback. I’m pretty good now.”
He doesn’t have an axe to grind with the Falcons.
“For us, we’re just trying to get to 4-4,” Abraham said. “That’s my biggest thing. Everybody keeps saying, are you going to be emotional? Not really, it would be different if I went back to the (Georgia) Dome. (But with) them coming here, they are like the next opponent.”
Abraham is just part of Arizona’s talented defensive front that features tackle Darnell Dockett, end Calais Campbell and inside linebacker Daryl Washington.
“We feed off each other,” Abraham said. “With me being an outside linebacker now, predominantly, it’s actually fun. I’ve enjoyed learning coverages and really knowing how to cover receivers and all kinds of stuff. People are saying ‘John, you’re 35. You shouldn’t be playing at that kind of level.’ I keep saying, why not?’”
Abraham still garners a lot of respect from the Falcons.
“He’s one of the best in the league,” Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan said. “He’s great with getting the ball out.”
Abraham’s trying to make the most out of the move.
“Maybe, it was a good change,” Abraham said. “Maybe, I got too comfortable in Atlanta, and I needed to do something else.”
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