FLOWERY BRANCH -- Michael Jenkins periodically flashes back to that January night at the Georgia Dome. He ran the perfect route and was behind Green Bay cornerback Tramon Williams.
But as Matt Ryan’s pass started to descend, Jenkins had to stop and make an adjustment. Attempting to plant his feet so he could thrust his 6-foot-5 frame upward to the ball, he slipped. Williams made an interception. Instead of the Falcons taking a 21-14 lead, the Packers had the ball and eventually took control of the game.
If Jenkins comes up with that catch, perhaps the Falcons are Super Bowl champs, Jenkins is still with the Falcons and there would have been no need to make the Julio Jones trade.
“It did happen, though, and everything happens for a reason,” said Jenkins, who’ll face his old team as one of the Minnesota Vikings’ top receivers on Sunday at the Georgia Dome.
Jenkins doesn’t let the failed play consume him, but he reflects on it from time to time.
“Yeah, you think about that whole game,” Jenkins said. “It’s hard to get to that position in your career. We were 13-3 and the No. 1 seed, and all of that. You think of that whole game. ... Me, slipping and falling in the end zone, and then Matt throwing the pick right before the half; those things hurt. You want to have them back, but they made plays and they went on to win the Super Bowl.”
A few months later, despite needing defensive help, the Falcons traded a bunch of draft picks for Jones. After the lockout ended, Jenkins was released.
“When the news came, it was tough,” Jenkins said. “You’re in their training camp and ready to work, but you get the news that you’ve been let go. You know it’s a business. I appreciated my time down there, and it was good to see coach [Mike] Smith and [general manager Thomas] Dimitroff in the room when they let me go.”
After Jenkins was released, the ring tone on his cell phone chirped away. Several teams were interested, but, with former Falcons coaches Bill Musgrave and George Stewart in Minnesota, the Vikings had the inside track.
Jenkins has 36 catches for 441 yards and three touchdowns for the Vikings. He turned in his first career 100-yard game against Green Bay on Oct. 23, when he caught three passes for 111 yards.
“Michael’s playing very well for them,” Smith said.
Jenkins had a solid career with the Falcons after he was selected with the 29th overall pick in the first round of the 2004 draft. But things never seemed to line up perfectly.
Jenkins had a career high in touchdowns with seven in 2006, a career high in catches in 2007 with 53 and a career high in yards with 777 in 2008.
Other than getting used to the cold, things have gone well for him in Minnesota.
“It’s been a smooth transition,” Jenkins said. “Of course, we’d like to have a few more in the win column. We are still working hard at that.”
Minnesota coach Leslie Frazier is pleased with how Jenkins has connected with the younger receivers.
“He’s been a great addition,” Frazier said. “He had familiarity with our offense after playing with the Falcons and being around Bill while they both were there in Atlanta. He’s been a real plus for our young receivers, helping them learn this offense and getting them acclimated to what we are trying to get done. Michael is a true pro in every sense of the word.”
Jenkins also has stayed in touch with the Falcons’ receivers.
“I talk to Jenks,” Falcons receiver Roddy White said. “He’s doing well out there. He’s making plays. I congratulate him and call him every weekend, but not this weekend. It’s going to be a little bit different.”
Jenkins has warned White that the Vikings are dangerous; they still have several players who helped them reach the NFC Championship game two seasons ago.
“The talent is here,” Jenkins said. “We’ve just had some misfortune with not putting away teams when we were up.”
The Vikings have victories over Arizona and Carolina, and another over the Falcons would make their season.
“Who says we can’t run the table and finish 8-8, and feel good about ourselves going into the offseason?” Jenkins said.
