The Falcons' Missouri connection is ready for homecoming

For Moore, a native of Hayti, Mo., it will be a rather emotional return. Not only will several family members be on hand, but Lonnie O'Neal, the father of ex-teammate Aaron O'Neal will be attend.

Moore wears No. 25 in honor of the younger O'Neal, who collapsed after a workout at Missouri in 2005 and later died.

"That's huge to be a part of something like this," Moore said. "Just to go back and put on a show for all of my family and friends. Just to go back where Aaron O'Neal played."

Moore has worked overtime to make sure he has enough tickets for everyone.

"I need about 10 to 15 more," Moore said.

Moore was drafted by the Falcons in the second round of the 2009 draft. This homecoming would not have been possible if the Falcons had played the Rams last season instead of this season.

Moore suffered a series of injuries and played in only two games as a rookie. He has been healthy this season and took over at strong safety after Erik Coleman was injured in the season opener against Pittsburgh.

Moore has played well enough to retain the job.

"It's about that time to go back and get me some good home-cooked food, too," Moore said.

Weatherspoon, who has been out with a right knee sprain since Oct. 10, returned to practice Thursday.

A first-round draft pick this year, Weatherspoon is getting healthy just in time.

"[Moore] said, ‘man, we are going back to St. Louis; are you going to be out there with me or what,'" Weatherspoon said. "We've been talking like that, and he's been telling me about the tickets that he has lined up. We are going back to his home state. I was there for four years, so it's like my second home."

Weatherspoon remembers fondly playing four games against Illinois in the Edward Jones Dome.

"I'm 4-0 in the dome," Weatherspoon said.

Weatherspoon's first day back at practice went well.

"It felt pretty good just to get out there with the guys instead of just watching," said Weatherspoon, who was limited in practice. "It just made me feel a whole lot comfortable about myself. I was out there running around, cutting and making different movements."

The coaching staff will evaluate Weatherspoon's range of motion and lateral movement over the next few days to see if he's ready to return to the lineup.

"I was still a little rusty," Weatherspoon said. "I've got to get back into the swing of things."

Weatherspoon hopes that he will get some playing time.

"I will just be willing to accept any role that I get," Weatherspoon said. "Going back to St. Louis is going to be a big deal. We'll have a lot of people in that area that will be coming over to the game."

While it figures to be an emotional return for Moore and Weatherspoon, they don't want to get overhyped and not well.

"We have a lot of veterans on the team, and that’s our biggest advantage," Moore said. "A lot of these guys have been here before. Tony [Gonzalez], Mike [Peterson], they have been around for a while. They educate the younger players about not getting caught in the hype or becoming complacent."

Falcons coach Mike Smith believes that his two young defenders will handle the homecoming well.

"I don't know that they are going to be overhyped," Smith said. "I hope not. ... Our guys all the time are playing against former teammates or other people and have family there. Both of those guys have been very business-like in their approach."