Falcons rookie Robert Alford will provide a weekly diary for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution this season.
The Hammond, La., native who played at Southeastern Louisiana, is set to make his NFL debut in his home state.
Here’s his first installment, as told to D. Orlando Ledbetter.
There was one team that I was rooting for when I was growing up, and that was the Saints.
But once I was drafted by the Falcons, all of the Saints fans that I had in my family, everybody burnt all of the hats, T-shirts and jerseys that they had.
It will be a wonderful experience going back home. The last time that I was in the … Superdome was when we were playing Tulane. Just to be back on that sideline and playing in the National Football League against the team that I followed when I was small is going to feel real good.
This is most definitely how I would script the beginning of my career.
During training camp I just learning, getting with the guys and the coaches and learning to schemes and things. I want to go out there and be prepared for game day.
Drew Brees is a great quarterback. I have a great quarterback here in Matt Ryan. He’s somebody that has helped me and Desmond (Trufant) prepare for what we have to do this week.
I’m going to be focused on what I’m doing. That’s the whole key. We are going there to win and beat the New Orleans Saints.
From what I experienced last year when I went to the game (at the Superdome), it’s going to be really loud, and the fans are going to be into the game.
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