FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- With two games left in the season, Falcons players are looking to stay focused on the task at hand. That doesn't mean a little lighthearted holiday cheer can't find its way into the practice facility, however.
For example, Wednesday, members of the team's offensive line serenaded teammates with a special version of "Jingle Bells."
All jokes aside, the team wants to finish strong and rebound from a loss at Tampa Bay with a victory at Arizona (6-8).
"One of our main things for this year was finishing," linebacker Michael Boley said. "We intend to do that regardless of what's going on outside of this locker room. I know a lot of guys who have a lot of pride about finishing something they started."
"We're going to put that behind us and we're going to prepare as hard as we can this week -- go out there and try to get a win at Arizona," added Interim Head Coach Emmitt Thomas. "We had a couple plays that happened to us early in the game and we kind of lost our composure. That's behind us now and I think the guys have come in this week and responded."
"The biggest thing is you have to put it behind you," quarterback Chris Redman said Wednesday. "It was obviously a tough game for everyone, especially myself. It was a rough week. We're putting everything behind us, moving forward and we came out today with a great practice. Our tempo was good and we just have to keep moving forward."
WELL RECEIVED: Players had kind words for Cardinals receivers Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald Wednesday as preparations continued for the Cardinals.
Fitzgerald (1,166 receiving yards and eight touchdowns) was just named to the NFC Pro Bowl squad. Boldin is second on the team with more than 600 yards receiving and six touchdowns.
"Those guys are real good," Falcons wide receiver Roddy White said. "They're a couple of Pro Bowlers. I want to go out there and do my thing on my side of the ball and then sit out there and watch them do their thing. But, at the end of the game, we want to be the best receivers on our side and hopefully we get a 'W.'"
Both Boldin and Fitzgerald were limited in practice today and appeared on the team's injury report.
ROSTER MOVES: Tuesday the Falcons placed cornerback Lewis Sanders (pectoral) on injured reserve and promoted cornerback Brent Grimes from the practice squad.
Grimes has spent the majority of the season on the Falcons practice squad. He was activated to the 53-man roster on Oct. 29, but was waived and signed back to the practice squad on Nov. 6. Grimes was originally signed as an undrafted rookie free agent by Atlanta on May 16, 2006 after a collegiate career at Shippensburg University where he set school records in career passes defensed (38) and interceptions (27).
BOWLED OVER: Pro Bowl invitations fluttered around the NFL yesterday, but none came to earth in Atlanta. Boley, who leads the team in tackles and is having a career season, was not sure Wednesday if he would be an alternate for the all-star game. The third-year pro has been stellar for the Falcons this season, adding 122 tackles, three sacks, two interceptions, three forced fumbles and seven passes defensed.
"I didn't even watch the show," Boley said with a trademark smile.
Linebackers Julian Peterson (Seahawks), DeMarcus Ware (Cowboys) and Lance Briggs (Bears) were selected as the NFC's outside linebackers. Also selected was Redskins safety Sean Taylor, who was tragically shot and killed earlier this year.
Taylor's selection was good news to Falcons cornerback DeAngelo Hall, who played with safety in the last two Pro Bowls.
"It's a huge honor," Hall said. "You can't take anything from the guy. I think everybody who had anything to say about him always said what a fierce competitor he was. He definitely deserved to go over there... It's going to be a shame that he can't be out there and put that jersey on one more time and run around."
COACH DEPARTURE: Linebackers coach Brian VanGorder, who served as head coach at Georgia Southern and defensive coordinator at the University of Georgia, will return to the college ranks next season. The 48-year-old recently accepted a post at the University of South Carolina.
"He was great," Boley said when asked about his position coach. "He brought a new intensity to our meeting room. He was a great coach. He taught us a lot about the game."
INJURY REPORT: The Falcons listed six players on the injury report Wednesday, five of which did not practice. Thomas said defensive end John Abraham underwent an MRI Monday, but did not offer an update.
In other roster news, the interim coach said rookie Justin Blalock could return to the starting lineup Sunday at Arizona. He has been inactive the last two games after starting Weeks 1-13.
"We think there's a high ceiling for this young man and, because of the length of the season, we think he kind of hit in a rut," Thomas said. "They wanted to give him a rest and look at the other guy (D'Anthony Batiste) a little bit. I think we're going to bring him back and let him finish the rest of the season."
TOYS FOR TOTS: The Falcons and O’Reilly Auto Parts would like to thank fans for doing their part in the 2007 Atlanta Falcons Toys for Tots drive Dec. 10. Fan donations totaled more than $20,000 and nearly 700 toys for families in need this holiday season.
