Falcons begin life after Vick

With no mention of former quarterback-turned-federal inmate Michael Vick, the Atlanta Falcons got off to an upbeat start to training camp Saturday, even with the reality of a massive rebuilding job threatening to dampen all the smiles and giddiness.

"I'm not going to talk about last year, but I'll talk about right now," said linebacker Keith Brooking, one of the few veterans left after the Falcons cleaned house during the off-season. "On the drive up here yesterday morning, I was so happy, so excited. I called about 20 people on the way up to tell 'em how fired up I was about coming to training camp."

Brooking's excitement is understandable after what happened a year ago, one of the grimmest seasons yet for a franchise that already had endured plenty of heartache.

Vick, the most famous player in Falcons history, admitted to running a dogfighting ring and was sent to prison for a nearly two-year sentence. New coach Bobby Petrino lasted all of 13 games before abandoning the team to take a college job at Arkansas. After winning only four games, Atlanta was left with no other choice except to start over.

Rich McKay was booted upstairs to make way for a new general manager, Thomas Dimitroff, who claims to be 42 but looks much younger. Mike Smith, the defensive coordinator in Jacksonville, was handed his first head coaching job. But the biggest changes came on the field.

Alge Crumpler, Warrick Dunn and Rod Coleman were let go to free up salary-cap space. Outspoken cornerback DeAngelo Hall was dealt to Oakland. The Falcons signed Michael Turner, the top running back in the free agent market, and drafted quarterback Matt Ryan - Vick's eventual successor - with the No. 3 overall pick.

Cowboys' Owens content: Terrell Owens had a quizzical look when he heard the question. Then came his response, "What distractions?"

With T.O., there really are none these days.

"I'm content where I am," Owens said Saturday, after the Dallas Cowboys had their first training camp practice in pads. "I know I'm going to be a Cowboy for life."

Things are much different from his first training camp with the Cowboys two years ago, when they were last in California and Owens spent more time riding a stationary bicycle than catching passes with a sore hamstring. Not to mention all the head-butting with Bill Parcells.

Plus, there are no contract issues. That potential distraction was eliminated when Jerry Jones gave Owens a three-year extension this summer. His deal now goes through 2011 instead of expiring after this season.

"I'm just playing free, stress-free, and just going out here and just trying to get my team better from every aspect of the game," the 34-year-old Owens said.

Dolphins get going: Camp Parcells began Saturday with two practices, and goodness knows the Dolphins need them. A 1-15 record in 2007 was their worst ever and the worst in the NFL, and their six-year playoff drought is the longest in franchise history. The 81 players on hand included 45 newcomers, all acquired since Bill Parcells took over as football czar last December.

Dorsey signs with Chiefs: After a brief contract holdout that essentially cost him only one practice, Glenn Dorsey signed a five-year, $51 million deal Saturday with the Kansas City Chiefs that includes an option year and more than $22 million in guaranteed money. The 300-pound All-American from LSU, the fifth player taken overall last April, will be the cornerstone of a line that's being rebuilt to make up for the loss of Pro Bowl defensive end Jared Allen.

Patriots sign RB Jordan: The New England Patriots have signed veteran running back LaMont Jordan a day after he was released by the Oakland Raiders.

Johnson gets deal done: The Titans have wrapped up their last draft pick, agreeing to terms with first-round selection Chris Johnson, a running back, on a five-year, $12 million deal.

Bills sign first-round pick: First-round draft selection Leodis McKelvin signed a five-year contract potentially worth $19.4 million with the Buffalo Bills, and the cornerback is set to join the team after missing only two days of training camp.