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RENTON Jace Sternberger Jersey , Wash. (AP) — Metcalf was someone pulling a prank.Not when it was a video call and Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson was on the other end.“I was amazed, kind of shocked. But I had to realize that was my teammate and I wasn’t a fan anymore,” Metcalf said.If Metcalf needed a welcome to the NFL moment, it arrived when his new quarterback reached out to welcome him to the Seattle. And it has continued during Metcalf’s first weekend with the Seahawks during their rookie camp where the wide receiver has been the star attraction.At 6-foot-4 and nearly 230 pounds, he’s hard to miss. Throw in a handful of leaping catches through the first two days — albeit against defenders being told not to make plays on the ball — and it’s easy to see what made Seattle so attracted to Metcalf.Asked what excites him most about his new wide receiver, Pete Carroll said: “Well, it’s almost like, what doesn’t, you know?”“He’s big and he’s fast. He’s got really good feet, you know, and his catching range was exhibited today for a start,” Carroll continued. “And you know http://www.packerscheapstore.com/dexter-williams-jersey-cheap , we’ve got to figure it out, figure out where it is, maybe even more unique than we thought coming in. So we just develop it as we go. But big and really fast and the catching range was really obvious.”Even his new teammates are a little in awe of what Metcalf can bring. Defensive back Ugo Amadi was taken in the fourth round and once tried to convince Metcalf to go to Mississippi when they were in high school. He used “monster” and “freak” to describe Metcalf.“I used to go up against him in high school, we used to go to camps together, he was that big in high school and I was still my size,” the 5-9 Amadi said. “He’s going to be definitely a threat when the season comes.”Metcalf’s pre-draft workouts sent the league buzzing with his 4.33 40-yard dash, but his draft slide created even more attention. Expected to potentially go in the first round, Metcalf ended up being selected with the 64th pick in the second round after Seattle traded up to select the big wide receiver Carroll has long coveted. The selection ended an uneasy wait for Metcalf and the emotion came pouring out in his phone call with Carroll and general manager John Schneider.But all of that is in the past. Seattle’s rookie minicamp is the beginning of Metcalf proving the concerns which caused him to slide on draft boards were unfounded.“Just be me. I don’t have to prove anything to anybody. I’m just going to be myself,” Metcalf said.Route running has been one of the criticisms Metcalf has faced. He spent a significant amount of time before the draft working with wide receivers coach Jerry Sullivan in Arizona. The 74-year-old Sullivan coached wide receivers for six NFL teams beginning in 1992 and ending in 2016 with Jacksonville. It didn’t take long for Metcalf to respect what Sullivan had to say after mentioning two of the receivers he had coached were Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald.Metcalf said there were little tips from Sullivan — like being more decisive in his breaks — that he has tried to show in his first days with Seattle.Carroll wasn’t as concerned about the route running. His initial focus was on Metcalf’s feet and whether what showed on film matched what he saw in person.“You know, sometimes the bigger guys the feet just don’t move as quick. His feet were really, really lightning quick and it showed it out here already,” Carroll said. “So that means that the potential is there to make him an excellent releaser. He’s already going to be really strong and using his hands Josh Allen Jersey , getting off the ball, but to have that combination, when we get a chance to tie it all together, it should be a really good package.” ATLANTA (AP) — If you like running backs, you’ve come to the right game.When the first-place New Orleans Saints face the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night in an NFC South matchup with serious playoff ramifications, the spotlight will be on the guys in the backfield.All four of them.The Saints (9-3) boast the league’s most dynamic duo. Mark Ingram has rushed for 922 yards and nine touchdowns, while also being on the receiving end of 42 passes from Drew Brees.But the big story in the Big Easy has been the emergence of rookie Alvin Kamara, who already has more than 1,200 yards running and receiving, along with 11 TDs.“Boom and Zoom” is Ingram’s favorite nickname for the backfield tandem, though he went on to say it’s not entirely accurate.“You really cannot label one of us,” he said. “Both of us have the complete package.”The Falcons (7-5) have their own productive pairing. Devonta Freeman http://www.jaguarscheapstore.com/jawaan-taylor-jersey-cheap , the league’s highest-paid back, and Tevin Coleman had combined for more than 1,500 yards running and receiving, along with 12 touchdowns.“Both teams have two really good running backs who like to get after it,” Falcons coach Dan Quinn said. “If you like running backs, it’s your kind of game.”The Saints claimed sole possession of the division lead with a victory over Carolina (8-4) last weekend, and they’re two games in front of the Falcons.Atlanta desperately needs a win to have a realistic shot at a second straight NFC South title.Other things to watch for in the prime-time game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium:CROWD NOISE: The Falcons haven’t had much of a home-field advantage in their first season at $1.5 billion Mercedes-Benz Stadium, going 3-3 so far. Most troubling, the fans don’t seem to be nearly as loud as they were at the team’s previous home, the Georgia Dome.There are noticeable chunks of empty seats throughout games, and much of the crowd seems to be spending its time gawking at the shiny new digs rather than cheering on the Falcons.“We’ve built a billion-dollar house, and we need to throw a billion-dollar party Josh Oliver Jersey ,” Quinn said. “I think sometimes we’re still using the coasters. We need to be as loud and fun as all we represent as a city.”Quinn even tweeted out a form letter for fans to use if they needed an excuse to report late for work Friday.COVERAGE CONCERNS: The Saints’ secondary is getting healthier, which is good news as they prepare to face Matt Ryan, Julio Jones & Co. CB Ken Crawley returned from an abdomen injury and played well last Sunday in a victory over Carolina.Top draft choice Marshon Lattimore is trying to come back from an ankle injury. Coach Sean Payton said his defensive backs are facing an “extremely difficult” challenge that goes beyond Jones.He also pointed to Mohamed Sanu, Taylor Gabriel and tight end Austin Hooper as players to keep an eye on, not to mention Freeman and Coleman out of the backfield.“This is a team and it’s just built differently and is very explosive outside and we’re going to have to be on point,” Payton said.SOMETHING TO PROVE: The Falcons’ offense is eager to make up for a dismal showing last week against Minnesota. In a 14-9 loss, Atlanta failed to score a touchdown for the first time in nearly two seasons — a major embarrassment to a team that led the league in scoring a year ago and has so many weapons.The Falcons had huge problems on third down, converting only 1 of 10 largely because they kept putting themselves in deep holes on first and second down.“We’ve got to find ways to score touchdowns,” said Jones, who was held to two catches for 24 yards by the Vikings. “We’re better than this. We’ve got to come together and make plays.”UNBURDENED BREES: With all the help he’s getting from the running game, Brees is playing some of the most efficient football of his career. He has completed an NFL-best 71.5 percent of his passes for 3,298 yards and 17 TDs with just five interceptions. When he hasn’t been gashing defenses with screens to Kamara and Ingram http://www.jaguarscheapstore.com/quincy-williams-ii-jersey-cheap , he’s been hitting Michael Thomas and Ted Ginn Jr. downfield. Thomas has a team-leading 75 catches for 875 yards and three TDs.HANDS UP: Mindful of how quickly quarterbacks, including Ryan, unload passes these days, the Saints have been working on batting balls down at the line of scrimmage. The front four has accounted for 16 passes defended this season, including six by DE Cam Jordan. “When you go against a guy like Matt Ryan,” Jordan said, “you’re aware of his releases. You play him two times a year, seven years in. This will be my 13th time playing him.”