Ken Whisenhunt's name has surfaced in Atlanta as a candidate to replace Jim Mora if, as expected, he is fired soon after the season ends. Whisenhunt, 44, was born in Atlanta, played at Georgia Tech and played his first four seasons in the NFL as a tight end for the Falcons.

Jim Mora was an acclaimed coach the last time Atlanta played at Philadelphia in the 2004 conference championship game after the Falcons won the NFC South. Two years later, the heat is on Mora, his future with the Falcons uncertain. The Falcons close a disappointing regular season Sunday at Philadelphia, but Mora's fate, and the team's playoff hopes could be decided before the game begins. Falcons owner Arthur Blank said last month a second straight 8-8 finish is unacceptable. When asked about Mora's status after the Falcons' 10-3 loss to Carolina last Sunday, Blank reminded reporters about his November statement. By declining the chance to elaborate, Blank appeared to indicate he still would not accept a .500 record.

Chris Weinke credited his first win in five years to Carolina's renewed emphasis on the running game, while another Atlanta loss left Michael Vick wondering about his team's direction. No matter the perspective of the quarterbacks, Carolina's 10-3 win over the Falcons Sunday left each team one game under .500, and still in the jumbled NFC wild-card playoff hunt, with one week left in the season. The Falcons suffered their fourth-straight home loss. Vick seemed to question decisions by coach Jim Mora and his staff.

Falcons defensive end John Abraham practiced Friday for the first time since having surgery on his left thumb Monday to repair torn tendons. Abraham, who is listed as probable, said he expects to play Sunday in the home finale against the Carolina Panthers.

Michael Vick says his sore groin has improved, even though he didn't test the injury as he took a reduced role in Wednesday's practice. Vick had to leave late in the Atlanta Falcons' loss to Dallas on Saturday night due to the injury. He was listed as probable for Sunday's game against Carolina and reported the sore groin "feels better."

After Terrell Owens spit in DeAngelo Hall's face in Saturday night's game, Hall insisted he'd have nothing to do with the Dallas receiver. Owens, who was fined $35,000 by the NFL, kept trying to contact Hall, the Falcons' star cornerback. Former Atlanta and Dallas player Deion Sanders finally convinced Hall to take a three-way telephone call on Monday. "We had a pretty good conversation," Hall said Wednesday. "As far as I'm concerned, it's over. We got it all out, cleared it all out. It's over."

The double-quarterback set featuring Michael Vick and Matt Schaub on the field at the same time for four plays on Saturday will not be featured again anytime soon, coach Jim Mora said Monday. "We basically did that because we weren't sure how Jerious [Norwood] and Warrick [Dunn] were going to be," Mora said.

By the time U. of Washington coach Tyrone Willingham heard any of the comments Atlanta Falcons coach Jim Mora made, much of the furor had died down. "I didn't find out much about this until it was a dead issue," Willingham said Monday. "I was busy doing what we do, which is recruit." Mora was a guest last Thursday on Seattle radio station KJR-AM. While saying he respects Willingham, Mora added, "If that job's open, you'll find me at the head of the line with my resume in hand ready to take that job."

Terrell Owens has 35,000 reasons to never spit at an opponent again. T.O. was fined $35,000 by the NFL on Monday for spitting in the face of Atlanta cornerback DeAngelo Hall during Saturday night's Cowboys-Falcons game.

Mercurial receiver Terrell Owens faces a hefty fine from the NFL after spitting in the face of Atlanta cornerback DeAngelo Hall early in the Dallas Cowboys? 38-28 victory over the Falcons Saturday night in the Georgia Dome. "I lost all respect for the guy," Hall said. "We were kind of walking face to face, walking back to the huddle, and he just hauled off and spit in my face. Owens confessed to the dirty deed in an interview after the game with the NFL Network. "I got frustrated and I apologize for that," Owens said. "It was a situation where he kept bugging me and getting in my face. He kept aggravating me."