For a few hours Monday night, Harold Johnson hoped to forget about the storm that wrecked his home a year ago. He planned to sit with his neighbors outside his government-issue trailer and watch the Saints' first home game since Hurricane Katrina on TV. "I don't want to talk about Katrina. I don't want to talk about insurance. I don't want to talk about anything but kicking Falcon butt," Johnson said, referring to the Falcons as he stocked up on beer at a grocery store for the cookout with his neighbors.

Finally, New Orleans is ready for some football. Performances by the Goo Goo Dolls, U2 and Green Day will help the city officially reopen the Louisiana Superdome before the Sept. 25 ESPN Monday Night football game between the Saints and Falcons. The event -- the first from the Superdome since Hurricane Katrina ravaged the building a year ago -- will be featured live on ESPN's "Monday Night Countdown," beginning at 7 p.m. ET.

Forty-six-year-old Morten Andersen is returning to the Atlanta Falcons after Michael Koenen flopped badly in his attempt to do all the kicking. Andersen, the second-leading scorer in NFL history, returns to the league after last kicking with Minnesota in 2004. He will handle extra points and all field goal attempts -- except those well beyond 50 yards. "Morten Andersen is one of the finest field goal kickers in the history of the National Football League," Falcons coach Jim Mora said. "His outstanding career speaks for itself, and we are excited to have him rejoin our organization."

With 1:02 left in Atlanta's win over the Panthers, John Abraham hobbled from the field and into the team's locker room with a strained groin. "Everything is fine; we're going to take this day by day," Abraham said. "We are not going to worry about that today. We're going to enjoy this win. We'll worry about that tomorrow." Abraham, who missed most of the 2003 season with a groin injury, wasn't sure how it occurred. "It was just the groin area, but we don't have any specifics," Abraham said. "We haven't taken an MRI or anything like that."

Carolina Panthers All-Pro receiver Steve Smith missed his third straight day of practice Friday with a sore right hamstring, and is doubtful to play in the season opener against Atlanta. "There is nothing new with the injury report. Everyone is still listed the same," coach John Fox said. If Smith, who is listed as questionable, can't play, Keary Colbert or Drew Carter would start at receiver opposite Keyshawn Johnson on Sunday.