ATLANTA -- Alge Crumpler's chronically sore knee could sideline the four-time Pro Bowl tight end for the Atlanta Falcons' game at New Orleans on Sunday.
Despite their 0-4 start, the Saints avoided any major infighting and it showed in Sunday's win over the Seahawks. Another victory and New Orleans can start thinking about re-entering the conversation in the NFC South. **Full story ...**
Crumpler, the Falcons' leading receiver the last three years, has played in 40 straight games, including 39 starts, despite having arthroscopic surgery on his left knee the last two offseasons. He was held out of practice this week.
If he can't play, Crumpler would be the third offensive starter, joining left tackle Wayne Gandy and right tackle Todd Weiner, sidelined because of a knee injury in the last two weeks.
If Crumpler can't play, Dwayne Blakley will likely get his eighth career start. The Falcons could also use rookie tight end Martrez Milner.
Crumpler, who roomed with quarterback Michael Vick when both were rookies in 2001, is the leading tight end in Falcons' history with 293 catches for 3,971 yards and 31 touchdowns.
Gandy is out for the rest of the season after having reconstructive surgery. Right tackle Todd Weiner might not return for five weeks.
Tyson Clabo and rookie Renardo Foster, the replacements for Gandy and Weiner, made their first career starts at tackle in last week's loss to the New York Giants.
Atlanta (1-5) has lost three in a row at the Louisiana Superdome, where the Saints are 0-2 since beating Seattle in January and advancing to their first NFC title game. New Orleans (1-4) ended a five-game overall losing streak last week at Seattle.
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press