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FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- The Atlanta Falcons have made a commitment to rookie starters on defense that is especially rare for a first-place team.Four rookies are expected to start on defense when Atlanta plays at Philadelphia on Sunday. Safety Keanu Neal, linebackers Deion Jones and DeVondre Campbell and nickel back Brian Poole were on the field for the first snap in last weeks win at Tampa Bay.Defensive coordinator Richard Smith said he has never seen so many rookie starters.Never in my career, and Ive been in the league for 29 years, Smith said Wednesday. Ive never seen that.Its no surprise that Neal, the first-round pick from Florida, is starting. The team likely would have been happy if Jones and Campbell earned a share of playing time. The biggest surprise is Poole, who was undrafted from Florida but made an immediate impact in training camp.According to figures provided by the Falcons, Neal leads all NFL rookies with 57 total tackles and Jones is second with 51. Those are the leading totals for all Falcons players.The youth movement also includes second-year linebacker Vic Beasley Jr., who leads the team with 7.5 sacks, and second-year cornerback Jalen Collins, who might start Sunday if Desmond Trufant is held out with a shoulder injury. Starting defensive tackle Grady Jarrett also was a 2015 pick.Those are the key names in a makeover on defense that was expected when coach Dan Quinn, the former Seattle defensive coordinator, was hired last year.The strong showing by this years draft class helped earn general manager Thomas Dimitroff a new three-year contract on Monday.I think having the picks we had and where we were picking, we felt very confident that we were going to put together a good group of guys, Dimitroff said Monday. ... Were real happy with how theyre producing for this years class.Tight end Austin Hooper could give the 2016 draft class a fifth starter this week. Jacob Tamme is expected to miss his second straight game with a shoulder injury. Levine Toilolo started for Tamme last week.Neal said the first-year players talked in rookie camp following the NFL draft about the possibility so many could start this season.I mean, we talked about it, Neal said. Thats always a cool experience, being on the field at the same time. Weve got the opportunity. Now weve just got to play.Injuries made it difficult to get the four on the field at the same time in the first half of the season.Neal missed the first two games following minor knee surgery in the preseason. Jones and Campbell missed time with ankle injuries. But it was clear from the start of the season Quinn thought the rookies deserved to start.There are many coaches out there that wouldnt do that, Dimitroff said. Theyd wait until the sixth, seventh game of the season. We were very forward about allowing these guys to have a lot of important, interesting reps early on, and I think it really helped their confidence.Smith said he likes the maturity level of the rookies. He said he sees no sign that the long season is affecting the new starters.Its a long season and theyre not used to playing but right now weve played 13 games and I dont see it in their eyes, Smith said. I love their work ethic and the way they work. I like their demeanor if something happens and they do make a mistake, theyre ready to go on with the next play. Overall they all have a bright future.Game notes The Falcons used their indoor practice facility due to poor air quality outside. Winds blew smoke from wildfires in north Georgia over Flowery Branch and south over Atlanta on Wednesday and Thursday. ... DE Dwight Freeney (quad) joined practice after being held out on Wednesday. RB Tevin Coleman (hamstring), CB Desmond Trufant (shoulder) and Tamme (shoulder) did not practice. Quinn said Coleman and Trufant could still play this week if able to practice on Friday. He said Tamme is likely out.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Wholesale Air Max 97 China .Y. - New York City has been selected to host the NBA All-Star weekend in 2015, with the game played at Madison Square Garden and the slam dunk contest and other skills events held at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Air Force 1 Wholesale China . Numbers Game examines the deal that sees Michael Del Zotto and Kevin Klein switch places. The Predators Get: D Michael Del Zotto. http://www.outletsneakersclearance.com/fake-vans.html . Miller reached right to deflect Mikhail Grabovskis attempt with just over 2 minutes remaining in regulation, and then made two more saves in the shootout Sunday to give the Sabres a 2-1 win over the Washington Capitals. Jordan Clearance Outlet .Y. - Free agent outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, fresh off winning the World Series with Boston, reached agreement with the rival New York Yankees on a seven-year contract worth about $153 million, a person familiar with the negotiations said Tuesday night. Wholesale Vans For Sale . Once again, DeLaet finished tied for second at a PGA Tour stop on the weekend, this time at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. The pride of Weyburn, Sask. (STATS) -- The FCS Championship Game is marred with player suspensions on both finalists, James Madison and Youngstown State.Youngstown State won its semifinal Saturday without five suspended players. On Tuesday, the Harrisonburg (Va.) Daily News-Record reported James Madison has suspended seven players while the Dukes prepare for the championship game January 7 in Frisco, Texas.Two of the seven -- junior linebacker Brandon Hereford, who led the team in tackles during the regular season, and junior wide receiver Terrence Alls, the teams second-leading receiver -- were suspended prior to the fourth-seeded Dukes 27-17 win at No. 1 seed North Dakota State in Fridays semifinal.First-year coach Mike Houston released a statement through the athletics department: We have very high expectations in terms of standards of conduct for our student-athletes and our football program and how they represent James Madison University. Unfortunately, we have a few student-athletes who have not met those standards and we will hold them accountable. They did not compete against North Dakota State and have been suspended indefinitely.Houston said at the schools fan and press luncheon he did not anticipate any suspended players would be back for the final.An athletics department spokesman said there would be no further comment.The suspensions within the CAA Football progrram add to the cloud hovering over the championship game.dddddddddddd.Youngstown State was shorthanded while defeating second-seeded Eastern Washington 40-38 in its semifinal. The Penguins played without second-leading rusher Martin Ruiz, who was arrested on fourth-degree gun charges two weeks ago; wide receiver Darien Townsend, who leads the team in receiving yards; and safeties Jameel Smith and LeRoy Alexander, their Nos. 2 and 3 tacklers, respectively. Also suspended was wide receiver Robert Byrd, who has three receptions this season.Although coach Bo Pelini and the Missouri Valley Football Conference program have not identified a reason for the suspensions, reports in Youngstown said the players were suspended after NCAA substance tests were administered following a second-round win over Jacksonville State on Dec. 3.The NCAA tests for steroids and masking agents year-round as well as for stimulants and recreational drugs during the postseason.If suspended for banned substances, the Youngstown State players would not be eligible to return for the championship game.Youngstown State (12-3) is seeking to add to it four previous FCS championships, all during the 1990s. James Madison (13-1) won the national title in 2004. ' ' '