On the board were names like Patrick Willis and Darrelle Revis. The pick prior was four-time Pro Bowler Adrian Peterson.
Then, with the eighth selection in the 2007 NFL Draft, the Atlanta Falcons selected Jamaal Anderson. The Arkansas product churned out 13.5 sacks his junior season and arrived with expectations he could post numbers in the same area code with the Falcons.
Instead, in four seasons, he managed 4.5 sacks. He left as a free agent leaving unfulfilled expectations and carrying a “bust” label on his back while signing on for an uneventful year with Indianapolis. He inked this offseason with Cincinnati. For the first time since seeing his Falcons career curtailed, he returns to the Georgia Dome on Thursday.
“Unfortunately, it didn't work out for me,” Anderson said. “I didn't put up the numbers that I was projected to, and because of those production numbers I was let go. I didn't let it bring me down. I just continued working hard every year to get better. I can't look at the past. All I can do is continue to look forward.”
The irony comes in the timing of his return. He'll be starting at left end for the Bengals as the two players ahead of him -- Carlos Dunlap and Robert Geathers -- battle injury. Anderson hasn't seen an opportunity like this since his third season in Atlanta. Dunlap could miss the first week or two of the regular season and the 29-year-old Geathers hasn't practiced since Day 1.
A possibility exists Anderson could be the starter on opening night in Baltimore. Anderson insists he is more mature at 26 compared to the 21-year-old version who took the field his first year in Atlanta.
“I felt that when I arrived here, that I had a role here,” he said. “Nothing's changed except that my name is going to be called during the starting lineup.”
Anderson said he deflected blame during his early years in Atlanta, including blaming the Bobby Petrino debacle on his rookie-year struggles. He sees the error in his ways now, owned up to his shortcomings and moved on. The idea of this game sparking a revenge factor at the Georgia Dome doesn't compute anymore.
“It feels good to go back and play where you started,” he said, “but I'm not going to get over-hyped about this game.”
The intelligence and maturity wasn't lost on coach Marvin Lewis and became a big reason why he was brought in to add depth up front.
“He’s a tremendous athlete -- that’s why he was a high pick in the draft,” Lewis said. “He’s got great experience, and most importantly he’s a very, very good person. He has that veteran presence about him. He understands football, he understands defensive line play. He can communicate up there, so he knows what’s going on. He’s had some good experience. So he’s really fit the bill for what we’re looking for.”
He's certainly being counted on more than anyone could have expected at this point.
Follow Paul Dehner Jr. for Bengals updates from training camp on Twitter at @CBSSportsNFLCIN.
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