FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Falcons fullback Ovie Mughelli was excited about the team's preseason visit to Baltimore.
Not to see his former teammates, but to meet the player he calls "the Michael Jordan" of blocking fullbacks, Lorenzo Neal.
 CURTIS COMPTON/Cox News Service Falcons fullback #34 Ovie Mughelli gets set in formation in front of running back #33 Michael Turner to lead the way with a block against the Chiefs at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Sept. 21. For a larger, high resolution image, click HERE |
"Why would you not want to talk to him? That's like a basketball player who is a shooting guard idolizing Michael Jordan," Mughelli said. "I've been watching those tapes [of Neal] since high school. You get a chance to be on the same field with him, you've got to give him his [respect] and let him know that he's a trailblazer in his field."
There was also a historical point to the meeting.
If Neal hadn't changed how the fullback was valued by NFL teams, there would not have been the $18 million contract Mughelli signed as a free agent with the Falcons in 2007, an NFL record for the position.
"I've had the biggest contract as a fullback and all of that, but it was because of him and for what he did for all of those years when fullbacks weren't given the respect," Mughelli said. "We still aren't. The fullbacks were the second-lowest-paid players next to kickers."
Neal is in his 16th year in the league. He's made four Pro Bowls and been named All-Pro three times. He had a reputation for annihilating linebackers with his lead blocks.
At 37, he's a backup now. However, in his prime he cleared the way for a 1,000-yard back for nine straight seasons from 1997-2006. He escorted Adrian Murrell (New York Jets), Warrick Dunn (Tampa Bay), Eddie George (Tennessee), Corey Dillon (Cincinnati) and LaDainian Tomlinson (San Diego) to 1,000-yard seasons.
"Some people would say Lorenzo's not M.J., but to me that's how I look at it," Mughelli said. "He's at the top of his field. He's one of the best at his position."
This season, Mughelli is proving his worth. He has played a role in the Falcons' rushing attack that leads the league at more than 200 yards a game.
Running back Michael Turner, who played with Neal in San Diego, handled the pregame introduction for Mughelli.
"Ovie looks up to Lorenzo," Turner said. "I reminded him that if he wanted to be like Lorenzo, there are certain things that he has to do."
Turner, in his first year as a starter, is off to a great start. He's leading the league in rushing with 366 yards and five touchdowns.
"You watch him on film, and you see him just hitting linebackers in the mouth," center Todd McClure said of Mughelli. "You do that enough and they'll soften up a little bit. That's one thing that he's done. He's made them respect him."
Mughelli got some advice from Neal during their visit.
"He encouraged me to keep on trying to get better each year, not to get complacent and to take care of my body," Mughelli said. "That's the only way he's still in this game is because he takes care of his body."
Thankful for the tips, Mughelli made a promise to Neal.
"He blocked for Michael Turner, and I told him that I was going to take care of his man because he takes it personally," Mughelli said.
Mughelli takes his blocking seriously and has even caught two passes this season. He approaches his task of flattening linebackers like a tactician.
"The key thing is to nullify him," he said. "Make him a nonfactor when it comes to tackling the tailback. At the least, you have to get a stalemate, but the good fullback wants to do even more and move him in the opposite direction and get him out of the hole so that the back can make a clear cut."
D. Orlando Ledbetter writes for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. E-mail: dledbetter AT ajc.com
