Peters a well-versed player for Falcons

Atlanta Falcons rookie Corey Peters is more than just a massive defensive tackle. A graduate of the University of Kentucky with a degree in history, he also knows a thing of two about our country, particularly in his area of interest: the Old South and the U.S. prior to the Civil War.

In fact, long before he began to realize his potential as a football prospect, Peters' dream was to be a teacher, which he says he'll still follow through on after his playing days are over.

During the final day of Organized Team Activities last month in Flowery Branch, Peters, a third-round draft selection by the Falcons jerseys, chatted with Times sports writer Bill Murphy about his first glimpse of life as an NFL player, the sports scene at Kentucky and his plans for life after football.

Question: Has the OTA process been a lot of new things being thrown at you at once?

Answer: Most definitely. I think that's the focus here that you really learn the playbook going into camp. Summer camp really isn't the time you want to be struggling with what you're supposed to be doing.

If anything, we just have to really learn the playbook. Then we have a month off and just have to continue to study it and be 100 percent sure when time comes to come back into camp.

Q: What is your first impression of the new Atlanta Falcons jerseys ?

A: I'm extremely impressed. I think there is great leadership on the team and a lot of guys step up and try to get you going and try to give you positive feedback. They also let you know when you're doing bad, so it's all been positive. I'm expecting big things from the defense.

You know, it's hard to have a measuring stick since I've never played in the NFL, but the offensive line seems pretty good to me, so I'm looking forward to this year and we'll be able to build on last year.

Q: What was it like playing football at the University of Kentucky where basketball is king?

A: In my time at Kentucky, it was very positive. My freshman year, we won eight games, so the support from that kind of carried on throughout my career. If you think back three or four years, the basketball team wasn't doing so well. They really kind of regained their momentum this year, so obviously it's a basketball school, but our success in football gave the fans something to cheer about and really get behind us.

Now the support for football, I doubt that it will ever equal basketball at Kentucky, but the fans are really supportive of the football program too. It was a great place to play football.

Jessica Simpson is dating once more, and again is going out with a football player. The pop singer, who turns 30 on Saturday, has begun seeing former NFL pro Eric Johnson - who played tight end for the San Francisco 49ers and New Orleans Saints from 2001 to 2007 (he's not the unrelated, same-name linebacker who played for the Oakland Raiders, Atlanta Falcons and Arizona Cardinals from 2000 to 2005.)