GREENVILLE, S.C. -- News and notes from the Falcons training camp.

NICE WORKOUT WEATHER:

Todd Weiner often looks across the overcast practice fields at Furman University and wonders if he ever left Seattle.

"The weather's been very generous," the Atlanta Falcons' starting right tackle said Tuesday. "It's definitely been a pleasant surprise."

With a light rain falling during some of the two-hour afternoon practice Tuesday, the temperature topped out at 85, three degrees less than the yearly average for Aug. 5 and 11 under the Greenville record for that date, which was set four years ago.

Weiner, a 6-foot-4, 297-pounder who played his first four seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, vividly remembers a heat index of 105 in the first week of last year's Atlanta camp, which has been held at Furman since 1999.

Weiner was grateful that hot weather has not been a factor here the was it has been this summer for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Jacksonville had Larry Smith and John Henderson, two 300-pound defensive linemen, collapse from heat exhaustion last week.

"In Seattle, you have such mild weather," Weiner said. "You don't really get a good feel for how hot and humid it gets down here."

Atlanta running back Warrick Dunn remembers his first four years in Tampa, where "you'd walk outside at 8 a.m. and see heatwaves 20 yards away."

Left guard Travis Claridge played his first game at Southern California in 112-degree conditions in 1996 when Purdue visited the Los Angeles Coliseum. Quarterback Doug Johnson, now in his fourth season with the Falcons, says it's never gotten as hot in Greenville as it did during his four years with the Florida Gators.

"One day after practice we had 21 guys hooked up to IVs," said Johnson, a Gainesville, Fla., native. "I don't care what anyone says. That's the hottest place in the country as far as I'm concerned."

Reminded that Dallas was expecting the mercury to register 102 by 6 p.m. Tuesday, Atlanta head coach Dan Reeves didn't flinch. The Falcons open the regular season at Texas Stadium on Sept. 7.

"I think it's great, the cooler it gets," Reeves said. "You'd like to have it as cool as possible because you get more concentration and you get a better practice.

"I can promise you we're not going to get some heat lamps and practice at 102. All you've got to do is worry about that guy across from you. As long as you can handle the heat better than that guy can, believe me."

Dunn, who grew up in Baton Rouge, La., and spent four summers in Tallahassee at Florida State, described this camp as "weird," but added that most players have been able to keep their enthusiasm up.

SEEN AND HEARD:

Reeves yelled at rookie receiver Jon Olinger near the end of the morning workout for missing an assignment.

"You can bet your sweet (behind) that we're going to practice it if it's in the playbook," Reeves said. ...

Kicker Jay Feely received a rousing cheer from his teammates for hitting a 47-yard field goal as Johnson, the No. 2 quarterback, directed a hurry-up offense with the No. 1 unit.

ACHES AND PAINS:

Nose tackle Ellis Johnson (right shoulder) and reserve center Roberto Garza (left triceps) missed the morning workout in shells, but returned in the afternoon practice in full pads. ...

Free safety Keion Carpenter (hyperextended left knee) was out of both sessions. Kevin McCadam, backed up by rookie free agent Travaris Robinson, took Carpenter's place in the No. 1 defense. ... Rookie fullback Justin Griffith (knee and ankle) missed the entire day, too. ...

Atlanta has no depth behind left cornerback Ray Buchanan. The top projected backups -- Tod McBride (broken thumb), Juran Bolden (reconstructive knee surgery) and rookie Waine Bacon (groin) -- are all hurt. ...

Starting strong safety Cory Hall (groin) took a few snaps in the morning and did some light work in the afternoon.