IRVING, Texas - Linebacker Keith Brooking just wants to win, whether it's third down in front of 105,000 screaming fans or a friendly game of spades inside the Cowboys' locker room.
His competitive nature doesn't change.
"He's fired up to play anybody," says linebacker Anthony Spencer.
"They call him the Mad 'Backer," says running back and fellow Georgia Tech alum Tashard Choice. "That's his nickname around here. He'll get mad at anything. He's ready to fight at any time."
But Brooking admits Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons has a certain level of personal significance.
For 11 NFL seasons, the soon-to-be 34-year-old linebacker had only known one state, one organization, one home. The Senoia, Ga., native spent his entire pro career in-state with the Falcons until last March, when he signed a three-year contract with the Cowboys.
Brooking said Atlanta offered him a deal to stay, but he opted to play for a potential "championship run" in Dallas and rejoin Wade Phillips' 3-4 scheme. He made two of his five career Pro Bowls (2002-03) with Phillips running the Falcons' defense.
The move to Dallas required some adjusting, but Brooking said it has "rejuvenated" him. Through five games, he ranks second on the defense behind Bradie James with 55 total tackles, including a team-high 30 solo stops.
"I knew that if I played a position that really suits me that I could still get it done at a high level," he said. "I wasn't comfortable with what I was doing in Atlanta. There were a lot of things.
"It's given me an opportunity to prove to people, another organization, a whole new set of guys, teammates, coaches, front office, that I can still play. New beginnings are exciting."
So is the challenge he and the Cowboys' defense will face against Atlanta.
The Falcons are ripe with young offensive talent, most notably second-year quarterback Matt Ryan and Pro Bowl running back Michael Turner, who had 1,699 rushing yards and a franchise-record 17 touchdowns last year in his first season as a starter.
Turner has averaged only 3.5 yards per carry through the first five games, but the Falcons still rank 10th in scoring (24.6 points per game). They're 9-0 when Turner reaches 100 yards.
James, Brooking and the rest of the Cowboys' defense haven't allowed a 100-yard rusher this season.
"They've got a really good running game, which will be a test for us. But if you can close down the running game, you can get better and better against the pass when you know they're going to pass it."
They'll rely on a fiery ex-Falcon to help do just that on Sunday.
No Trades
Last year, the Cowboys made a blockbuster trade for Roy Williams at the NFL trade deadline.
As this year's deadline passed Tuesday, the club remained quiet.
The Cowboys have had little deadline movement this decade. In 2004, they swapped wide receiver Antonio Bryant for Cleveland's Quincy Morgan.
Getting Fit
On their day off Tuesday, several Cowboys players joined United Way of Metropolitan Dallas volunteers in leading a Medrano Middle School (Dallas) physical education class through a Play 60 Football Clinic.
The players instructed the students on various fitness activities. As part of the event, the Cowboys presented Medrano with a $2,500 grant to be used to purchase fitness equipment. The team will also present the YMCA of Tarrant County with a $2,500 grant for fitness purposes on behalf of the United Way of Tarrant County.
Tuesday's event was part of the eleventh annual NFL/United Way Hometown Huddle - a series of fitness projects taking place in NFL markets nationwide.
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Rob Phillips - 
