That fairy tale didn't quite work out. Hall recalled his vision earlier this week while dressed from head to toe in the Washington Redskins' burgundy and gold.

The memories--and scars--from his tenure there are still fresh, though, and they'll be on his mind Sunday when he faces the Falcons in the Georgia Dome for the first time since their acrimonious breakup almost two years ago.

"I'm not Brett Favre walking back into Lambeau," Hall said. "It's not that, but it's definitely going to be a little bit of emotion tied into this thing. I saw a lot of those guys mature as players, mature as people on and off the field. I can't wait to go out there and mix it up with them."

BEST, WORST OF TIMES

Hall experienced some of the Falcons' brightest and darkest days during his four years with the club.

He helped them to the NFC championship game during his rookie season, and he made back-to-back Pro Bowls beginning in 2006.

He also endured the debacles brought on by the notorious departures of star quarterback Michael Vick and coach Bobby Petrino in 2007.

He still has friends on the team, though, and is still in tune with their progress. He quickly points out how the 4-3 Falcons are on pace for the first consecutive winning seasons in franchise history. He'll tell you about second-year quarterback Matt Ryan and receivers Michael Jenkins and Roddy White, who he used to cover in practice.

"I'm proud of the guys," he said. "They're playing lights out right now."

Switch the topic of conversation to his departure from Atlanta, though, and his emotions sour.

Hall can't pinpoint exactly when the end began, but Vick's downfall is as good a starting point as any.