The turmoil that began in April when a dogfighting operation was found on Michael Vick's property shows no sign of letting up for the last-place Falcons (1-6).

Byron Leftwich underwent surgery on his right ankle yesterday and will be out three to four weeks, giving Joey Harrington another chance as the starter.

In his first start for the Falcons, Leftwich sustained a high ankle sprain against New Orleans. The surgical procedure will help speed the recovery process, coach Bobby Petrino said.

"He had a procedure done this morning that is a very aggressive procedure," Petrino said after the first of two practices Atlanta will have this week. "They actually go in and put a couple screws in there and it helps it heal faster."

Petrino has some healing to do in the locker room after the team cut defensive tackle Grady Jackson on Tuesday.

DeAngelo Hall, a two-time Pro Bowler, ripped Petrino and the front office for getting rid of the 35-year-old Jackson, who was the leader among Atlanta's defensive linemen with 21 tackles, including 5 1/2 for losses and one sack. Last season, the 350-pounder led the league with 13 tackles behind the line.

"I don't know what kind of message is being sent to let Grady go," Hall said. "I'm trying to go (all) out on every single snap. But a lot of guys feel like everyone from the top down is kind of turning it in."

Hall already was fined $100,000 and had to sit out the first half of a game for getting into a sideline confrontation with the rookie coach during Week 3. Even so, the cornerback didn't mince words when asked for his reaction to Jackson being let go.

Petrino brushed aside any speculation that the Falcons were going with youth and giving up on this season. Rookie Trey Lewis, a sixth-round pick, will take Jackson's spot.

"It had nothing to do with anything but football," the coach said. "It was just the way we wanted to go. We felt like for our best opportunity to win games, the next nine games that we play, this was the right move to make, and that's really all there is to it."

Hall wasn't buying that logic.

"If that's the case ... they can probably cut me too," Hall said. "They need to cut all 53 of us. Nobody is playing the way they should be playing right now, obviously. I mean, we're 1-6. To sit there and single out Grady is just asinine. It's ridiculous."

Hall wasn't the only one caught off guard by the move. Running back Warrick Dunn was more diplomatic but just as stunned.

"It's a shock," Dunn said. "We're all asking the question 'Why?' Did he do something wrong? I don't know."

Petrino has come under increasing criticism in the locker room with each loss. A couple of weeks ago, Pro Bowl tight end Alge Crumpler, one of the team's most respected leaders, blasted the coach's play-calling and said it appeared the team was focusing on younger players at the expense of veterans.

Yesterday, Hall said Crumpler was speaking on behalf of all veterans when he pointed out that Petrino kept plenty of untested rookies and younger players on the roster.

"We've got so many players that ain't made a play around here," Hall said. "It don't make no sense. We gave a lot of people jobs. Now, to sit around here and single Grady out and say he's the reason why (the team is losing) ... that's just ludicrous. If they've got something better and more concrete to go off of, I'd love to hear it. But I'm not buying that one."

Hall took a more subtle shot at Petrino, who left Louisville after last season for a five-year, $24 million contract with the Falcons. The cornerback has one more year left on his big-money deal.

"I didn't just sign a lucrative deal where I can sit around and watch this ship sink," Hall said. "I can't do that. I've got one more year on my deal. I feel as though I can go out and get a ton of money, whether it's here or somewhere else. I've got a lot of stuff to play for."

But he wondered how much effort some of his teammates would give if they felt the Falcons were looking ahead to next season.