by The Washington Times

DeAngelo Hall knows those opinions still exist even after a productive opening seven games for the Washington Redskins . But just as during his messy exit from Atlanta and disastrous half-season with Oakland, he chooses not to care.

They still think of me as the same person, Hall said. I'm not ear-to-the-streets a whole lot, but I hear guys still bash me like they did when I was in Oakland. That goes with the territory. I'm misunderstood at times, and I roll with the punches.

Hall has successfully rebuilt his career with the Redskins , proving to be an effective every-down cornerback and, coach Jim Zorn hopes,a playmaker who can ignite the team's dormant punt return game starting Sunday against the Falcons.

Atlanta is where Hall spent the first four years of his career. The eighth pick in the 2004 draft, he intercepted 17 passes and made two Pro Bowls before a new regime decided he wasn't worth a new contract.

That divorce, coupled with his midseason release from the Raiders in 2008, prompted observers to call Hall MeAngelo.

Occasionally, Hall vents - as he did Thursday. The subject was theFalcons in general and general manager Thomas Dimitroff in particular.

I didn't trust Dimitroff at all - he lied to me several times, Hall said. He promised me he was going to get [a new contract] done - and he's behind my back trying to shop me. .. Promises were made, and they lied When they lied, I said, 'Can't trust them. I have to get outof here. I want to. I will.' That was my position.

Through a team spokesperson, Dimitroff declined to respond to Hall's accusation.

According to Hall, Dimitroff told him he would get a new contract if new coach Mike Smith wanted to keep him. Smith told Hall he wantedhim to stay, and they both went to Dimitroff's office.

Hall expected talks on an extension to intensify, but then he got wind of Atlanta conducting trade talks at the scouting combine. During a conference call before Hall's comments, Smith said the trade was a Football decision.

When we came in, we had a plan in place in terms of how we wanted to build our roster, he said. I've got nothing but good feelings about DeAngelo in my conversations with him when I was first hired.

The Falcons have yet to find a capable replacement for Hall - Tye Hill is the fourth cornerback to start at Hall's position.

The Redskins quickly discovered last year that Hall would replace Shawn Springs. Signed a year ago Sunday, Hall served a seven-game audition with the Redskins .

That was the mindset I took, he said. It was a second chance to goout and show everybody I could still play Football. I got here with a team that had a defensive focus and a direction and told guys to goin this direction as opposed to willy-ing and nilly-ing out there.

In the first year of a contract that includes $23 million guaranteed, Hall has dispelled many of the stereotypes that dogged him in hisfirst two stops. He has played physically in run support (30 tackles), collected all three of the Redskins' interceptions and been on thefield for all but two defensive snaps. Thanks in large part to Hall,the defense is ranked second against the pass.

He has been very consistent in what he's done in practice and tried to take that to the game, Zorn said. He's lifted his game every week. He's always looking for the interception, and he's really made some good plays underneath and forcing the runner inside and making tackles. He's done everything we've asked him to do.

Said secondary coach Jerry Gray: He still has a lot more growing to do for the simple reason he knows he's not in the lead as far as interceptions. He wants to create more plays and get more duties and get in position to make more plays. He's one of those talented guys that can make plays for you.

The most important thing for the Redskins is that they know Hall will be on the field. Too often Springs wasn't, and he became expendable because he missed 16 games in five years. Hall has joined Carlos Rogers to form a dependable duo who play well enough that coaches don't need to move them around the field to cover up mismatches.

Have I become a better player? Who knows, Hall said. I didn't think I was a bad player when I first got here. I got cut [by Oakland] because they couldn't afford to pay me. It wasn't like I was the worst player and I got here and elevated my game four to five levels. I still need to work on a lot of things.

Added to Hall's workload before the Philadelphia game was returning punts. He was back for one kick that went out of bounds; Zorn said Hall, Santana Moss and Antwaan Randle El will continue to get opportunities with the unit, which ranks 29th in the league.

Although Hall has only 13 NFL punt returns, he was an impact player in the role at Virginia Tech. With the Hokies, he returned 56 puntsfor a 15.0-yard average (second-best in school history) and five touchdowns.

DeAngelo could do it, Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer said this week. He's got great athletic ability. He's daring. He likes it. I think a punt returner has got to like being a punt returner. I think it's the hardest thing to do in Football. DeAngelo's got the perfect personality and outlook to be a great punt returner.

Hall knows what to do with the ball in his hands - he has returnedhis 25 interceptions a combined 559 yards.

I always think defensive guys have instincts and characteristics to be a returner, Gray said with a laugh. We know what he can do with interceptions, so what happens when they punt it to them and you have10 yards of room and guys blocking for you? Hopefully, if he does get back there, he can make plays for you.

Whether it's an interception or punt return, Hall's chief goal in his return to Atlanta is helping the Redskins end a three-game losingstreak, not gaining revenge against his old team.

It's not me against that team, he said. It's this locker room against that locker room.

CAPTION(S):

Cornerback DeAngelo Hall has all three of the interceptions for a Redskins defense ranked second against the pass. [Photo by Peter Lockley/The Washington Times]

DeAngelo Hall: Have I become a better player? Who knows. I didn't think I was a bad player when I first got here. [Photo by Peter Lockley/The Washington Times]

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