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In an article published Saturday, DallasCowboys.com staff writer Clay Fowler noted that Warrick Dunn, despite playing an integral role on arguably every team he has stepped on a football field with, still feels like he has something to prove.

Because of his relatively small stature -- 5-9 and 180 pounds -- Dunn has faced the assertions of doubters as long as he has been wearing cleats.

"I think people judge me because of my size," he said. "But if you look at my numbers I've been productive. Put them up against any back in the league and they're definitely comparable."

In a league where players are only getting bigger and stronger, it seems valid to question whether players of Dunn's build can survive anymore.For example, the average starting defender for today's opponent -- the Cowboys -- will outweigh Dunn by 63 pounds.

"I've been playing at this size my whole life," Dunn said "That's what people have to realize is that I've been playing against big guys, so I know how to run and protect myself. Most people thought I wouldn't last three years playing the position of running back."

The diminutive Dunn believes he is under appreciated and deserves recognition for countless phases of his game that go unnoticed. A complete running back, according to Dunn, should be worried about more than what shows up in the box score. There are numerous duties a tailback must assume over the course of a game.

"I think I block well. I'm a great decoy. I'm a leader in the locker room," Dunn said. "I do all the little things that most people don't give me credit for."

As much of a threat to catch the ball as he is to run it, Dunn's versatility adds to his value. He caught 50 passes last season for 377 yards in addition to rushing for 927 yards, a 480-yard increase on the ground from his 2001 campaign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

After signing Dunn away from the Buccaneers in 2002, Atlanta curiously spent their first-round draft pick on 254-pound halfback T.J. Duckett. After sharing the load with versatile fullback Mike Alstott in Tampa Bay, what appeared to be Dunn's first opportunity to be the featured back slipped away. But a mature Dunn handled the situation admirably. Duckett and Dunn complemented each other splendidly last season, the rookie finishing with 507 yards rushing and Dunn improving his total from the previous season.

"We try to complement each other, but sometimes it's dictated on just the way the game goes," Dunn said "We have two different and unique styles and I'm just going to be Warrick Dunn and he's going to be T.J. Duckett."

Even though he’s been more durable than any number of more physically imposing ball carriers over the course of his career (appearing in no fewer than 91 of a possible 96 games), the general consensus among observers remains unchanged: Dunn is not an every-down NFL back.

But the knock on Dunn isn't durability, it’s getting the job done in short-yardage situations. And that’s where Duckett comes in.

But former teammate and current Cowboy Al Singleton knows better than to judge Dunn by his size.

"[Dunn] is a strong guy," Singleton said. "Just because he's 5-9, 180, or whatever, trust me, he's a strong guy. He's a little guy but he plays big."

Also of interest. ...

Since the only fullback currently on the roster -- Justin Griffith -- is a rookie, the Sports XChange suggested this week that head coach Dan Reeves' offense will change more than he'd like it to because he tends to favor a traditional deployment of his fullback.

The retirement of Bob Christian hurts here.

Tight end Reggie Kelly was rapped for four years by Atlanta fans for being a middling receiver, but now his blocking skills may be missed as he prepares to start for the Bengals after splitting in free agency.

Again, one of Reeves' staples - the two tight-end offense - cannot be counted upon, as the Falcons' other tight ends -- Brian Kozlowski, recently claimed Sean Brewer and deep snapper Derek Rackley -- are more H-backs than tight ends.