FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) 鈥 The Atlanta Falcons hosted the football team from Apalachee High School a week after a shooting left two students and two teachers dead.
The from the sideline at the Falcons' training complex in Flowery Branch.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 incredible that you get a chance to see some young kids going through some tough stuff," said Jerry Gray, the Falcons' assistant head coach for defense. 鈥淚 always look and say, 鈥楳an, what are they going through?鈥 They鈥檝e got to go back to the school where it happened.鈥
Among the victims of was a teacher who served as an assistant coach for the Apalachee football team. Nine others were injured. were being held Saturday. A 14-year-old student has been charged with murder and his father also faces charges for allegedly furnishing his son with a weapon.
During the shooting, some students scrambled for shelter in the high school's football stadium. Apalachee is located in Winder, which is about 20 miles from the Falcons' complex in the sprawling Atlanta suburbs.
鈥淲hen you get a little relief and you get a chance to kind of love on them a little bit, I think that鈥檚 special for our guys,鈥 Gray said. "We鈥檙e NFL guys, but we still understand what caring means.鈥
Before their season-opening loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Falcons coaches and players wore during pregame warmups. A moment of silence was held before the kickoff.
鈥淚t definitely meant a lot,鈥 said Falcons defensive end Grady Jarrett, who grew up in suburban Atlanta. 鈥淚 played Apalachee when I was in high school.鈥
The Falcons travel to Philadelphia to play the Eagles (1-0) on Monday night.
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