Ex-Falcon Jamal Anderson Arrested

Former Atlanta Falcons running back Jamal Anderson has been charged with felony cocaine possession and misdemeanor marijuana possession after being arrested at an Atlanta nightclub, authorities said Sunday.

Anderson, a fan favorite who created the ?Dirty Bird? touchdown celebration dance, played eight seasons for the Falcons before leaving the team with a knee injury in 2001.

Atlanta police spokesman Officer Otis Redmond said Anderson, 36, was arrested early Sunday at the Peachtree Tave in Atlanta?s trendy Buckhead district. Redmond said a second man, 20-year-old Mark Daniel Hudson, also was arrested.

Redmond said an off-duty officer working in security at the club alerted police. Redmond said both men allegedly had powder cocaine in their possession and that Anderson also had a suspected marijuana cigarette in his pocket.

Anderson and Hudson were taken to the Fulton County jail. Anderson has a court hearing on the charge at 11 a.m. Monday, authorities said.

Anderson helped lead the Falcons to their first NFC title in 1998, when he rushed for 1,846 yards and set an NFL record for carries in a season with 410. It was his only Pro Bowl season. The Falcons lost to the Denver Broncos in the Super Bowl that season.

Anderson was drafted out of Utah by the Falcons in the seventh round of the 1994 NFL draft, No. 201 overall.