ATLANTA — Ashley Lelie isn't just glad to have a new home in the Georgia Dome.

"Glad to not be at home," said Lelie, who joined the Atlanta Falcons on Aug. 22 after skipping the Denver Broncos training camp in an acrimonious split. "I'm glad to be actually out playing football and doing what I love to do."

The former University of Hawai'i wide receiver started the final exhibition game of the season last night and caught an 8-yard pass from backup quarterback Matt Schaub in the Falcons' 20-17 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Lelie said he was just a tad rusty even though he'd been on a football field only one week since the AFC Championship game on Jan. 22.

"I messed up on one play, ran the wrong route," he said. "I'm trying to learn the new offense. Other than that, I felt pretty good. I was a little winded a little quicker than usual."

Lelie, who was miffed when the Broncos acquired Javon Walker, forfeited a $100,000 offseason workout bonus and skipped 23 days of camp, amassing fines totalling $322,000. He will make $600,000 this season.

"I'm glad to be able to put that period behind me," said Lelie, who played pickup basketball to stay in shape. "It's a phase of my life I had to take, something I had to do and now it's over. Obviously, (the Falcons) have gone through a long preseason and camp together and I've got to try to fit into the mix."

Six players on the rosters last night had Hawai'i ties: Lelie and right guard Kynan Forney, a University of Hawai'i alum, are with the Falcons. On the Jacksonville roster, wide receiver Chad Owens, offensive linemen Vince Manuwai and Wayne Hunter are UH alumni, while Chris Naeole graduated from Kahuku and went to college at Colorado.

"It was a pretty good reunion," Lelie said. "We all played together and it's pretty good to see us still striving in the league."

Since neither team elected to play its first string, Owens had a chance to prove himself before Saturday, when the teams cut down to 53-man rosters. Last year he played in one game for the Jaguars before spending the rest of the season on the practice squad.

Owens started last night and played a little more than a half. He caught three passes for 21 yards, two in a row in the second quarter, and caught his longest, a 9-yarder, in the third. He also had a punt return for nine yards and a kickoff return for 19.

But Owens couldn't hold onto two passes that were in his hands in the third quarter. One was for about 25 yards and the other was a deep ball from quarterback Quinn Gray that was deflected by safety Nick Turnbull.

"Overall I can say that it was a productive night for me," Owens said. "I wanted to get out there and make good decisions as a punt returner, get positive yards. (But) I wish I could have got two of those plays back."

He said he feels better about his chances for making the team than he did last year and he's not pressing as much.

"I feel not only that I'm going to make the team," Owens said, "but I feel real confident and comfortable that I'm going to be able to contribute during the season and be a difference-maker."

Hunter also played with the Jaguars' second team while Forney, Manuwai and Naeole sat out with the first teams.

Lelie can't wait to catch his first pass in a game from Michael Vick. Vick can throw deep, but Atlanta coaches don't think he can overthrow a speedster like Lelie.

"He might be able to," Lelie said. "I'm going to try to make him."

JACKSONVILLE 0 10 3 7—20

ATLANTA 7 0 0 10—17

FIRST QUARTER

Atl—McCrary 15 pass from Schaub (Koenen kick), 10:03.

SECOND QUARTER

Jac—FG Scobee 34, 9:10.

Jac—Sharon 11 pass from Garrard (Scobee kick), 1:13.

THIRD QUARTER

Jac—FG Scobee 43, 10:00.

FOURTH QUARTER

Atl—FG Koenen 44, 12:53.

Jac—Sharon 8 pass from Gray (Scobee kick), 6:52.

Atl—Youngblood 13 pass from Shockley (Koenen kick), 3:21.