The Falcons cornerback will be facing his former team in the Denver Broncos .

But there is more --- much more.

He was heavily invested in the Denver community, a key member in the team's secondary and a tireless supporter of the Darrent Williams Memorial Teen Center.

The center is a tribute to his friend, a teammate and fellow cornerback slain in a drive-by shooting on New Year's Day 2007. It's part of the Broncos' affiliation with the Boys & Girls Club Of America.

"What really made me feel good was when we completed the teen center," said Foxworth, traded to the Falcons before the season. "I felt like some lives would be saved as a result of Darrent losing his."

Both Foxworth and Williams were drafted in 2005 by the Broncos and soon became good friends. They bonded after becoming rookie starters for two games.

Williams' death hit Foxworth, his teammates and the community hard.

Last month, the Denver police indicted Willie D. Clark on first-degree murder charges in the Williams killing. The arrest of Clark brought closure to some, but Foxworth had already mentally moved on. The opening of the teen center in May was therapy enough.

"That's none of my concern," Foxworth said. "It didn't matter to me. Whatever you do in this life, you have to face your ultimate judgment at some point."

He doesn't plan to follow the case.

"Whether if they catch somebody and put them in jail, it doesn't bring my friend back," Foxworth said.

After Williams' death, Foxworth found solace in working with the children at the Boys & Girls Club in one of Denver's challenged communities.

"I was at the Boys & Girls Club every week in season and out of season," Foxworth said. "Those kids, I still e-mail some of those kids. More than anything, I look forward to when the season is finally over. I'm going to go back and see them. Those are things that you can't replace. You can't replace those relationships."

Foxworth, who graduated from Maryland in three and half years with a degree in American studies, held weekly writing workshops and encouraged other Broncos to work with the children.

They chose to support the Boys & Girls Club because Williams was the product of a single-parent home and spent a lot of time growing up at the club in his hometown of Fort Worth, Texas.

"You can't force that type of feeling or that type of connection with the community," Foxworth said. Foxworth still chats online and by text message and talks with his former teammates, including Champ Bailey.

"I talk to them every week," Foxworth said. "It's really not about Football. We're just good friends."

While Bailey, the former University of Georgia star, will not play against the Falcons because of a torn groin, Foxworth knows that pregame is going to be difficult.

"More than anything, I'm looking forward to seeing all of those guys. They are friends," Foxworth said. "We'll have a nice little pregame reunion, and then it's down to business."

With Bailey out, Foxworth likely would be starting for the Broncos. However, before the season, he was traded for a conditional seventh-round draft pick.

"He was going to be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year, and we had some depth at the cornerback position at that time," Denver coach Mike Shanahan said. "We made a trade and thought it was really good for both teams."

Foxworth, a third-round pick, averaged 55 tackles and 11 pass breakups a season, mostly as a nickel back.

After the trade, Foxworth sat in Atlanta, learning a new defense. When Brent Grimes went down against Chicago with a bruised knee, Foxworth took over at left corner. It's going to be hard to get him out of the lineup.

"He has a veteran presence," Falcons safety Lawyer Milloy said. "He's a guy who we don't have to worry about. We can single him up and he can make plays. ... He has potential to be good for a long time in this league."

There were hints of a rift between Foxworth, who wanted to become a starter, and Shanahan.

"Domonique is a great leader," Shanahan said. "We drafted him in the third round, so we know he's a heck of player. He's got speed. He's got intelligence."

Foxworth drew interest from six teams but thought he could start for the Falcons.

"It was a Football decision," Foxworth said. "I was the happiest person in the building when it happened.

"Yeah, I was going to miss my friends. I felt like I was going to get an opportunity to come down here and start and show what I can do. It's worked out as well as it possibly could for me as an individual.

"I don't know what it was, God's intervention?"

NEXT FOR Falcons

* Who: vs. Broncos

* When: 1 p.m. today

* TV; radio: CBS; 92.9 FM