FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Former Miami Dolphins safety Gene Atkins hired three ex-felons to firebomb the home of a former business partner, prosecutors said Tuesday in opening statements at his attempted murder trial.

The 37-year-old Atkins is charged with second-degree attempted murder, conspiracy to commit aggravated battery, arson and possession of a firebomb in the 1998 attack on the Miramar home of Alfred Simmons.

Prosecutor David Frankel said the former felons would testify that Atkins first hired them to break Simmons' hand then to firebomb his home, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. No one was hurt in the bombing in April 1998.

The former felons also will testify that they met Atkins at a bank where he withdrew more than $19,000 and gave them $18,000, Frankel said.

But defense attorney Fred Haddad argued that Atkins hired the men, Didrick Blocker, Corey Graham and Anthony Holloway, to work at his construction company and they conspired to do the bombing on their own to impress him.

The three were convicted 13 months after the charges were filed. Graham is serving life in prison and Blocker 15 years. Holloway served one year.

Atkins and Simmons were roommates and played football together at Florida A&M. Atkins went on to play safety with the New Orleans Saints and then with the Dolphins from 1994 to 1996.

They started Atkins Construction in 1995, but Simmons left to work for a rival company.