Updated: Mike Smith taken to hospital for observation, back in Atlanta
CHARLOTTE — Following Sunday’s Falcons-Carolina game, Falcons coach Mike Smith, 52, had chest pains and was taken to a hospital before the team’s charter flight left for Atlanta.
In a statement, however, the team described the situation as “a non-emergency matter.” Smith had undisclosed tests and was resting comfortably overnight, the team said.
Smith arrived back in Atlanta at 3 a.m. and is expected to be at the team’s Flowery Branch headquarters later today for team meetings at 4 p.m.
The Falcons will hold a walk-through practice between 7:30-8:10 p.m. in preparation for Thursday’s game against the Jaguars.
Smith will address the media following the session.
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238 comments Add your comment
CGD..
December 12th, 2011
11:31 am
Yea his bipolar QB play would make anyone sick…..
Ted M
December 12th, 2011
11:31 am
Crap on short week…it happened at the worst time.
ls1z28chris
December 12th, 2011
11:33 am
He had a minor heart attack because he realized that after a come from behind victory against one of the worst teams in the league, he would have to face the AJC declaring his team Super Bowl contenders. The same thing happened after his team played the Colts.
The real serious heart attack will happen late on the 26th/early on the 27th after they lose to the Saints (again).
Dwayne
December 12th, 2011
11:39 am
cgd = completly gay dude
Laughing Out Loud
December 12th, 2011
11:43 am
Some of you people are a “real work of art…hate art!” Nothing is wrong with DOL’s headline, stupids. Chest pains are not thing to be taken lightly and observation is, of course, an obvious conservative precaution. What is it with you people, any way?
Teri
December 12th, 2011
11:43 am
Hey, all of you mean people, Get a life and stop being so hateful and judgemental!
Paul From Milton
December 12th, 2011
11:46 am
Based on the comments that I have seen from Saints fans I now understand what semi-illiterate ghetto scum is like. Making fun of someone’s heart attack is about as funny as making fun God cleansing New Orleans with Katrina.
Mako
December 12th, 2011
11:49 am
Dang Smitty…I had gas all night after that game, hope everything is OK
Falcons 4 Real
December 12th, 2011
11:50 am
Godspeed coach, glad you’re okay.
FalcFans.com » Smith returns to Atlanta after hospitalization
December 12th, 2011
11:52 am
[...] for tests and was released from the hospital earlier Monday morning and returned to Atlanta, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He is expected to be at the team’s facilities today in Flowery Branch and will address the [...]
KEN
December 12th, 2011
11:57 am
understandable, I had chest pains after that game too…..
?
December 12th, 2011
11:59 am
Thats old man…
?
December 12th, 2011
12:01 pm
Thats Thanks Old white haired man…..
John
December 12th, 2011
12:04 pm
Get Well Coach! We are all praying for your good health.
Pete
December 12th, 2011
12:05 pm
Sam Baker is KILLING poor Smitty.
Get rid of him…………………………..now !!!
yeahsure
December 12th, 2011
12:10 pm
Coach Smitty,
Do your heart a favor and cut Baker. I get heart problems every snap he is out there.
Joe Tess Fish House
December 12th, 2011
12:21 pm
If UR team had that many fist round draft busts U wood have a hart atack 2!
bobwhite
December 12th, 2011
12:24 pm
Hey Smitty..Look after that ticker..better safe than sorry..Been there and done that..5 angio plasty’s here and I’m still kicking..still don’t know what the rush was to be back in Atlanta at such a god awful hour..Looks like you could have gotten back after a good 8-10 hours sleep..Ant nothing much you can do for them birds!
After all, you have a good brother in law to fill in if need be..certainly don’t want them other 2 monkeys in there!
DOL vs Kincaide
December 12th, 2011
12:27 pm
@ Bobwhite….What are you talking about?
Fan since 1970
December 12th, 2011
12:32 pm
Julio Jones misses in the first half gave me chest pains too. Jones made me eat crow in the 2nd half though. Coach Smith is by far the winningest coach the Falcons have had. I am proud he is at the helm. Take your Blood Pressure meds if you are given them
Chief Media Urologist
December 12th, 2011
1:05 pm
Makes the short week to the JAX game even shorter. Hang in there Smitty. Don’t know what kind of contingency plans the team has if the HC is on IR. Mularkey used to HC, though his lack of creativity with all the offensive tools he has at his disposal makes me wonder if there’s not a better solution….
Braves #17 Fan
December 12th, 2011
1:24 pm
Remember, Falcons fans. Thursday’s game is on the NFL Network, so be sure to make arrangements if you don’t get that channel.
Big D
December 12th, 2011
2:07 pm
Get well Smitty, Go Falcons
Cynical Bird
December 12th, 2011
2:09 pm
After the first half of yesterdays game, I made a trip to the ER myself!
warthog
December 12th, 2011
2:10 pm
Godspeed coach!!
Long Time STH
December 12th, 2011
2:29 pm
Could history be repeating itself? Dan Reeves 98 hospitalized, faced the 16-1 Minnesota Vikings to have Morten Andersen kick a game winning field goal in the last seconds of the game in the NFC Championship, to go on to the first Super Bowl appearance in Atlanta Falcon’s history.
This year, head coach Mike Smith hospitalized with chest pains, goes to the playoffs and ends up facing the 2011, 16-1 Green Bay Packers…Matt Bryant kicks the game winning field goal in the NFC Championship for the Atlanta Falcon’s second trip in history to the Super Bowl. Stranger things have happened and we can dream can’t we?
what goes around come around
December 12th, 2011
2:43 pm
how many fancant’s said bad thing about payton breaking his leg??? yeah you know who u r !!! butt good luck, get well mike smith…. here’s a tip>>> don’t coach the game coming up in 2 weeks, that 1 may put u n ur grave…. L2MS
Ueeeidiot
December 12th, 2011
3:23 pm
Dicwayne probably lives in midtown….Hes probably on the D-low…
phatnate
December 12th, 2011
3:32 pm
Inaccurate headline. AJC does this all the time.
Bro
December 12th, 2011
5:14 pm
I feel sorry for some of you who wrote on this media medium. Your concern for your self far out weighs the concern for a human life. I bet if you have a chest pain you will cry like a baby and call for your mama. No wonder this country is in such a mess. You are just like the politicians in this country- you only can for your own immediate gain. You will all lose in the end. Cry baby cry.
Michael M.
December 12th, 2011
5:18 pm
@ CGD……………Congratulations to the Saints for clinching a playoff berth! They earned it…. ,,,,,,yeah, they earned it alright, just saw on tv where they are being accused of cheating in Sunday’s Game with the Titans…………..claims someone on the sidelines was blowing whistles in the second half of the ballgame ‘As In Referee Whistles” to confuse the Titans! mmm Is that how you get to the Big Dance? Talk about a Whistle Blower Report………Come on Mannnnnnn !
Michael M.
December 12th, 2011
5:20 pm
here it is on the web
http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/titans_accuse_saints_of_cheating_by_blowing_whistle_on_the_sidelines/8681233
AXETRIP
December 12th, 2011
5:36 pm
The half time fireworks in the locker room probably did not help – Get well Mike
ohhhhYEAH
December 12th, 2011
5:47 pm
@ What goes around
Number one, i dont remember seeing anyone saying they wish Sean Payton could never coach again or anything when he broke his leg.
Secondly, a broken leg and a “heart scare” are two COMPLETELY different things you ignorant piece of trash. go back to your bungalo in the swamp and dont come out until youre told otherwise
ohhhhYEAH
December 12th, 2011
5:48 pm
bungalow*
SirReal
December 12th, 2011
6:57 pm
This should be a rallying moment for the Birds. Smith, though we may have our perception, is actually one of the good guys out there in such a cold cut throat league. This is something that is REAL LIFE and has nothing to do with football. I wish him a clean bill of health. Lets get real here for a moment. Coaching in any level can be stressful, especially the NFL. The man has a family,etc as well so lets remember that.
Saints R.E.A.M.
December 12th, 2011
7:50 pm
Next he will be given a psychiatric evaluation for going for it on 4th and inches against the Saints….LOL.
Get well Smitty!!
CGD..
December 12th, 2011
10:22 pm
You got it!!!!!!!!!!!
alex
December 12th, 2011
7:44 am
“joe tess-ease up, I agree with you, but diaper-trained michael m. is upset;falcons are posers and will get crushed if they make it to the playoffs..Ryan needs to go or go to backup. In a quarterback driven league, he’s not good enough.”
A “QB Driven League” Hmmmmmmmmmmmm? Enough said!