UPDATE: Team denies Mike Smith has ‘persistent chest’ discomfort
FLOWERY BRANCH – The Falcons denied a report that coach Mike Smith has had “persistent chest
Falcons coach Mike Smith addressing the local media on Monday after going to the hospital with chest pains in Charlotte. (D. Orlando Ledbetter/DLedbetter@ajc.com)
related discomfort” on Thursday.
“He feels fine,” said Reggie Roberts, the team’s vice president of communications.
Following Sunday’s Falcons-Carolina game, Smith, 52, had chest pains and was taken to a hospital before the team’s charter flight left for Atlanta.
Smith had undisclosed tests and arrived back in Atlanta at 3 a.m. He was at the team’s facilities around 3:30 p.m. and held a team meeting at 4 p.m.
“He spent the week preparing his team for the nationally-televised game against Jacksonville,” Roberts said. “Smith had a previously scheduled appointment. It was made after he left the hospital in Charlotte.”
The Falcons (8-5) are set to play the Jacksonville Jaguars (4-9) at 8:20 p.m. tonight at the Georgia Dome.
On Monday, Smith said he has had to make some lifestyle changes, but doesn’t plan to change his coaching style.
On Thursday, a walk-through practice, Smith completed the team’s tentative schedule for next week. He’s prepared to give the players off until Tuesday. They are set to have Wednesday off and will practice again on Thursday and Friday, have a walk-through on Saturday and leave for New Orleans on Christmas for their Monday game against the Saints.
Smith, like most coaches around the NFL, has been known to spend a few nights at the facilities. He has his own room in the team’s dormitories.
After last season, Smith signed a three-year contract extension in February.
With three games to play, the Falcons are 8-5 and fighting for their third playoff berth in four seasons under Smith. The team is 41-20 under Smith.
Smith originally signed a four-year contract that was worth between $8 million to $10 million. Terms of the contract extension were not disclosed.
–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog
Get instant updates on Twitter at AJCFalcons and you can join the Facebook Fan page at AJC Falcons.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
104 comments Add your comment
DJ TJ
December 15th, 2011
12:26 pm
In emergency have Arthur Blank do the coaching. We’ve seen him present along the sideline many times. That way he’ll promote himself from micro- to makro-management.
BIG C
December 15th, 2011
12:35 pm
I have heard from inside sources that he had a MILD STROKE!!! I didn’t believe it at first but if you look at some of his recent interviews, you can tell that his face is kind of off a little. Get WELL soon Coach Smith. At the end of the day the Falcons need him but NOT if its going to cost us his health or life.
Michael M.
December 15th, 2011
12:43 pm
@ WhoDat………that was cold what you posted…..I hope it doesn’t come back to haunt you ! Saw on nfl network talk going around he still having those chest pains.
extremus
December 15th, 2011
12:44 pm
I hope Mike Smith gives himself a short leash if he feels any further discomfort while on the sidelines tonight; as many others have already said, one’s health is much more important than the outcome of a footbal game in the big picture. Hopefully the Falcons will finally play lights-out across four full quarters and relieve him of any further unnecessary stress.
Val RN,CCRN
December 15th, 2011
12:45 pm
Dear Coach,
Persistent chest pain is a warning sign!!! I hope your physician has cleared you to coach the game tonight. WE LOVE YOU!!! If the pain gets wrose please leave the field and go to the nearest emergency room!!!! This is no laughing matter!!!!
clipper
December 15th, 2011
12:45 pm
So where is the ‘report’? Just trying to create a news item?
WhoDat
December 15th, 2011
12:46 pm
@everyone who commented,
BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I would have had 10 heart attacks watching this pathetic team play all year! 5 draft picks for Julio “drop a game tying touchdown when and if i’m not hurt” Jones! Don’t hate just because the Saint’s are ya’lls daddy’s! Call Pedro, he’ll tell you all about daddy’s!!
extremus
December 15th, 2011
12:49 pm
@whodat,
That was indeed a very callous and uncaring statement you made (”What’s the plan if he drops?”). I don’t care if the person involved is a rival coach or player; you don’t root for people to be injured or possibly die from severe health issues, or even jokingly insinuate that. You didn’t see Falcons fans gloating over Sean Payton breaking his leg, and if anyone did it was equally low-class of them. Grow up and get your priorities in life straight, for your own sake.
Michael M.
December 15th, 2011
12:51 pm
@ Who Dat…..you know what….you are sicko in da head boy ! I hope Atlanta comes downtown to Aint ville and makes it a bad memory for the Saints and people like you !
WhoDat
December 15th, 2011
12:55 pm
Hell, I laughed at Peyton getting his leg jacked up, that was funny!!! Ain’t no way the Atlanta Pigeons are gonna walk into the Saint’s house and do ish!!! I hope ya’ll have to win that game to make the playoffs and we beat ya’ll worse than Rodgers and the Pack did last year ——- BEATDOWN!!!!
WhoDat
December 15th, 2011
12:56 pm
Excuse me, I don’t want to sound “callous and uncaring”!! BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Get a life.
WhoDat
December 15th, 2011
12:57 pm
Hey, if it’s 4th and 1, maybe ya’ll will go for it again!!!
Wink
December 15th, 2011
12:58 pm
I have a lot of friends who look healthy on the outside but still eat cheeseburgers, french fries, potato chips, pizza etc. I keep telling people what you eat in your 20’s and 30’s are the building blocks for what will happen to you in your 50’s and 60’s.
Michael M.
December 15th, 2011
12:59 pm
@ WhoDat……If I had my way about this I would place you out on the 50 yardline and let Michael Turner blast through you and knock you down like a bowling ball pin…ya turd !
WhoDat
December 15th, 2011
1:01 pm
Why, can’t do it yourself big boy? Michael who? Oh Turner the Burner that runs like he’s got a d— in his a–!!!
Valerie
December 15th, 2011
1:05 pm
Take care of yourself! Wishing you luck in tonight’s game
WhoDat
December 15th, 2011
1:06 pm
Put me on the 50, hell i’ll score from there on your defense!!!
extremus
December 15th, 2011
1:06 pm
@Who Dat,
Get a life? You’re the one trolling another team’s blog on a Thursday afternoon.
rastus brown
December 15th, 2011
1:08 pm
Coach:
Put God first, then your family, then football.
WhoDat
December 15th, 2011
1:09 pm
it’s cause I live in the ATL and love seeing you sorry A$$ Falcon fans on these things cause I know I get under your skin.
Eric C.
December 15th, 2011
1:10 pm
D. Led, can’t you delete this filthy stuff from this coward, whodat? It’s appalling what someone who is anonymous can dream up.
As for Coach Smith, definitely hoping he is ok, but seems they wouldn’t let him take a chance tonight if there was any issue. I mean really, they are playing the Jags…Captain Kangaroo could coach this game and the Falcons would still win.
WhoDat
December 15th, 2011
1:13 pm
See what I mean, Eric C is already pissed off, LOL!!!
WhoDat
December 15th, 2011
1:14 pm
Freedom of Speech baby!!! You don’t have to reply.
extremus
December 15th, 2011
1:16 pm
Freedom is only as good as what one chooses to do with it, Who Dat. Over time I’ve come to realize that human nature makes it overrated quite often, particularly in an anonymous arena such as the internet.
Joe
December 15th, 2011
1:22 pm
I am off to get my anus bleached…
ls1z28chris
December 15th, 2011
1:28 pm
Way to show him that comments about someone’s health are out of line… By having a perverse fantasy involving a Falcons player breaking him in half.
Loads of sanity in this blog.
Runnin with the Dawgs
December 15th, 2011
1:35 pm
Smitty’s a pretty smart cookie. I don’t think he would do himself and his family wrong by trying to work at this very very stressful job if he had a serious problem. GO FALCONS
sainthater
December 15th, 2011
1:39 pm
Hey Whodat, move your sorry butt back to Louisiana we got enough of your lazy butts here already. Too bad Katrina didn’t take you out.
Runnin with the Dawgs
December 15th, 2011
1:40 pm
Who Dat — I think it’s kinda nice having you around to stir the $h!t a little. Keep up the good work!
Michael M.
December 15th, 2011
1:41 pm
lmao ..I got tears from it….you right up there I shouldn’t say that about him..sending my sincerest apology
WhoDat
December 15th, 2011
1:47 pm
YEAH BABY!!!
Casey
December 15th, 2011
1:49 pm
I think after that comeback win he was just so excited, popped a viagra and was anxious to get home to Ms. Smith..
yeahsure
December 15th, 2011
1:52 pm
Gotta love all the post-Katrina people that rep Nawlins but refuse to leave Atlanta. I know a ton of them. They talk about how great their city is but they will never go back because they know the truth.
Saints Fans. Est. Feb.2010
Michael M.
December 15th, 2011
1:59 pm
Enter your comments here
Michael M.
December 15th, 2011
2:00 pm
What it is, they know Hotlanta is where it is happening at and why would they leave such a great City !
mark
December 15th, 2011
2:19 pm
hey coach take care of yourself. you are the best we ever had. P.S try cayenne pepper and hot water mixture. that will clears some arteries.
Joe
December 15th, 2011
2:34 pm
I am off to get my anus bleached…
B-man
December 15th, 2011
2:34 pm
hey who dat….your momma has your grilled cheese ready, now go eat it before you have to do your homework.
Mick
December 15th, 2011
2:52 pm
His persistent chest pain is caused by Mike Mularkey. Take two aspirin and fire Mularkey in the morning, lol. Really hope nothing serious with coach Smith.
WhoDat
December 15th, 2011
3:00 pm
@B-man,
Your momma has her A$$ ready!!! For a Nawlins good time!!! Don’t worry though, she’ll earn her beads!
Michael M.
December 15th, 2011
3:12 pm
Spaghetti-o’s ?
WhoDat
December 15th, 2011
3:15 pm
OK Pigeon fans, I’m out!! Just hope Julio doesn’t drop another one. If he drops one, your coach may drop!! C-ya in Nawlins for an A$$-kicking good time. Ya’ll can’t hang!!
BullDawg Rick
December 15th, 2011
3:18 pm
Get & Stay Healthy Coach!!!
We Love You, Man!!!
Will be in your House tonight rooting on the Dirty Birds!!
Hopefully we’ll git er done in easy fashion & you can rest easy!!
Go Falcons!!!
who dat dude
December 15th, 2011
3:35 pm
get well coach….your going to need it Dec.26th.
ls1z28chris
December 15th, 2011
4:46 pm
yeahsure:
I can’t speak for the rest of the people here, but I moved back down to New Orleans at the end of October. Saints fan: Established 1983.
Michael M.:
Atlanta isn’t all it is cracked up to be. Downtown is a glorified office park that is emptying out as businesses flee to Midtown and Buckhead to get away from all those horrible “urban” people. That city pretends it is modern and urban and growing, but how many of those new highrises went into foreclosure over the last three years? Wait, don’t just count the new ones. Count the old ones like the Equitable building as well. A beautiful city… Of empty and foreclosed on office and residential towers.
The only good thing that I can say about Atlanta is that it is the capital of the zombie movie/tv show. Props for that, even if a lot of the shooting goes on in Cobb or other adjacent counties.
Honestly, I don’t think Saints fans would give Falcons fans too hard of a time if it weren’t for the fact that you guys are some of the biggest bafoons in the NFL. Philadelphia and Dallas are hot on your tails, but lets be real here for a minute. Last year you guys were designing Super Bowl rings and t-shirts after week five. Then you got embarrassed in your own dome by both the Saints and the Packers. This year after the Indy game the AJC was talking about the Super Bowl again. Then you guys get embarrassed by half of the NFC.
It is simply fun to watch a team that hasn’t won a playoff game in six or seven years have to pay actors and bands to hype themselves in their own city, then watch the town buy into the hype and declare they’re on a Super Bowl run during the first half of the season, just to watch you guys get deflated and dejected as your noodle arm QB and ham fisted receivers pitch and drop their way out of the playoffs every year. Don’t hate on us because we enjoy watching this spectacle. I’m sure you folks took great enjoyment at watching the Eagles hype themselves as Super Bowl contenders before the season even started, just to turn around and eliminate themselves from playoff contention 2/3 of the way through the season. It is essentially the same thing. Put a good team on the field, win a playoff game or two, and you’ll probably see a little respect. Win a championship, then you’ll see a little more. That won’t happen this year, obviously, but there is always next year Falcons fans. Until then, you can watch the Thrashers…
Doc Dawg
December 15th, 2011
5:07 pm
I thought I heard Coach has gallstones. Anybody thats got em knows the deal.
Michael M.
December 15th, 2011
5:51 pm
Is this a blog or a sports columnist audition like the one I just read up above about the City of Atlanta and its Sports Teams ?
SWAT Native
December 15th, 2011
7:19 pm
Last time this happened the Falcons went to the Superbowl…
Falcons > Everyone
December 15th, 2011
7:33 pm
Hurricane Karma strikes the disrespectful New Orleans trolls on December 26th. Falcons 30, the other team 20.
Michael M.
December 15th, 2011
9:55 pm
Do we have to wait til Dec 26th to go whip the Saints D-Led ? Falcons are going to stomp a mud hole in them ! Looks like a shut-out on the Jags so far and its half-time and they beating up their prize running back.