Atlanta Falcons: Smith admits to challenge flag blunder
Falcons head coach Mike Smith is to fast on the draw throwing the red flag after a turnover against the Cardinals making the play unable to be reviewed by officials during 2nd half action at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Sunday, Nov. 18d, 2012. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM
After Arizona’s Sam Acho knocked the ball away from running back Jason Snelling, Greg Toler appeared to flip the ball back into the field of play and Cardinals safety Reshad Johnson recovered.
Smith tossed his challenge flag when the play was going to be reviewed.
Fox referee analyst Mike Pereira tweeted, “If the challenge flag is thrown before the replay official initiates the review then the play is not reviewable.”
He noted that turnovers are automatically reviewed and that it’s an automatic penalty if a coach throws a challenge flag.
If Toler would have been deemed to be out of bounds, the Falcons would have had the ball at the 27. Instead, Arizona had the ball first-and-10 at their 45.
“We have to find a way for the coach not to throw a challenge flag at the wrong time,” Smith said.
You could see Smith trying to recoup his flag shortly after he made the toss.
“You’ve got lots of people talking in your ear,” Smith said. “It was my mistake. My guys bailed me out today.”
LATEST NEWS
Video: Falcons will try to regroup against the Cardinals, who have loss 5 in a row
Julio Jones held out of practice with an ankle injury
LaDainian Tomlinson, Marshall Faulk weigh-in on Falcons’ sub-par run game
Offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter on struggling run game: ‘Mike Turner . . . had no chance’
COACHES ALL 22 FILM REVIEW: 6 key plays in the 31-27 loss to the Saints
Falcons’ dream of undefeated season ended by Saints, 31-27
Roddy White: Falcons ‘gave’ game away
Video: Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan after the 31-27 loss to the Saints
Saints 31, Falcons 27: Q&A with Falcons coach Mike Smith
OTHER RECENT STORIES
Mike Smith says no major injury for Peria Jerry
Goodell met with Gov. Deal, Mayor Reed to discuss stadium deal
Falcons’ playtime percentage chart vs. Cowboys
Roddy White becomes all-time reception leader
Post game comments from the Falcons locker room
Falcons pull out 19-13 victory over Cowboys to improve to 8-0
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
61 comments Add your comment
Atlanta Falcons: Guard Harland Gunn signed | Atlanta Falcons
November 22nd, 2012
9:00 am
[...] Falcons coach Mike Smith admits to challenge flag blunder [...]
Mike Smith : The Latest Fuzz
November 22nd, 2012
3:03 pm
[...] Atlanta Falcons: Smith admits to challenge flag blunder – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
Texans vs. Lions: Justin Forsett Scores on Huge TD Run after Referees Botch Call | Scripting4You Blog
November 22nd, 2012
4:30 pm
[...] this rule as a head coach. This same scenario played out for Mike Smith of the Atlanta Falcons just last week, except it came on a [...]
Texans vs. Lions: Justin Forsett Scores on Huge TD Run after Referees Botch Call | :: Sparxxrx LLC ::
November 22nd, 2012
4:32 pm
[...] this rule as a head coach. This same scenario played out for Mike Smith of the Atlanta Falcons just last week, except it came on a [...]
Blue: Re:Thanks For Nothing | Field Notes
November 22nd, 2012
7:55 pm
[...] more, we found out last week that a coach who throws a challenge flag on a play that’s supposed to be reviewed anyway [...]
the truth...
November 22nd, 2012
9:59 pm
@Stepchild
After reading your post about how dumb Smitty was to throw the flag………..I fully understood why you call your self “stepchild”…..
…..but isn’t your first two names “red headed ?
okeetee
November 23rd, 2012
11:55 am
So head coaches DO smoke dope at home, during timeouts, after games, during games, during halftime and just about any other time and place they feel like doing it! Can’t believe the Detroit head coach clown pulled the same balloon head blunder Smith did just the week before! Don’t these coaches read the newspapers? Watch ESPN highlights? They must have mentioned it some time during the week, if only to joke about it or make fun of Smith! NOW, this knucklehead does the same thing, even worse! His blunder actually cost his team 7 points!
NFL Exec: Red-Flag Rule Could be Changed This Season | Robert Littal Presents BlackSportsOnline
November 23rd, 2012
12:59 pm
[...] I saw Falcons coach Mike Smith fall victim to the now infamous ’red flag’ rule when he attempted to challenge an Atlanta fumble, I thought to myself that the rule may cost someone a game one day. I just didn’t think [...]
Bruce Raglin in HI.
November 24th, 2012
4:12 am
the best coach we ever had remember marion cambell 9-1 speaks for coach and you have to be good enough to be lucky, matt had a horrific game but the score at the end of the half was great go falcons
Atlanta Falcons: Greg Schiano has Bucs playing until the final whistle | Atlanta Falcons
November 24th, 2012
2:09 pm
[...] Falcons coach Mike Smith admits to challenge flag blunder [...]
Atlanta Falcons: Julio Jones returned to practice; Weatherspoon out with illness | Atlanta Falcons
November 24th, 2012
4:35 pm
[...] Falcons coach Mike Smith admits to challenge flag blunder [...]