Update: Ray Hamilton’s response to Mike Smith’s apology
Falcons coach Mike Smith during Sunday's heated game. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
Falcons coach Mike Smith today expressed remorse for his actions on the sideline near the end of his team’s breathless victory over Carolina on Sunday and said he has apologized to defensive line coach Ray Hamilton.
“It was something that happened in the heat of battle,” Smith said, speaking by phone from team headquarters in Flowery Branch.
Of Hamilton, Smith said: “Ray and I have worked together for 10 years [including five when the two were assistants in Jacksonville]; he’s one of my closest friends in coaching … I apologized to him this morning. I said, ‘I’m very sorry about my action. I’m very sorry about what happened last night.’ ”
Said Hamilton, also via phone: “Mike mentioned it to me this morning. I didn’t even realize anything had happened. I didn’t give it a second thought until somebody called me and asked about it this morning.”
Of Smith’s apology, Hamilton said: “His apology is fine. I’ve been coaching 27 years. On the sideline, all kinds of shoving goes on. You’d be amazed at the stuff that gets said down there. But there’s nothing ever disrespectful. Smitty’s a first-class guy.”
Matt Bryant’s field goal had given the Falcons a 30-28 lead with five seconds remaining, but they still had to defend one last play. After a touchback on the kickoff, Carolina took possession at its 20. Smith saw that the Falcons had only 10 players on the field — he would not identify the missing man — and was less than pleased.
Said Smith: “We were trying to finish the game. We were trying to get the right personnel. We didn’t have the right number of players.”
Fox cameras caught an angry Smith putting both hands on Hamilton’s arm and administering a slight shove. Said Smith: “I was on a tirade — that’s all. I did not push him. I was on a tirade and I threw my hands.”
Thinking quickly, Smith signaled for a timeout before Carolina could snap the ball, knowing full well the Falcons had used their final allotted timeout just after the two-minute warning. He also knew that NFL rules don’t levy a penalty when a team tries to call a timeout it doesn’t have.
The Falcons were able to send an 11th defender into the game while the officials were telling Smith he couldn’t have a timeout, which was his intention all along. “I was trying to get 11 guys on the field,” he said. “We didn’t have 11 guys.”
Mission accomplished. John Abraham sacked Cam Newton on the final play and the Falcons left with one of their most stirring victories in Smith’s four-plus seasons as head coach. In Smith’s mind, however, his tactical coup did not excuse the anger he expressed toward Hamilton.
“Sideline etiquette is important,” Smith said. “I’ve got to be 100 percent. I wasn’t 100 percent.”
For the record, Smith’s 2012 team holds a winning percentage of 1.000. The Falcons are 4-0. And with Sunday’s victory, Smith (47-21) passed Leeman Bennett (46-41) as the second-winningest coach in franchise history. Dan Reeves (49-59-1) ranks first.
By Mark Bradley
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290 comments Add your comment
Ted M
October 1st, 2012
12:26 pm
um, Is there a link to the video?
yeahsure
October 1st, 2012
12:27 pm
Do yall remember the last time we played Washington? Smitty showed his fire then and he showed it yesterday as well. I have absolutely no problem with it. I’d rather have a coach that is passionate on the field than someone who yapps his mouth all week in front of the press.
G-dub
October 1st, 2012
12:30 pm
Blank need to stay in the owners box.
ted
October 1st, 2012
12:30 pm
ted is awesome
kimmer
October 1st, 2012
12:32 pm
Regarding the time out ploy, I cannot blame Smith for using any angle available to help his team but sounds to me like this has revealed a loop-hole that needs to be filled by the rule makers. Knowing there is no rule against it, I wonder why teams that are out of time outs have not tried to deke the defense by having their QB in the shotgun call for a TO while the rest of the team appears to relax then suddenly snap the ball.
Just Saying..
October 1st, 2012
12:32 pm
Mike is a carnivore during a game, white bread everywhere else. And surely he’s embarrassed watching himself on tape.
Me, I would have brought Coach Hamilton into the post game conference, and apologized to him there. Just saying…
BootArthur
October 1st, 2012
12:33 pm
Get that old geezer off the sideline. I hate micro-managers and don’t care if he does own the team. He looks ridiculous walking around down there in that funeral suit. If I were Mike Smith, I’d pay a special teamer to take him out during a play. Nothing like a torn ACL to keep him up in his luxury box.
BootArthur
October 1st, 2012
12:34 pm
where did my comment go!?
Double Standard
October 1st, 2012
12:36 pm
People were ripping Jay Cutler a new one when he shoved a teammate a couple weeks ago, but yesterday it was in the heat of battle?
Double Standard
October 1st, 2012
12:38 pm
G-dub…the one thing I can say, he’s not a frontrunner, he’s down there win or lose. Plus he spent alot for the team.
Double Standard
October 1st, 2012
12:38 pm
G-dub…the one thing I can say, he’s not a frontrunner, he’s down there win or lose. Plus he spent alot for the team.
Big Crimson 75
October 1st, 2012
12:38 pm
It was crazy in the Dome during the last 5 mins!!
Smitty yelling at a Coach & it looked like he was explaining decisions to Arthur on the sideline.
Too bad half the crowd left & didn’t see the great ending!
David
October 1st, 2012
12:39 pm
When did we become such a nation of candy-asses that we can’t be chewed out by the boss? I understand that the chewing was done in public, but that is the nature of the beast on a nationally televised sports event. I think the assistant coach should apologize to coach Smith for almost making a mistake that could have cost us the game and for not firing him on the spot. It’s not always a good thing to try to hold such passion in and I think it is a good thing that we have a coach with the passion to maintain a winning climate in this City.
Taxi Smith
October 1st, 2012
12:41 pm
Good for Coach Smith! We need that kind of passion on the Falcon’s sideline. I’ve had bosses yell at me for screwing something up. It made me a better employee and a better man.
JMLDawg
October 1st, 2012
12:43 pm
I tip my cap to “Home of the Brave” @ 12;22. Funniest post I’ve read all season!
fan
October 1st, 2012
12:43 pm
Mike better never coach in high school. They are sooooo politically correct, he would be out for the rest of the season for being a poor sport and embarrassing the system.
Rhettt
October 1st, 2012
12:43 pm
Glad to see a Head Coach who really is in charge. Brilliant!
Dontavious Supremo
October 1st, 2012
12:43 pm
A LOT of you guys are pathetic. Keep it up Coach! You ARE the Man!
Loyalfalconfrmthemississippi
October 1st, 2012
12:43 pm
REALLY Mike Smith is a thug???? i just find that funny, the fact that you see Mike Smith as a thug is just hillarious he’s as passionate about the game as any head coach at least hes not attacking refferees hell someone runs in to me i push them off me to, watch where the heck your goin its a mans game
Big Crimson 75
October 1st, 2012
12:44 pm
Double — cutler still hasn’t been forgiven for his actions in th NFC Title game a few years ago.
Is there a double standard? Probably.
Ladanian Tomlinson did the same exact thing in a playoff game against NE that Cutler did against GB — get hurt & sulk on the sideline.
LT didn’t get nearly the heat Cutler got.
reese
October 1st, 2012
12:45 pm
atlanta will not win it all. so it does not matter
what me worry again
October 1st, 2012
12:48 pm
Frankly My dear i not give a dam…Its non Issue here great see a coach with flare heart and want to win a superbowl for atlanta…But alas some clowns will bring race cause he cussin a black man….you wait Jesse Jackson are Al-lard butt-sharpton will say stuff…No biggy so lets go to Washington and stamp out some redskins sunday!
BW
October 1st, 2012
12:49 pm
As a former HS coach, the sidelines at times can get hetic during a tight ballgame. Things are said and done that dont mean anything. So dont make something out of nothing. The goal for everyone on the staff is to win the game!!
Maria
October 1st, 2012
12:53 pm
How sweet-he apologized. I hope all the fans are happy campers now.
Come on-this is football.
Home of the Braves-too funny!
Jimmy Crack
October 1st, 2012
12:54 pm
“I did not push him. I was on a tirade and I threw my hands.”
Yes you did, Coach, you threw your hands at him and shoved him. Clear as day.
Lies seem to be getting easier and easier to skirt, and for the media to forgive, in this “modern” society.
Michael M.
October 1st, 2012
12:54 pm
old geezer in the funeral suit was absolutely hilarious………….he shouldn’t have to be down there though.once in a blue moon ,but every week……………….come on mannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
Kramer
October 1st, 2012
12:54 pm
Smith is a class act as is Hamilton. No hurt, no foul. Time to focus on the next game.
Kramer
October 1st, 2012
12:55 pm
Jimmy Crack, get off the crack son!
MsBulldawg
October 1st, 2012
12:58 pm
And this why football is (and always shall be) a man’s sport. They get mad, they say what needs to be said and get on with it. Ladies….we can learn from these things! Go Falcons!
Barry
October 1st, 2012
12:59 pm
HEY Y’ALL :
GREAT GAME TO LEARN FROM. IN THE HEAT OF BATTLE AND WIN, YOU LEARN SO MU H THAN IF YOU LOSE. THE COACHES, THE, PLAYERS, AND THE FANS. WE ARE JUST CONDUCTING AN EXERCISE OF OUR “ONE HEARTBEAT!!”. AND GUESS WHAT? IT’S. FUNCTIONING FINE. THE COACES ARE COMMUNICATING. PLAYERS ARE FIGHTING TOGETHER, AND WE, THE FANS ARE GOING NUTTS OVER OUR FALCONS. MOREOVER, THE MEDIA ARE IN TUNED TO THE BEAT. THERE ARE SONE THINGS, HOWEVER, WE NEED TO TIGHTEN UP ANF “FIX” IN “ONE HEARTBEAT!!
FIRST, WE NEED TO FIX THE PASS PROTECTION AND RUN BLOCKING ON THE OFFENSIVE LINE. IF WE DON’T, THER IS A MACK TRUCK COMING RYANS WAY THAT WILL KNOCK HIM OUT., ESPECIALLY WITH CONFERENCE FOES WHO ARE AWARE OF THESE SAME LINEMEN AND THEIR WEAKNESSES FROM THE LAST 2 YEARS. THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS WE HAVE NOT PROCEEDED TO THE SUPER BOWL. I BELIEVE THE OWNERS AND THE COACHES ARE AWARE THAT IS WHY WE DRAFTED SOME BIG ROOKIES. HOPEFULLY, THEY ARE SMART, ATHLETIC, AND NASTY ENOUGH TO MAKE THE STARTING LINEUP. I BELIEVE A CHANGE NEED. TO OCCUR IF WE ARE GOING TO THE NEXT LEVEL IN PLAYING THE LIKES OF PHYSICAL DEFENSES LIKE THE SUPER BOWL GIANTS, AND EVEN SAN FRANCISCO. WE HAVE TO BECOME CONSISTANT, QUICK AND NASTY ON THAT OFFENSIVE LINE.: SOUTHERN FOOTBALL STYLE.
SECOND, ON DEFENSE, OUR DEFENSIVE FRONT, NEED TO GET NORE PHYSICAL , NASTY, AND DIRTY TO A POINT WHERE THEY ARE SHREDDING THE OFFENSIVE LINEMEN IN FRONT OF THEM AND LIERALLY CRUSHING THE QUATERBACK AND THE RUNBING BACKS. I DO NOT SEE YHE DEFENSIVE KINEMEN DOMINATING GUYS IN FRONT OF THEM ON A CONSISTANT BASIS. WE NEED TO FIX THIS IN ” ONE HEARTBEAT!!”.
FINALLY, ALL IS GOOD WITH THE COACHES, THE TEAM, THE FANS, AND THE MEDIA. WE UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON IN ” ONE HEARTBEAT!!”. WE ARE TOGETHER IN THIS. THIS IS OUR TEAM. THIS IS OUR CITY, THIS IS OUR STATE. WE ARE “ONE HEARTBEAT!!” WE. WILL FIX AND IMPROVE OURSELVES IN “ONE HEARTBEAT!!” NAYSAYERS, I KNOW YOU’RE AFRAID. BE SCARED. BECAUSE WE ARE PERFECT NOW, BUT WE WILL BE IMPROVING IN ” ONE HEARTBEAT!!” AND WE WILL BE COMING TO A CITU NEAR YOU!! THUMP!! CAN YOU HEAR IT???!! THUMP!! IT’S. GETTING LOUDER. THUMP!!THUMP!!……
GO FALCONS!!!!!!
THE “PROCESS” CONTINUES TO THE SUPER BOWL.
SSSSSSSSHHHHHHHH!!!!!
This is a SECRET from a FALCON FAN. TELL EVERYBODY.
….,,,,,,,,,”ONE HEARTBEAT, BABY!!!”,,,,,,,,,
O where O where have the Aints fans gone?
October 1st, 2012
12:59 pm
Anybody seen Seen this b4?
RogueRunr
October 1st, 2012
1:04 pm
He should have been pi$$ed. That assistant got to have his defense ready in that situation. Of all the lapses you could have at that point in the game…10 men on the field? Unacceptable.
Dirty Dawg
October 1st, 2012
1:05 pm
Hell, I was hoping he was yellin at Arthur Blank for sticking his nose into the sideline action…should known better.
warfalcon
October 1st, 2012
1:05 pm
Have not SEEN THIS B 4 or any of the AINTS.
Michael M.
October 1st, 2012
1:07 pm
yawning here………………
Rodster
October 1st, 2012
1:10 pm
Dude, we get the “heat of the battle” thing… but it was a push. That was clear on TV.
warfalcon
October 1st, 2012
1:10 pm
Ray Hamilton is a big man and can take care of himself,no problems here.Next W.R.and MEANGELO HALL[toast].LETS GO FALCONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
cdog
October 1st, 2012
1:10 pm
heat of the battle, things happen.this shouldn”t occur over and over again though.great win falcons! get ready to take care of robert griffin111 and the redskins for 5-0
Michael M.
October 1st, 2012
1:11 pm
I saw em about three weeks ago before you guys ran em off the blogs……………ha ha
ATLSports
October 1st, 2012
1:11 pm
Even if there was a 15 yard penalty for calling timeout it still would have been worth it to get the 11th man in with only 4 seconds left.
J Morrill
October 1st, 2012
1:13 pm
Smith is an ass. I’ve seen him take his “heat of the moment” anger out on opposing players with my own eyes. He is the reason I will never root for the Falcons as long as he is the coach. He’s a jerk.
Rick
October 1st, 2012
1:18 pm
He does care about winning. That is why the team is 4-0. Good man. Very intense game.
@ St. Simons
October 1st, 2012
1:18 pm
Haven’t seen you on any blogs in quite a while, but I haven’t forgot you, so here goes: Middle Tennessee State 49 – Ga Tech 28 hahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
afan 65
October 1st, 2012
1:21 pm
Great job doing what it takes to win. Both coaches did a good job and understand the heat of the game. Go Falcons kick some a@@.
Jay
October 1st, 2012
1:22 pm
It was embarrassing to see Smith act like that. If a head coach had done this on another team, people on this blog would be all over it.
The Old Coot
October 1st, 2012
1:24 pm
Quick thinking coach. And you had a right to be angry and express it.
We won the game and that is the bottom line for NFL coaches.
We are fortunate to have a good coach with some fire in his belly.
afan 65
October 1st, 2012
1:25 pm
If I owned the damn team I’d go where I pleased…
ueeediot
October 1st, 2012
1:28 pm
Maybe Coach could explain that little bit of ‘brilliance’ that caused him to have the team run a play with the clock running, on 2nd down, @ 2:01 in the first half?
Vampire Bill
October 1st, 2012
1:28 pm
Gee the boss chewed out an employee who messed up…. That sadly is news to the AJC
Michael M.
October 1st, 2012
1:31 pm
My nerves was rattled from yesterday’s game…………….just imagine for a moment…………….you are Coach Smitty………….the Team Owner is standing down there on the side lines with his arms crossed like one of those Mafia Mob Bosses wearing that Gangsta Suit……….you just like to lost by one point and break your winning streak but gain the upper hand from a come behind and you look and only see 10 Falcon Players on the field in the final seconds and you think I wouldn’t be nutting up too ?……………………..indeed !