Rumor: Coach Arthur Smith Fired If Atlanta Falcons Lose in Week 18 to New Orleans Saints
What if the tweet, the headline and the actual story about the Atlanta Falcons' breaking point regarding the possible firing of coach Arthur Smith - and the ensuing pursuit of the legendary Bill Belichick - don't actually all convey the same message?
The Falcons still have a chance to win the NFC South title as they enter today's regular-season finale against the New Orleans Saints. Win and surely the Smith "hot seat'' will cool.
But owner Arthur Blank's "commitment to coach Smith'' from a month ago has clearly weakened. And now our trusted colleagues Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero at NFL Network is reporting that "sources say owner Arthur Blank has been calling people he trusts within the league for advice in recent days -- another sign he is weighing potential changes'' regarding the coach.
That makes sense. So does the idea that if Smith is canned, New England legend Belichick - who may be coaching his final Patriots game today after 24 years and six Super Bowl titles there - will be contacted.
But about that tweet, that headline and that story ...
The reader is left with the impression that a win salvages all and that maybe therefore a loss - which would drop Atlanta to 1-4 over its final five games of the regular season, thus ensuring a third straight seven-win season - might be fatal to Smith's Falcons career. Actually, though, the headline on the story simply says, "Falcons to evaluate coach Arthur Smith's status after season,'' which frankly, we already knew. And story itself, rich with details, is really simply about the evaluation to come.
Swap out Smith for Belichick? Falcons fans would surely find that alluring. But wait until Sunday shakes out before we make definitive plans for Black Monday? Falcons fans should know that's the most sensible position to take here.
