Falcons' Coach Mike Smith back from hospital to oversee practice on Monday – NFL News
Atlanta Falcons Coach Mike Smith arrived back on time to take the Falcons practice session on Monday night ahead of their Thursday night fixture against Jacksonville Jaguars.
Smith did not arrive back with the team from Carolina after the Falcons 31-23 win over the Panthers as he was taken to hospital with chest pain. Franchise owner Arthur Blank sent his own private jet to pick up Smith after he was
discharged from hospital.
Speaking to media after overseeing his team’s forty minute light training session Smith looked healthy and happy.
"I feel a whole lot better today than I did yesterday, I can assure you of that," a smiling Smith said.
The Coach was in no mood to discuss his treatment wanting instead to talk about his team’s crucial win over the Panthers and their preparation ahead of a tough encounter against the Jaguars.
"I'm really embarrassed to have to even be talking about it," Smith said. "I don't want to talk about it. I'd prefer to talk about the way our guys played in the second half, and we've got a short week and we've got to get ready
for Jacksonville."
The Falcons Coach was initially on the team’s chartered jet for the trip back to Atlanta. However, the flight was delayed due to air traffic and Falcons management decided that Smith should be checked immediately.
A Falcons spokesperson later described the check up as a precautionary non-emergency matter.
Returning back in Atlanta the Coach went ahead with his schedule as normal with the team taking part in a shortened Monday night practice session. Smith now 52 is in no mood to change his coaching style to better suit his health.
"No, not at all," he said "I'm going to have to evaluate some of the things I do, not in coaching this team but in terms of how we coach this team, we're going to keep doing it the way we've always done.”
The Falcons are fighting for a National Football Conference Wildcard playoff spot and look set to secure their second straight entry in the playoffs under Smith.
The franchise played a heart-pounding match against Carolina Panthers with a brilliant second half comeback led by quarterback Matt Ryan. The Falcons will now face the Jacksonville Jaguars at home on Thursday and will play the
final two games of the regular season against division rivals New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
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