Last January after losing to the Giants in the playoffs, Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank said, "Our goal is to win rings, to get championships and eventually win a Super Bowl for this community. The Falcons made changes by bringing in new offensive and defensive coordinators.
So it's natural to assume that head coach Mike Smith could be on the hot seat this year but Blank says that's not so according to D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
In a Q & A with Ledbetter, Blank said, "Hes not on any hot seat. I particularly feel really blessed and I dont use that word every day, all day long I feel blessed having them(Smith and Thomas Dimitroff) both in place. The last four years to have the record that weve established after 42 years of not having back-to-back winning seasons, to have four of them back-to-back-to-back-to-back winning seasons and be in the playoffs three of four years, to have a coach thats been named coach of the year two out of four years in the NFL. And Thomas being named executive of the year twice the last four years, is . . . very impressive. I have a high degree of confidence in the partnership and the consistency of the team and the sustainability of the team we have. I think its important this time of the year when you get into late August and early September that you are in the mix in terms of playoff conversation amongst the media, with the national pundits, and the local ones as well. I think weve reached that level. Obviously, we are trying to get to the next level. I have confidence that well be able to do that. I have faith in Smitty and faith in Thomas and faith in all of our coaches. I really do."
Source: The Redzone
Attached Thumbnails
So it's natural to assume that head coach Mike Smith could be on the hot seat this year but Blank says that's not so according to D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
In a Q & A with Ledbetter, Blank said, "Hes not on any hot seat. I particularly feel really blessed and I dont use that word every day, all day long I feel blessed having them(Smith and Thomas Dimitroff) both in place. The last four years to have the record that weve established after 42 years of not having back-to-back winning seasons, to have four of them back-to-back-to-back-to-back winning seasons and be in the playoffs three of four years, to have a coach thats been named coach of the year two out of four years in the NFL. And Thomas being named executive of the year twice the last four years, is . . . very impressive. I have a high degree of confidence in the partnership and the consistency of the team and the sustainability of the team we have. I think its important this time of the year when you get into late August and early September that you are in the mix in terms of playoff conversation amongst the media, with the national pundits, and the local ones as well. I think weve reached that level. Obviously, we are trying to get to the next level. I have confidence that well be able to do that. I have faith in Smitty and faith in Thomas and faith in all of our coaches. I really do."
Source: The Redzone
Attached Thumbnails
Original Story:
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September 07, 2012
