On Sunday, a sideline altercation between Redskins cornerback DeAngelo Hall and Falcons coach Mike Smith provoked some public whining from Hall.
Review of the video suggests that DeAngelo actually has a point. Though Smith didn't go Woody Hayes on Hall, the second-year head coach was engaged in conduct that we believe doesn't reflect the expectations the league has established for the guys who call the shots on the sidelines.
For now, however, the league is keeping quiet on the issue. NFL spokesman Greg Aiello tells us that no decisions or developments will be occurring today. Actually, it's unclear whether the league is even taking a look at this one.
But the league should. Otherwise, the perception of a double standard between players and coaches will only spread.
League mum on Mike Smith
Posted by Mike Florio on November 9, 2009 12:54 PM ET
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First time Atlanta fans ever saw DeAngelo get physical with anyone.
Here is an idea, Deangelo Hall went into the group of Falcons and ran his mouth. Now I have no idea what he said nor do I care but knowing his past he was most likely running his mouth. He was then surrounded by the entire Falcons team so Mike Smith was obviously ticked off that this arrogant douche game onto his sideline and started popping off. Smith then went over, grabbed hall and tried to pull him out of the group. Hall then decided to throw a punch like motion towards Smith which is where the altercation took place. Then over rated, out of shape lard a$$ Haynesworth came in and pushed the pile back. Hall and Haynesworth shoould be fined, suspended and kickeout out of the NFL. Scumbags.
I swear, Hall always runs his mouth after games where he's even more of an embarrassment on the field than usual in order to distract attention away from his "abilities."
He had an attempt at a tackle yesterday that made his effort against Delhomme a couple weeks back look like a Ronnie Lott brain crushing classic.
I can't even apply the word "tackle" to it in any form without doing violence to the word.
That being said, I think Smith way have gone a wee bit far.
The announcers seemed to have miss in the game that the Falcons thought DeAngelo hit the quarterback late out of bounds and it appeared Mike Smith was surprised(lip reading says "it wasn't him?") to find out it wasn't DeAngelo that hit his QB.
Hall is a punk and got what he deserved. The 53 men on the Falcons roster under Smitty are playing a hell of a lot harder than the 52 bums that Hall is playing with in DC. I am glad the Falcons got that second round pick for Hall.
¡Mike Smith, Bumaye!
I wonder if BSPN will look into Mike Smith's past to see if they can find him hitting someone 20 years ago. :)
The only League response should be "Mr. Hall, grow up."
This one warrants a big old Chad OchoCinco style "Child, please."
DeAngelo knows the opposing team's sideline is off limits, yet felt it necessary to provoke the Falcons because he's just that kind of guy. I love how he's now the victim of something he instigated.
He seems to forget that he tried to take a couple of swings at Mike Smith. You stay classy, DeAngelo Hall.
will only spread...
By idiots such as yourself. Hall had no business being on the Falcons sideline...
Hall should get fined for impersonating a CB... Fool was directly responsible for both of Turners TD's... LOL
Smith was trying to pull MeAngelo's dumb ass back onto the field where it belonged. MeAngelo then turned and pushed Smith. Of course he complained, that's what he does.
Maybe the league should look into why Hall was over there in the first place. He wasn't involved in the play, it was Landry that applied the late hit. Hall shouldn't have been on the Falcons sideline in the first place.
Let's just call it Karma and be done with it...
Let's just call it Karma and be done with it...
Mike Smith did absolutely NOTHING wrong.
When an opposing player comes into the sanctity of the other team, for no other reason than to start trouble, the coach, team security et al, almost has an obligation to protect his players.
But the league should. Otherwise, the perception of a double standard between players and coaches will only spread.
I think everyone would accept an exemption to the rules for this douche-a-bag.
Okay... so I've seen the video three times now... I'm not sure what Mike Smith did other than run his mouth. No harm there. But that bald coach on the Falcons sideline. He was the instigator there.
DeAngelo Hall came in running in mouth... he's DeAngelo Hall, of course he ran his mouth, you just roll your eyes and move on you don't engage that idiot.
But that bald coach on the sideline... he grabs Hall, actually prevents Hall from retreating. Definately over the line.
Landry and Haynesworth were more wrong than the mouthy idiot Hall.
Mr. Florio, it seems that between your posts from yesterday and today about this issue, you are suggesting that Coach Smith is actually culpable or guilty of some wrongdoing.
You should look at what your fellow writers' opinions are before you continue with that stance:
http://blogs.ajc.com/jeff-schultz-blog/2009/11/09/deangelo-hall-gets-pounded-in-court-of-public-opinion-duh/
So I just wrote that Smith did nothing wrong.
But then there is definitely Smith's elbow that is moved in the vacinity of Halls head. I can't see what was going on with Halls hands... but You can definitely see Smith's elbow right before Justin Peele hauls him away.
Landry and Ryan were walking away from the sideline as Meangelo went in to start "intervening". Hall had no business being near our bench. To even remotely side with Hall on this is absurd. He knew exactly why he went over there and it wasn't for a nostalgic reunion.
DeAngelo Hall goes to the Falcons' sidelines and starts a whole melee by running his mouth and Mike Smith is the one presumably in trouble? That's doesn't make much sense.
DeAngelo Hall is overrated and needs to stop whining like a little schoolgirl.
Paulitik... "our bench" are you a player or support person?
So what you are saying is that Hall had no business near the bench... anything that happens to him is fair game?
So the bald coach that put both his hands on Hall was justified ... So Smith swinging his elbow toward Hall's facemask is justified?
If a foreign player comes to a sideline than a coach can attack him. This is your position?
Landry's hit was late, and pretty cheap. But he got up, gave Ryan a slap on the shoulder pads as in, "sorry, that was a bit late" and then Landry got out of there and ran back to the field. That should have been the end of it! But no, D. Hall had to run into the midst of the Falcon team bench area and start screaming crap. Of course that is going to bring a reaction. Then just when things were moving in the direction of getting under control, in comes Haynesworth pushing and shoving.
Smith will probably get a quiet fine from the league, Landry will get the required $5,000 for his hit, but Hall and Haynesworth should both get big fines for starting trouble and/or keeping it going.
Been busting Jerry Jones and his mega-scoreboard but maybe he put it up so that when chuckle-heads like Hall get to running their mouths, everyone can just point up.
The NFL has a law of physics where the Amount of Mouth Running is Inversely Proportional to the Player's Ability and Team's Record.
You know what, at NO POINT did MeAngelo ever need to step onto the Falcons sideline. Laundry (who for the first time in the game actually tried to hit someone--albeit a cheap shot, per his "dirty laundry" custom) was already heading back to the field.
This is why the NBA has the rule about players leaving the bench. Do you think Hall went over there and said "Excuse me gentlemen, just looking for my teammate. Pardon me. Coming through..."?
It's like a burglar who breaks into somebody's house and calls the cops after he gets his ass beat by the homeowner.
If you want your comment to have any substance, why don't you go find out who the "bald coach" is!
Then you might know IF he has a history with Hall or not.
No one has mentioned the fact that Hall claims the Smith/Demitroff (sp) regime lied to him about giving him a new contract then turning around a releasing him.
Hall has a multi-leveled bug up is butt for the Falcons as the first team to say "your crap is not worth your alleged skills."
There are many factors in this incident that make it very clear what occurred.
A fairly honest look at the events and with photos. As bad as this incident looked for Hall, it says a lot more about the ATL.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dcsportsbog/2009/11/inside_the_sideline_melee.html#more
Hotchick. I've kind of got to reject the idea that it is okay for a coach to put his hands on an opposing player and hold him there. Any history or bad blood or whatever the opposing player has to say... none of it justifies the bald guys actions.
Coaches are held to a different standard than players... a higher one. This coach, and it really doesn't matter who he is, was wrong and there really isn't any argument that can be made for him.
By no means am I saying Hall was right. But Hall's an idiot and everyone in the NFL knows that. The real story here is the coaches.
Falcons fans can deflect on the late hit or on Hall's mouth or on Haynesworth coming in after the play (and all that was wrong) but it doesn't take away the actions of the two Falcons coaches. The white haired guy and the bald guy.
I know that as a coach, Mike Smith is considered above reproach. But he clearly threw a bow at Hall. For that Smith, or any other coach who does that, should have his ass kicked.