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years on his contract. Smith took over for the Atlanta Falcons at a time when they were a complete wreck. They had just lost Michael Vick in one of the worst public relations nightmares a franchise could have. They were without a quarterback and even though Bobby Petrino had just got there, he quit with two games left in the season to go to Arkansas. This had to be the most disgusting act in the history of head coaching.

So taking the job didn’t mean a lot of promise for Mike Smith. He was walking into what could have easily felt like an unwinnable situation, but he ended up getting the right pieces in place. He got himself a great running back in Michael Turner and found himself getting Matt Ryan in the draft.

He was able to bring the Falcons all the way to the one seed in the playoffs this year. While they got manhandled by the Green Bay Packers in the second round they did gain valuable experience that should help them in the end.

This just makes Smith another name in the pool of talented young head coaches that are populating the NFL. This is a new movement that should make for a very long list of names that will be in the NFL for years to come.

Smith should be part of the Falcons future for quite a few years. It’s important that the Falcons locked him up. Giving him an extension was such an easy choice. Now, there were only be one thing he needs to make his career in coaching take another step. That thing is a Super Bowl ring.

The Dallas Cowboys, who are on schedule to debut their new stadium in week 2 of this season, are still looking for a partner to purchase the naming rights to the new building.

Michael Vick, who is due to be released to a halfway house in the near future, has signed an agreement to work exclusively with defense attorney Daniel Meachum. The Atlanta Journal Constitution also noted that Vick wrote a book while in prison, though does not yet have a publisher.

Former Steeler and Hall of Fame receiver John Stallworth was added to a group of investors that will help Steelers owner Dan Rooney to acquire ownership shares from his brothers.

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