Mike Smith was embarrassed to fall into his own trap, but the third-year Atlanta Falcons head coach recovered quickly when he recognized a ready-made scapegoat to pay the $200 fine he'd set for anyone texting during a team meeting.
The Falcons are counting on LB Sean Weatherspoon, a first-round pick, for immediate impact this season.
"When we signed (first-round rookie linebacker) Sean Weatherspoon, I got a text, and when I looked at my cell, the players fined me $200," Smith says.
Ever-resourceful Smith had a plan for how to pay the penalty while saving face. Consider it Smith's version of rookie hazing.
"When Sean signed his deal, I told him at the press conference, 'You owe me $200,' " Smith says.
"The next day there was $200 in cash -- $100 and five $20 bills on my desk with a note that said, 'I got you covered, coach.' "
Based on the raves he's drawn from the likes of 10-time Pro Bowl tight end Tony Gonzalez and third-year quarterback Matt Ryan, Weatherspoon is the Falcons' un-rookie. His veteran teammates love the bravado and playmaking the 19th overall selection out of Missouri has instilled into the team, whether lining up on the strong side, weak side or in nickel coverage. Weatherspoon's speed, range and passion have added what Gonzalez calls a needed swagger to a 21st-ranked defense.
Word at the Senior Bowl was that Weatherspoon ran his mouth as fast as he tracked down ballcarriers with 4.6-second speed over 40 yards. Some personnel evaluators were turned off. Not Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff.
"There was a lot of talk about Sean being overly loud," Dimitroff says. "We talked about being more urgent and faster as a defense. We want guys who have that evolving swagger.
"Spoon adds an element we didn't have last year."
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SOURCE: USA Today
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