NFL NOTEBOOK
Falcons Hire Jaguars' Smith To Be Coach
Miami Dolphins coach Cam Cameron reacts after the Buffalo Bills won a challenge that overturned a fumble call during the first quarter of an NFL football game at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y., in this Dec. 9, 2007 file photo. Cameron, who was fired by the Dolphins on Jan . 3 after a 1-15 season, was hired Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2008 as offensive coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens. (AP Photo/David Duprey, File)
(David Duprey - Associated Press)
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Thursday, January 24, 2008; Page E09
The Atlanta Falcons have hired Jacksonville Jaguars defensive coordinator Mike Smith as their head coach.
Smith was the Falcons' choice from among a group of finalists that also included fellow defensive coordinators Leslie Frazier of the Minnesota Vikings, Steve Spagnuolo of the New York Giants and Rex Ryan of the Baltimore Ravens. The Falcons announced the hiring last night after completing a contract with Smith, who is to be formally introduced at a news conference today.
"Mike possesses all of the key qualities we were looking for in a head coach," Falcons General Manager Tom Dimitroff said in a written statement released by the team.
Smith, 48, has been the Jaguars' defensive coordinator for the past five seasons. He spent four seasons before that as an assistant with the Baltimore Ravens, coaching first the defensive line and then linebackers. He played linebacker for a season in the Canadian Football League and then began his coaching career as a part-time assistant at San Diego State in 1982 working alongside fellow assistant Brian Billick, who eventually brought him to the NFL with the Ravens.
Ravens Turn to Cameron
Cam Cameron was named offensive coordinator of the Ravens, and will try to revitalize an offense that has consistently ranked in the bottom half of the NFL. The former Miami Dolphins coach is the first hire by new Ravens coach John Harbaugh.
Cameron had great success as San Diego's offensive coordinator for five seasons (2002-06) -- the Chargers finished in the league's top five in scoring three years in a row -- and is known for developing quarterbacks. He was fired by the Dolphins earlier this month following a 1-15 record in his only season as head coach, the one win coming against the Ravens.
"I'm excited to be part of this team," Cameron said during a conference call. "Everyone gets stung occasionally in life, and I think it's good to learn from it. You get back up, you move forward. I'm excited about moving forward."
Cameron, who spent two years as the Washington Redskins' quarterbacks coach, said that he will handle play-calling duties for Baltimore.
Around the League
San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers had surgery on his torn right anterior cruciate ligament. He faces as much as six months of rehabilitation. . . . The Tampa Bay Buccaneers scheduled a news conference for today at which fullback Mike Alstott is expected to announce his retirement. . . . Green Bay tackle Chad Clifton was added to the NFC's Pro Bowl team as a replacement for Seattle's Walter Jones.
