Falcons TWESTOTE of the Day: Smitty to the Rescue!

Draft has come and gone. Free agency is nowhere in sight. Roddy's recent tweets aren't all that controversial. And just when I think Mike Smith can't rise above his Vishnu-like status, the Associated Press gives us a reason to appreciate him even more.

During the brief lifting of the NFL lockout, Atlanta Falcons linebacker Coy Wire got plenty of encouragement from coach Mike Smith.

Wire also heard plenty of frustration in Smith's voice, but their phone conversation inspired the Falcons' representative to the NFL Players Association to provide some unity for his teammates.

"He was highly upset by the whole situation because he wants to take this organization places and he's handcuffed right now like we all are," Wire said Monday. "He was highly aggravated that if a lockout was implemented again that we wouldn't be able to find a way to meet as a team."

Like a lieutenant taking orders from his general, Wire's hard at work wrangling the troops.

Once the lockout began over nine weeks ago, Wire started organizing workouts overseen by his trainer, Jim Launer of Ignite sports training, and held 30 minutes west of the Falcons' complex at High Intensity Training Center. Launer runs two 90-minute shifts four mornings week, and as many as 25 players report each day.

It seems like Smitty is more-than-a-little irked by the lockout, which is totally understandable. His team is on the verge of greatness and THE MAN is trying to hold them down. I'm not convinced that was the first time he's talked to any of the players though. He just doesn't seem like that much of a rule follower, and I'm sure other head coaches are doing the same. But you can't blame him for not publicizing it, since his boss is technically on the other side of the aisle.

Discuss!