Arthur Smith Savagely Rips Kurt Warner; Atlanta Falcons Coach Cross The Line?

Arthur Smith Savagely Rips Kurt Warner; Atlanta Falcons Coach Cross The Line?

In fairness to the way Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner does his job as a film-breakdown analyst, he does a fine job of not "making it personal."

But Atlanta Falcons coach Arthur Smith has nevertheless taken Warner's criticisms of the Atlanta offense very personally ... as evidenced by the coach's savage - and arguably crossing-the-line response - absolutely personally.

Smith, in a Friday diatribe, first insisted he doesn't "give a rat's ...," stopping himself short before starting again, accusing Warner of being guilty of issuing a "hot take" and then sarcastically saying, "Maybe he can solve some of the world's problems, too."

Warner, in his work at NFL Network, has built a reputation as a fair-minded reviewer of offenses. He does some of that here regarding the Atlanta approach, and there is nothing especially mean-spirited about it. ... causing us to suggest that Smith's reaction is grossly overzealous.

Two most troubling takes from the coach: "I think sometimes people get a microphone and the further they are away (from the game), they feel they know everything. Maybe he can solve some of the world’s problems, too.”

That level of snark seems undue here - and we think we'd be hard-pressed to find many of Smith's peers who find Warner to be out of touch. Warner was a two-time NFL MVP, won a Super Bowl and played 14 years in the league ... most recently in 2009; that's hardly a "bye-gone era."

Warner, by the way, is 52. Smith is 41. So there is hardly a "generation gap" here.

Vikings vs. Falcons Game Preview: Taylor Heinicke Time

Smith's Falcons are 4-4 as they prep to play the Vikings in NFL Week 9, and he has them in line to contend to win the NFC South. But that shouldn't shield him from criticism as he makes a controversial change at quarterback (from Desmond Ridder to Taylor Heinicke) while sometimes struggling to get top-notch production from young stars like Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and Bijan Robinson ... and we find it striking that Smith would offer up such a thin-skinned attack on anyone who dare ponder that.

Also striking, frankly, is Smith's tone-deaf mention of Warner's salary. "I'm sure he gets paid lots of money (for his opinions," Smith said.

This comment is a violation of an NFL code; have you noticed how rare it is that dignified critics of Smith mention his status as the son of the billionaire? Why, therefore, would Smith so foolishly open the salary can of worms, especially in targeting a player who famously fought his way into football while working as a bagger at a grocery store?

“The Bagger” Vs. “The Billionaire.” Why would Smith pick that fight?

At one point, Smith said that Warner is "welcome to come down here to our meetings. I would actually embrace that."

We assume that Smith is once again being sarcastic and dismissive, and that's too bad. Smith would in fact be wise to exchange notes on the criticisms from Warner.

And while he's at it? Arthur Smith would be wise to also offer an apology to Kurt Warner.