The New York Times-20080124-Jaguars Assistant Hired As Coach of the Falcons

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Jaguars Assistant Hired As Coach of the Falcons

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The Atlanta Falcons hired Mike Smith, who spent the past five seasons as the Jacksonville Jaguars' defensive coordinator, as their coach Wednesday.

Mike possesses all of the key qualities we were looking for in a head coach, said General Manager Thomas Dimitroff, in his first month on the job.

Dimitroff said the 48-year-old Smith, a 26-year coaching veteran but never a head coach, has strong experience with winning teams, a track record of success, a solid, smart approach to the game, and high character and integrity.

The Giants' defensive coordinator, Steve Spagnuolo, was considered a candidate for the job, but he was not available to be interviewed until after the Super Bowl on Feb. 3.

The Falcons and Dimitroff interviewed six other candidates, most of them with defensive backgrounds, to replace Bobby Petrino, who left after 13 games in his first season to coach Arkansas. The Falcons were 3-10 under Petrino, and 4-12 over all.

RAVENS ADD CAMERON Cam Cameron was hired as the Baltimore Ravens' offensive coordinator, the latest offensive expert to take a shot at jump-starting a sluggish attack. Cameron, 46, was fired as the Dolphins' coach after going 1-15, his victory coming at the expense of the Ravens.

Cameron is the first assistant to join the staff of the new coach John Harbaugh. Cameron was the San Diego Chargers' offensive coordinator for five seasons before his one-year stint in Miami. In 2006, the Chargers led the league with 492 points.

RIVERS HAS SURGERY Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers had surgery to repair the torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. He will rehabilitate his knee for up to six months.

Rivers was injured in a victory over Indianapolis in the divisional playoffs, but he was able to play Sunday in the Chargers' loss to New England in the American Football Conference title game. Rivers said Monday that he had arthroscopic surgery a day after the Indianapolis game to clean out damaged cartilage.

TWO NO. 21'SSean Taylor, the first player voted posthumously to the Pro Bowl, will have his jersey number worn at the game by two of his former Washington Redskins teammates. The N.F.L. announced that tight end Chris Cooley and tackle Chris Samuels would wear No. 21 at the game Feb. 10.

Cooley usually wears No. 47, and Samuels's regular number is 60.

DALLAS TO DOLPHINS The new Miami coach Tony Sparano hired three assistants from his previous team, the Cowboys.

Joining Miami were Paul Pasqualoni as the defensive coordinator, Todd Bowles as the assistant head coach and secondary coach, and Kacy Rodgers as the defensive line coach.

PROTECTION FOR STEELER Pittsburgh receiver Cedrick Wilson has obtained a protection-from-abuse order against his girlfriend, who is charged with firing two shots in his western Pennsylvania home, a team spokesman said.

The girlfriend, Lindsey Paulat, 26, is charged with aggravated assault and reckless endangerment in the incident Saturday. She remained in custody Wednesday.

AROUND THE LEAGUE The former Mississippi coach Ed Orgeron is joining the New Orleans Saints as the defensive line coach. ... The Chargers hired Charlie Joiner, the team's career receiving leader, to be the team's receivers coach, replacing James Lofton, who was fired Tuesday. ... The former Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Rien Long has improved to stable condition after he crashed his sports car into a rock wall right before midnight Monday.