Jones Responds To Smith's Complaints

[Gryphon]

By Scott Crisp

Falcons' head coach Mike Smith caused a mini-stir of sorts on Sunday when, during Fox's telecast, he was seen screaming furiously and incredulously at an official about the sun seeping into the Cowboys Stadium from the visitor's endzone. (Damn you, Helios!)

The complaint, of course, was that the sun was a hindrance to the struggling Falcons. Troy Aikman, during the telecast, said that the stadium had a curtain to remedy such situations, and expressed confusion as to why it wasn't used.

For Jerry Jones, these complaints are about as moving as a damp washcloth. The owner, on 105.3 The Fan this morning, kind predictably said that the sun not only was not a problem, but that its presence was by design.

"Our stadium was built to maximize the sunlight coming into it in every direction, that's the way it was built, that's why it's a three million square foot building, yet the light is terrific in there," Jones said on Tuesday. "So anything we do with curtains has more to do with other events that need to be dark in case you still have the light of the day at a six or seven PM event, but not for football."

Jones went on to assert, in not so many words, that the team didn't have to do a damn thing, if they so chose, downplaying Smith's complaints.


"That's our decision," Jones said. "We had an option that we could have used as home field, but that would've had to be done at the half, so [Smith] was probably asking about that."

 

[Jay]

This whole thing is stupid anyways. Were there complaints when Texas Stadium first opened about the sun with the hole in the roof?

 

[Venger]

If the stadium light is a problem - and it may actually be one for receivers especially - then it is going to bite us in the *** more than anyone else, since we'll be playing in it 8+ times a year. I imagine we'll know quick enough. While I think it looks almost magical (geh!), driving at dusk is a heading into the sun, so imagine tossing into it, or looking into it for a small inflated leather diaphragm hurtling at 50 miles per hour, might be a problem...

 

[Boyzmamacita]

I loved the sun vs. shade at Texas Stadium and I love the way the sun streams in at the new Cowboys Stadium. Is it me or is our stadium the only one that people complain about? The videoboard, the sunlight, the bars that the players walk through. I think it's all great, but opposing teams have voiced displeasure about all of the above.

 

[Jay]

If the stadium light is a problem - and it may actually be one for receivers especially - then it is going to bite us in the *** more than anyone else, since we'll be playing in it 8+ times a year. I imagine we'll know quick enough. While I think it looks almost magical (geh!), driving at dusk is a heading into the sun, so imagine tossing into it, or looking into it for a small inflated leather diaphragm hurtling at 50 miles per hour, might be a problem...

If receivers have an issue, they can tint their visors. Miles Austin also had no problem looking back into the sun to catch his 2nd TD pass on Sunday.

 

[Boyzmamacita]

If the stadium light is a problem - and it may actually be one for receivers especially - then it is going to bite us in the *** more than anyone else, since we'll be playing in it 8+ times a year. I imagine we'll know quick enough. While I think it looks almost magical (geh!), driving at dusk is a sumbich heading into the sun, so imagine tossing into it, or looking into it for a small inflated leather diaphragm hurtling at 50 miles per hour, might be a problem...

If it's a problem, Jerry will drop the curtain in future games. It didn't seem to be a problem against Atlanta. They were getting their butts whipped and their coach was grabbing at straws.

 

[Venger]

I loved the sun vs. shade at Texas Stadium and I love the way the sun streams in at the new Cowboys Stadium. Is it me or is our stadium the only one that people complain about? The videoboard, the sunlight, the bars that the players walk through. I think it's all great, but opposing teams have voiced displeasure about all of the above.

The biggest issue is the light/dark transition. So, remember that Texas Stadium was a hybrid - a semi-open dome. So, you had alot of shade and then alot of light, and it's the transition that is difficult. Other stadiums are either - 1) covered domes, no transition, or 2) open stadiums, no transition.

 

[AMERICAS_FAN]

Smith = Crybaby!

 

[casmith07]

Two coaches have whined about our stadium, and both of their games ended in a whipping.

I wish more would complain.

 

[AMERICAS_FAN]

Hey Smith, here's a new logo for your falcons franchise.

WHAAAA! The Sun got in my eyes! WHAAAA!

The most pathetic excuse for losing that sissies offer after their brains juat got beaten in.

 

[Big Dakota]

Headline: Smith to have emergency balls transplant after his fail.

 

[wileedog]

If the stadium light is a problem - and it may actually be one for receivers especially - then it is going to bite us in the *** more than anyone else, since we'll be playing in it 8+ times a year. I imagine we'll know quick enough. While I think it looks almost magical (geh!), driving at dusk is a heading into the sun, so imagine tossing into it, or looking into it for a small inflated leather diaphragm hurtling at 50 miles per hour, might be a problem...

Over time I think it will be an advantage, as our receivers get used to it, while most teams will only see it once per year.

 

[casmith07]

If receivers have an issue, they can tint their visors. Miles Austin also had no problem looking back into the sun to catch his 2nd TD pass on Sunday.

Exactumundo. Face it, Mike Smith. You got beat, you're 4-2, the season for your Falcons will not hinge on the 6:15PM CST sun streaming through a window at Cowboys Stadium.

And if it does, then there are bigger problems in Atlanta than a little sun.

 

[Venger]

If receivers have an issue, they can tint their visors. Miles Austin also had no problem looking back into the sun to catch his 2nd TD pass on Sunday.

Not that simple really - visors restrict vision and screw up depth perception (which is why alot of hockey players hate them and refuse to use them despite a high velocity frozen puck being rifled around).

Thing of it is, it really doesn't benefit either team - both teams will play into the sun for the same number of quarters. Odds are even.

 

[Sarge]

Ya, that sun caused their offensive line to play like ****.

 

[dbair1967]

He was complaining the most when his team was going into the sun as I recall...

Guess it'd be silly to point out that we scored most of our pts going into that same endzone.

 

[Jay]

Not that simple really - visors restrict vision and screw up depth perception (which is why alot of hockey players hate them and refuse to use them despite a high velocity frozen puck being rifled around).

Thing of it is, it really doesn't benefit either team - both teams will play into the sun for the same number of quarters. Odds are even.

Roy and Crayton both wear visors as is, I think you're making a big deal out of nothing.

 

[Bleu Star]

Mike Smith + Unexpected Loss = Huge week long butthurt

 

[theebs]

Obviously.

this is one of the dumbest things I have ever seen a head coach complain about. he should have been the laughing stock of the league.

is he going to complain about the snow in green bay? The rain in seattle, the wind in ny and chicago?

get a life.

 

[bbgun]

Our own players might start complaining about it, so Jerry better leave himself some wiggle room.