The Atlanta Falcons have taken a page from George McFly. 

They’re just not sure they can take the rejection.

How else can anyone explain the decision to offer the head-coaching job to Jags defensive coordinator Mike Smith before getting a shot at talking to Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo?  With Bobby Petrino, Bill Parcells, and Jason Garrett each telling the Falcons to get their beaks bent in the past six weeks, the Falcons apparently opted not to set themselves up for yet another “no thanks,” this time from Spagnuolo.

Smith, to our recollection, had not previously been a candidate for any NFL head-coaching gig, and the only team that interviewed him in the current hiring cycle was Atlanta.  He has been with Jacksonville since 2003, and he previously spent four seasons with the Ravens.  Prior to that, he had been in the college ranks from 1982 through 1998.

The fact that the Ravens, who had Smith in the building for four years, didn’t give him a sniff for their own vacancy should have sent up a red flag for the Falcons.  Not to mention that ill-fated decision to play the Pats deep — and invite a slow death at the hands of Tom Brady in the divisional round.