ekansekans's blog: "df"

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- A slip of the tongue gave away Atlanta coach Mike Smiths focus. Smith was just starting his review Monday of the Falcons 30-28 win over the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC divisional playoffs when it became clear his thoughts were on this weeks NFC championship game against the San Francisco 49ers. "We knew the San Francisco Forty ... excuse me, the Seattle Seahawks, were a very good football team and they showed a lot of resiliency," Smith said before smiling after catching his verbal miscue. "We were very fortunate to make the plays there at the end of the game and get the win," he said. The win over Seattle Sunday was the first for Smith and quarterback Matt Ryan in four post-season games with Atlanta. There was much talk after the game that the long-awaited first playoff win was the most important for the Falcons and would allow Ryan and other players to relax. Smith shot down both theories. "I dont think well be able to play looser," Smith said. "I think weve got to get back into our preparation mode. I know many people have talked about the outcome and what does it mean to the Atlanta Falcons. It means we have an opportunity to play again and in the playoffs you want to keep playing. I think our guys understand the challenge this week is going to be big." The Falcons are the top seed in the NFC playoffs for the second time in three seasons. Atlanta lost at home to Green Bay as the top seed following the 2010 regular season and then lost in the first round at the New York Giants last year. Ryan and the Falcons built leads of 20-0 and 27-7 against Seattle before falling behind 28-27 with 31 seconds remaining. Then Ryan completed passes to Harry Douglas, for 22 yards, and Tony Gonzalez, for 19 yards, to set up Matt Bryants go-ahead 49-yard field goal with 13 seconds remaining. Smith said it was a "fun" win for the team and the city of Atlanta, but he said it didnt mean the Falcons have realized their goals. "Our goals and our expectations are a lot higher than just winning one playoff game," he said. The Falcons will be home again for Sundays NFC championship game as they look to advance to the Super Bowl for the second time in franchise history. The 1998 season ended with a Super Bowl loss to the Denver Broncos. Ryan and some of his teammates acknowledged they are glad there will be no more questions about not winning a post-season game. "But at the same time, our goal is not to win one playoff game," Ryan said. "Our goal isnt to stop answering that question. "Our goals are still in front of us. We still have two more games to go. Thats the mind-set I have. Thats the mind-set this team has." Asked if the monkey is off the teams back, linebacker Sean Weatherspoon said "maybe a little bit" before also saying the team had bigger goals. "The outsiders said we cant win in the playoffs, now they have to come up with other things to say," Weatherspoon said. "Our goal is to get the next win and then the next one after that." Smith said he didnt sleep well Sunday night, but not because of a big celebration. "No, not celebrating," he said. "For everybody involved, that was a fun football game and its hard to unwind from fun football games. I think for everybody at least here in Atlanta it certainly was. Then I got going this morning on San Francisco." There may be little sleep for Smiths defensive coaches this week as the Falcons prepare a plan to contain 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Kaepernick passed for 263 yards and rushed for 181 yards -- a playoff record for a quarterback -- in San Franciscos 45-31 win over Green Bay on Saturday. The Falcons couldnt stop Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson, who had seven carries for 60 yards and a touchdown while passing for 385 yards and two touchdowns. Smith said the 6-foot-5 Kaepernick is "probably between Russell" and Carolina quarterback Cam Newton, who also had success against the Falcons this season. Newton ran for 116 yards, including a 72-yard touchdown run, while passing for 287 yards and two touchdowns in the Panthers 30-20 home win over the Falcons on Dec. 9. Newton ran for 87 yards with a touchdown and passed for 215 yards with two touchdowns in the Falcons 30-28 win over Carolina on Sept. 30. Wilson had only 26 yards rushing in the first half as the Seahawks were held scoreless. The rookie quarterback gained momentum after Falcons defensive end John Abraham aggravated his left ankle injury midway through the second quarter. Abraham did not play in the second half. Smith said he expects Abraham to be back in practice "before the end of the week." NEW YORK -- Outfielder Marlon Byrd was suspended 50 games by Major League Baseball on Monday after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance. Major League Baseball said the 34-year-old Byrd tested positive for Tamoxifen, which can reduce side effects of steroid use and increase testosterone. It is often used to treat breast cancer patients. "I made an inexcusable mistake," Byrd said in a statement released by the players association. "Several years ago, I had surgery for a condition that was private and unrelated to baseball. Last winter, I suffered a recurrence of that condition and I was provided with a medication that resulted in my positive test. Although that medication is on the banned list, I absolutely did not use it for performance enhancement reasons." Byrd is currently a free agent, and will be placed on the restricted list for the duration of his suspension, which began immediately. He started the season with the Cubs and was dealt to the Red Sox on April 21. He was designated for assignment by Boston on June 9 and released four days later. "I am mortified by my carelessness and I apologize to everyone who loves this game as I do," Byrd said. "I will serve my suspension, continue to work hard and hope that I am given an opportunity to help a Club win later this season." In 2009, Byrd said he was using supplements provided by SNAC System, a company founded by Victor Conte, who also was the founder of the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative. BALCO was at the centre of a wide-ranging scandal involving performance-enhancing drugs that envveloped several top-level athletes, including Marion Jones, Tim Montgomery and Barry Bonds.dddddddddddd Conte pleaded guilty to steroid distribution in July 2005 and served four months in jail. Byrd said the supplements were all OK to use under MLB rules. He had never before been suspended for failing an PED test. "Any nutritional supplements I ever provided to Marlon Byrd were legal products that contained no banned substances," Conte wrote on Twitter. "I provided Marlon Byrd with nutritional and training advice which had nothing whatsoever to do with any type of prohibited substances." In an email to The Associated Press, Conte said he still supports Byrd. "Marlon Byrd is a terrific person and did not use a drug to cheat," Conte said in his email. "Look at his numbers this season, the worst of his career. Traded and then cut. I was not aware of his medical condition. Marlon is my friend and I will always have his back." Byrd hit .210 in 47 games with the two teams, though he hit .270 with a homer and seven RBIs in 34 games with Boston. The Red Sox picked him up when they had a shortage in the outfield after a rash of injuries. "He played here and he played well," Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine said. "I had no indication or I dont think anyone did." The 34-year-old Byrd has played for five teams in 11 major league seasons and is a career .278 hitter. Byrd finished fourth in the National League Rookie of the Year voting in 2003 with the Phillies and was a National League All-Star with the Cubs in 2010. ' ' '