Mike Smith, who's had a winning season in each of his three years as Falcons coach and has taken Atlanta to the playoffs twice, signed a three-year contract extension, the team announced Thursday. Smith had one year remaining on his original four-year contract that averaged $2.2 million a season. The new deal is expected to provide a hefty pay increase, although the team did not disclose financial details. "We are pleased to extend Smitty's contract, and we are very proud of the way he represents the Falcons through his coaching of our players, in supporting our club's business goals, and through his caring for our fans and the community," Falcons owner Arthur Blank said in a statement announcing Smith's deal. Smith was The Associated Press Coach of the Year following an 11-5 season in 2008. When he led the Falcons to a 9-7 mark in 2009 it marked the first consecutive winning years in franchise history. Read more: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=6086152
