Falcons' Smith after Jones deal: 'I don't worry about players' I didn't coach

Arthur Smith is focusing on the players currently on his roster ahead of the head coach's first campaign leading the Atlanta Falcons.

Smith says Atlanta's blockbuster deal that sent Julio Jones to the Tennessee Titans isn't on his mind moving forward.

"I don't worry about players I never coached," Smith told reporters, including NFL Network's Michael Giardi.

"... We got a lot of respect and appreciation for what (Jones) did here," He continued. (We) wish him well in (Tennessee), but my main concern is our roster and getting ready for this fall."

The Falcons fired former head coach Dan Quinn after an 0-5 start in 2020, a campaign that ended with a disappointing 4-12 record. Smith was hired this offseason following a successful stint as the Titans' offensive coordinator.

With major changes on both sides of the ball, the first-year coach is taking a thorough approach with a rebuilding team.

"We're still in the teaching, learning, and development stage of the offseason," Smith said, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "We've got certain players (who) may be out there and may not because there are different phases of the offseason program.

"But really our objective is to keep continuing to attack this playbook, get used to each other in communication, and ultimately get ready to go when training camp starts."