One of the most viral moments of week 18 was the on-field confrontation between Arthur Smith and Dennis Allen following the Saints’ victory over Atlanta. It was a lopsided win for New Orleans and Smith seemed to take issue with the fact that they were running up the score, especially on their final offensive possession. With a 41-17 lead and just 1:10 on the clock, Jamaal Williams rushed into the end zone from the one-yard line instead of the unit just kneeling and missing the time.
This caused Smith to attack Allen on the field immediately after the game, but it appears Allen’s players went rogue with the play call. Allen apologized during his press conference d ‘ postgame and noted that they were expected to run out of time. Backup quarterback Jameis Winston, who was at the center of the play in question, told reporters that the play was a “win” and that they should kneel, but the players decided to blush and give up the touchdown in Williams.
“Well, I apologize to DA because the game was a win, but I also explained to DA that it was a team decision,” Winston said via the New York Post. “I asked the guys, I said, ‘What do you want to do?’ We know how much Jamaal means to this team. And I understood DA’s point of view, so I give him that, but DA didn’t tolerate this at all. However, we decided as a team to do.
Winston added that he has respect for Smith and that the intention behind the decision was to elevate the Saints more than to rub defeat in the Falcons’ noses.
“The score was already 41-17, so I don’t know how much worse it can get, but I have a ton of respect for Arthur Smith and the coach that he is,” Winston continued. “I didn’t mean to be disrespectful. [Smith]. It was not my intention. My intention was to lead the team I’ve been with all year and we made a collective decision to put one of our guys they fight with – blood, sweat and tears , every game – in the end zone. I’m going to feel good about it.”
In the hours following that game, the Falcons fired Smith after a 7-10 season that failed to result in a playoff berth. As for the Saints, Allen currently remains head coach after a 9-8 campaign, but the team also failed to qualify for the playoffs and is acting like Winston’s and Sunday’s successful offense raises the question of know how much influence he has on the list.
