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NFL

For Falcons, lost playbook now a laughing matter

HOUSTON — Falcons coach Dan Quinn and quarterback Matt Ryan had fun Tuesday with offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, who had his backpack and playbook mistakenly taken by a reporter during media night Monday.

A frustrated Shanahan eventually recovered his belongings without issue. But the mere thought of losing something so valuable just days before Super Bowl LI against the New England Patriots made the situation that much more tense.

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Quinn didn’t ease off Tuesday, chiming in with a light-hearted response when asked about the incident.

“Well, it would appear that was one of the oldest tricks in the book, you know, to leave a fake game plan behind,” Quinn said with a smile. “So I’m glad that you guys picked up on that.”

Fortunately for the Falcons, any concerns were addressed before the team left Minute Maid Park following the media session.

“Honestly, everything was fine,” Quinn said. “It was resolved rather quickly.”

Ryan was asked if Shanahan should be subject to a fine for the mishap.

“I don’t know if we’ll fine him,” Ryan said, “but we’ll have some fun with it.”

NFL

Falcons' Jones, Mack limited, to ramp up reps

HOUSTON — Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones and center Alex Mack were limited at practice Monday, but they will see increased action as the week progresses toward Sunday’s Super Bowl LI matchup with the New England Patriots, coach Dan Quinn said.

Jones continues to recover from a toe sprain, which he suffered in a Dec. 4 loss to Kansas City. Mack injured his left fibula in the Falcons’ 44-21 win over Green Bay in the NFC Championship Game. Mack didn’t practice last week, and Jones was held out before returning to limited action Friday.

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“Both of them were limited yesterday,” Quinn said Tuesday. “Julio looked great. So for him to get rolling, just like he did right off the bat, you could feel his intent. You could feel the energy he did.

“For Alex, it was equally as important for him to get moving and to feel that he could participate like he could, and felt comfortable. Both of them will ramp up their work over the next two days, on Wednesday and Thursday specifically. But I was encouraged by both of them on the first day of the week for us.”

Jones has played through injuries all season and missed two regular-season games because of the sprained toe. Mack has not missed a start, but he didn’t finish the NFC title game; Ben Garland played the final series.

The Falcons have Tuesday off before returning to practice at Rice University. They’ll have closed practices Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

NFL

Bills will not keep female assistant coach Smith

The Buffalo Bills will not retain assistant coach Kathryn Smith for the upcoming season under new coach Sean McDermott, the team announced Tuesday.

Smith became the first woman in NFL history to serve as a full-time coach when former Bills coach Rex Ryan hired her to a special-teams quality control role in January 2015.

The Buffalo Bills have decided not to retain assistant coach Kathryn Smith, the first woman in NFL history to serve as a full-time coach. Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images

Upon being hired to replace Ryan last month, McDermott announced he would retain special-teams coordinator Danny Crossman from Ryan’s coaching staff. It is unclear whether Smith, who helped Crossman coach the Bills’ special-teams units last season, was interested in returning to the same role as part of McDermott’s staff.

Smith’s hiring last year drew national attention and praise from several politicians and prominent women’s groups. Smith was also invited to the White House last May for a Women’s History Month reception.

Asked last June if there was “something” to breaking the NFL’s gender barrier, Smith said, “I suppose, yes, there is. But that’s not what really what I’m focused on. So yes, I suppose it is, but again, it’s an honor. I recognize that, and I recognize the honor. I’m just trying to help the team and be the best coach I can, so that’s what I’m focused on.”

In her entry-level position last season, Smith broke down game film of past and future opponents, helped assemble special-teams game plans and assisted Crossman in coaching those units during practices and games.

Smith served as Ryan’s administrative assistant in 2014 with the New York Jets and in 2015 after Ryan was hired by the Bills. She joined the Jets in 2003 as a game-day/special events intern before being named a college scouting intern in 2005 and a player personnel assistant in 2007.

After Smith impressed Ryan by diagramming a blitz scheme that was discussed in a Jets coaches’ meeting in 2014, Ryan began exposing Smith to coaching and eventually hired her to a full-time quality-control role last year.

NFL

Patriots CB Malcolm Butler: I'll always keep Super Bowl MVP truck

HOUSTON — New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has the MVP trophy from Super Bowl XLIX, but cornerback Malcolm Butler proudly still drives the truck that Brady gave him. Two years later, Brady is still waiting to ride shotgun.

“I keep telling him to give me a ride, but he never does that,” Brady joked Monday night.

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For Butler, who returns to the Super Bowl as the Patriots’ No. 1 cornerback two years after he was fifth on the depth chart in the 2015 game against the Seattle Seahawks, the truck isn’t his primary vehicle, but he makes sure to “put a couple of miles on it here and there so the oil and all won’t rust up.”

“It means a lot. I will always and forever have that truck,” Butler said at Super Bowl LI Opening Night festivities. “I’ll never give it away. I’ll never sell it. I’m going to always keep it. That’s a gift. That’s a special gift. That’s a trophy to me. So I’ll always keep that. I’ll always have that.”

Revisiting his decision to give the truck to Butler, who had picked off Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson at the goal line in the closing seconds to seal a 28-24 win, Brady lit up with a big smile.

“He earned it, and he deserved it. Without Malcolm, we don’t win that game. I love Malcolm. I joke with him all the time, but I just say, ‘Thank God for Malcolm Butler.’ He saved the game for us,” Brady said.

“It was just an incredible play, I think one of the greatest plays in the history of the NFL, for him to be able to recognize that. No one really knew who Malcolm Butler really was at that time. I had, because I had gone against him in practice so much. For him to recognize that and pull the trigger at the biggest moment of his career and make the play, in the Super Bowl against one of the best teams that has ever played in the Super Bowl in the Seahawks, that was incredible. So he deserved it, and I was happy to do it.”

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