Mora awaits discipline for fit

Published 12:00 am Thursday, December 29, 2005

ATLANTA (AP) — Falcons general manager Rich McKay said Sunday it’s too early to tell if the team will discipline coach Jim Mora for his antics following the team’s overtime loss at Tampa Bay.

The 27-24 defeat on Saturday eliminated Atlanta from playoff contention. After the game, in his regularly scheduled postgame chat with radio flagship analyst Dave Archer, Mora was asked to explain why the Falcons punted from their 24 when facing fourth-and-2 with 1:08 remaining in overtime.

Even though Michael Koenen’s punt went 53 yards, Mark Jones’ 28-yard return put the Buccaneers in position to win the game on Matt Bryant’s field goal five plays later.

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According to several team and radio station employees, Mora abruptly removed his headset after hearing Archer’s question and threw it to the ground.

Three team employees and two with the radio station, all of whom requested anonymity because they said they feared alienating the coach, said Mora was so angry that he also threw a microphone — which almost hit Nicole Watson, a sideline reporter with the radio station, in the head.