Atlanta to interview St. Louis defensive coordinator

<p>The St. Louis Rams granted the Atlanta Falcons permission Monday to interview defensive coordinator Lovie Smith.</p><p>Falcons owner Arthur Blank and new general manager Rich McKay refused to say where they were driving Monday night, but the two highest-ranking team officials quickly left team headquarters together in a rental car.</p><p>Smith, whose Rams led the NFL with 46 takeaways and finished fourth with 42 sacks, earned a bye in the first round of the playoffs. The New York Giants plan to interview Smith about their head coaching vacancy on Tuesday.</p><p>The 45-year-old Smith has worked the last three years as St. Louis coordinator. Blank fired Dan Reeves on Dec. 9 after he went 29-49-1 since the start of 1999.</p><p>Besides interviewing interim head coach Wade Phillips, Blank and McKay also plan to interview defensive coordinators Romeo Crennel of New England and Jim Mora of San Francisco, and Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey.</p><p>The Falcons finished 5-11 this season, including a 21-14 victory over Jacksonville on Sunday.</p>