“Life won’t get easier, Matty.”

Head coach of the hated Dixie Chicks, good guy Mike Smith, was quick to praise his newest division rival this morning when Joe asked him about Lovie Smith (no relation).

It seems Atlanta’s head man thinks the Bucs have stepped up their game.

“Lovie is an outstanding football coach. I think his record speaks for itself,” Smith said at the NFL Scouting Combine this morning in Indianapolis.

“I think our division is the toughest division in all of football. I know it can be argued that there’s others that may have that same claim. We look forward to competing against Lovie and his staff. He does an outstanding job. His teams always play hard. And that’s the one thing that you know when you play a Lovie Smith coached team, you better bring your lunch pail because it’s going to be a long day.”

Smith also talked about how critical it is for the Falcons to find a running game — their’s was last in the NFL last season — and bolster their offensive line. Smith was given a great opportunity to deliver hefty praise for Falcons running back Steven Jackson, but his takes on Jackson didn’t compare to his quick verbal love for Lovie.

Stick with Joe all day for more from Indianapolis.