Former Atlanta Falcons head coach Mike Smith wasn't always unpopular. Sure, as the Falcons limped to a disappointing finish last season, his fate was seemingly sealed. But in the wake of Mike Vick's incarceration and the subsequent implosion of the franchise, Smith was praised and celebrated.
Over time Smitty lost his luster. Nobody questioned his character as a man. His coaching decisions, on the other hand, were highly questionable. Fans stopped giving him the benefit of the doubt. And at that point, even the small mistakes get blown way out of proportion.
Dan Quinn finds himself in a remarkably different place.