Bobby Petrino Takes Arkansas Job

by Dave the Falconer on Dec 11, 2007 7:15 PM EST in Falcons News Comment 28 comments

I'll have much, much more on this later. For now, please check the ESPN story and head over to the AJC website for more updates.

My take, in a very condensed way, is that this is a good thing for the team. Bobby Petrino didn't make adjustments, didn't seem to care all that much about his players and certainly had no interpersonal skills. He will also be remembered as the coach who presided over one of--if not the--worst season in the history of the Atlanta Falcons, and then bolted. There's also no buyout clause in his contract, might I add.

Bobby Petrino, you're a huge jerk.

Now what, you ask? I don't know. There'll be an interim coach for the next three games, and then the Falcons ought to start looking in earnest again. While they're at it, they should fire Rich McKay, who has quite simply run out of chances to turn this team around. A whole new regime (minus maybe defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, who I like) is necessary here. It's pretty clear in retrospect that Petrino and McKay were ill-equipped to deal with this, but I had reasonably high hopes coming into this season.

All gone now, of course. If the team never hires a hotshot college coach again, it'd be way too soon. Petrino couldn't deliver any of his promises to the fans or the team and now gets to slink off to a job he really wants a lot richer. Any fans who are happy for him are, in my humble opinion, completely misguided. He didn't give a damn about any of us. I wouldn't bother to follow him with any particular interest.

Very few franchises, if any, have been through what we've been through this year. I suggest we band together as we've always done through the last three games. Watch 'em with friends and have a couple brews. Take the offseason to throw darts at a picture of Petrino's face. I can't promise anyone that next season will be any better, but it sure as hell can't be much worse.

Good riddance to a bad coach who lied and bumbled his way through the season. I'm eager to see what a fresh start can bring this team.

Update [2007-12-11 21:0:10 by Dave the Falconer]: Jeff Schultz of the AJC basically calls Petrino out as a wuss and a tool. You're preaching to the choir, Jeff.

Update [2007-12-11 22:54:53 by Dave the Falconer]: I want to thank everyone who has posted tonight, from the fans of other teams who are being very supportive to our own fans, who are taking this remarkably well. We've got the world's greatest support group here on SBNation, and it certainly makes it worth calling Petrino names.

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What an ass

I am still in shock. I just don't know how to react. ALl I know is that I am personally offended by the guy. Talk about kicking a franchise, a city, all the fans when they are down in not only it's worst hour, but it's worst year and I am not talking about the teams record.

There is NO excuse for his poor timing. At least finish the season and let the players and club know BEFORE they are ambushed. What a dick.

Let's matriculate the ball down the field boys.

by runningback on Dec 11, 2007 7:22 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Couldn't agree more

I'm glad the team at least told him they don't need him to coach the last three games. Maybe we can actually win a couple of them now.

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by Dave the Falconer on Dec 11, 2007 7:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

fans

I'm sure you don't need me to tell you fellas this, but you've had one rough season, man. Here's hoping something good comes out of the mess you guys are enduring right now.

Blogger at Cincy Jungle.

by Kirkendall on Dec 11, 2007 7:41 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Someone else needs to get fired

The last coach openly talked about wanting to take another job, this one just quits in his first season... Whoever is hiring these guys is clearly not doing a good job.

Bleeding Green Nation Philadelphia Eagles Blog

by JasonB on Dec 11, 2007 7:55 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

COWHER

Um, if Arthur Blank Check deemed 24 mil worthwhile for the complete asshole that is Bobby Petrino, I for one hope that he can sum up the courage to do WHATEVER IT TAKES to get Bill Cowher on board ASAP. I'm talking before the last game has been played.

My thoughts on Petrino are well known by anyone who reads this site with regularity, good riddance to bad rubbish.

by Hamburger on Dec 11, 2007 7:58 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

WoW

Could ya'll have a tougher year, my goodness. Listen we'll trade you Chris Simms and Jerramy Stevens for Alge Crumpler before his career truly goes down the toilet, I kid I kid...... Did ya'll even sense Petrino was gonna leave? What a shame..... Here's to better days....

Signed Bucs Fans

by JScott on Dec 11, 2007 7:58 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Old School

DTF said it best. We don't need a hotshot coach. We don't need a system, we need a head coach. Call up Marty, Cowher, Mooch. Guys that know how to coach grown men. Get Singeltary in here, he has been on the other side.

I must say that BGN Jason's comment got me thinking. Don't kill me for asking this, but I think it has to be asked.

Is there a little Daniel Snyder in Arthur Blank?

DOES someone else need to be fired? Or is it just a relatively inexperienced owner learning the hard way? I wish to think so. Unlike like Snyder, Blank is actually a really likable guy.

Let's matriculate the ball down the field boys.

by runningback on Dec 11, 2007 8:15 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

One more thing

I for one as a Falcons fan appreciate the kind words from fans of the other teams! It HAS been a rough year but as JScott said, "here's to better days..."

Let's matriculate the ball down the field boys.

by runningback on Dec 11, 2007 8:17 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Blank V Snyder

I think the only true similarity is they both have a penchance to spend alot of money. Blank has made his fair share of mistakes, but he has yet to try and build an allstar team of free agents like Snyder was prone to do earlier in his tenure.

by Hamburger on Dec 11, 2007 8:17 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Thanks Hamburger...

...I needed someone to tell me that. In times such as these you can't help but be a little cynical. PS: Everyone, check out Hamburgers last diary post. Good stuff.

Let's matriculate the ball down the field boys.

by runningback on Dec 11, 2007 8:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Cripes

No fan base deserves what you guys have gone through in the last nine months. I know it's little consolation, but you're due a crap ton of good karma after this season.

Best of luck next season. And that's coming from a fan of a team you whipped this year.

http://www.battleredblog.com

by Tim on Dec 11, 2007 8:24 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I appreciate everyone's kind words

Just another reminder that we have quite the community here on SBNation. If you'd like to pass around a dignity collection plate for us, I would gladly accept it.

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by Dave the Falconer on Dec 11, 2007 8:38 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Outside Looking In

Do you know how this looks to the rest of us? Petrino was very inconsistent and tore the team apart. There are some major issues, but the biggest problem now is separating the real issues from the coaching issues. Redman looked pretty good. But Joey didn't look bad and the team was on a bit of a roll before "Leftwith" was annointed the starting quarterback for the season. The goal for the rest of the year should be to let the players play and learn what you have. From the outside looking in, the team is a mess. But a decent amount of this could be Petrino's doing. If it looks like a hog and smells like it's a hog then the whole hog stinks.

Brian in Beaverton Oregon

by bellairb on Dec 11, 2007 8:46 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I'm a Rams' fan...

and I think you guys are the only team that has had it tougher than us, with the exception of Miami...since we are both last place dwellers, I guess we will see you again next season...I know you will have a new coach...I sure as hell hope we have one too.

I'm kind of pissed about this though...it looks like the Falcons will get to snap up Cowher before the Rams get around to firing the boob who is currently our H.C.

Good Luck to you guys.

by tbell61 on Dec 11, 2007 9:08 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Hang in there Falcon fans

None of you deserve what this season has brought you. I have to believe (and hope with all my heart) that things start to turn around for you next year.

Hang in there

by billsfan on Dec 11, 2007 9:15 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Ouch

Other teams have obviously had it harder with much more real issues, but this has nevertheless been a tough season for you guys.

Speaking as a Packers fan, you never know what can happen from one year to the next. The Packers went from 4-8, to 8-8, to currently 11-2. The Falcons could bounce back.

by Pack Man on Dec 11, 2007 9:20 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

EVERYONE STOP BEING DOWN....

...i have to say theres one thing this season has taught me! im sorry but dave you too! i have never had so much optimism as this year. we have been down and out yet im still more of a falcon than ever. this ladies and gentlemen is where true falcons are born. we are still here blogging even though it couldnt get worse. they could become worse than miami but at least there my falcons....

every game we lost i still said we'll go 13-3. loss? 12-4. loss? 11-5! hope is the most beautiful thing. well thats what i learnt this year. i learnt that i love my team no matter what. and even if im from the UK, i still love them more than the Vick only US fans. i join your ranks as a TRUE fan, like dave, like hamburger, who would put on pads in a heartbeat and get killed by ray lewis just to try and help their team win. we were bad this year, we were terrible, we still are terrible. but we are "we", united in our terribleness and "we" still have each other and "we" still have Michael Boley and "we" are still the falcons and i know whenever it is that i move to america i will call Atlanta home and i will always be a FALCON!

i love you all!

go hard or go home

by TO falcon on Dec 11, 2007 9:54 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I'll be damned

if that wasn't an inspiring speech. Let's see if we can get spots on the roster next year and take this into our own hands!

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by Dave the Falconer on Dec 11, 2007 9:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

ive just...

...sent an email to the official website 3 times trying to get through to the players. never will work but i can dream. i just have so much to give for this team. i want to work for the organization and to give my soul to help them improve. if they need another DE im there! hell if they need someone to shine the helmets im there!

come on we have inspiration every week we still believe!

WE ARE THE FALCONS! KINGS OF THE NFC SOUTH.

last to first lets keep the tradition alive!

go hard or go home

by TO falcon on Dec 11, 2007 10:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

sorry to over post but...

i realized i didn't credit runningback with credit when talking about dave & hamburger. he too would suit up along side us!

and any others who would, lets do this!

ps. i hope that wasnt sarcasm dave!

go hard or go home

by TO falcon on Dec 11, 2007 10:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

i realise...

...the terrible spelling but i have had a few to drink.

but the emotional message that i imagine every falcons player reading is still there. i want them to stay rather than leave because we are bad, i believe in them.

a 19 year old spilling his soul for his team.....

go hard or go home

by TO falcon on Dec 11, 2007 9:56 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Vick and Petrino

Let me chime in from Indianapolis. Though a Colts fan, I now read your blog frequently (I got hooked in the run-up to the Colts-Falcons game on Thanksgiving). The Vick piece from yesterday and today's work on Petrino's abrupt departure are first-class stuff.

I feel for all Falcon fans betrayed by Michael Vick's irresponsibility. We here in Indianapolis can commiserate in some sense, as our NBA team was basically destroyed by the brawl with the Pistons and its fallout over the next two years. The Pacers' road back to respectability remains long; I hope yours is shorter.

So, following Vick's sentencing and the debacle against the Saints last night, I am happy for you that Petrino bolted. It didn't seem to me he was at all suited for the NFL, an opinion most correspondents at this site seem to share. Arthur Blank's comments Monday night indicated (IMHO unjustified) continuing support for Petrino. If this was indeed his mindset, then he was missing how poor a coach Petrino was, so Petrino did the franchise a favor by running off. I hope the Falcons hire a young, aggresive NFL-experienced assistant and rebuild quickly. Good luck the rest of the year.

by Coltsfan58 on Dec 11, 2007 9:57 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

also...

check out angelo hall's chat to nfl network. if its true that he's in it for the long hall (look at the pun!) then i repsect the guy a hell of a lot! i mean i loved the guy before but i thought he'd leave at the end of the year. hes a top quality corner and now it appears the points he was making earlier in the season are actually valid. we need him and michael boley if we are going to grow as a franchise.

i sooooooo want the team to read these posts!

go hard or go home

by TO falcon on Dec 11, 2007 10:08 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

man

As a Cowboys fan, I've seen some down seasons for my team (Gailey-Campo Eras, UGH), but we've never had it as bad as you guys have this year. But what goes down must come up. I'm sure the next guy, whomever he may be, will be more committed and ultimately more successful.

As an Arkansas Razorbacks fan, I'm understandably concerned. What does it say about a guy who will bolt with three games left in his first season? A day after he told Blank he was staying (Blank must really get tired of people lying to him). I sure hope he doesn't do that to us if our first season is rough.

Anyways, here's hoping things get better.

by Nelson on Dec 11, 2007 10:09 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Good point

Obviously your concerns as an Arkansas fan are valid. Pat Forde on ESPN.com pretty much summed Petrino up to to tee.

"The disingenuous drifter doesn't love you or any other fan base. He doesn't love any school or any NFL franchise. He loves himself, his playbook and his bank account."

Let's matriculate the ball down the field boys.

by runningback on Dec 12, 2007 7:58 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Petrino Press conference

I just had the good fortune of tuning into sportscenter mere seconds before Bobby showed up for his introductory news conference with Arkansas. Immediately followed by a live conversation between scott van pelt and DeAngelo Hall. Hall was extremely well spoken, and I found myself agreeing with everything he said. Unless DeAngelo is next in line to be revealed as a liar, which I doubt due to his outspoken nature, #21 has great respect for Arthur Blank, and even conceded/infered that Petrino was becoming a better NFL coach as time passed, and that lines of communication were actually being established. Hall did go on to say that he had absolutely no respect for Petrino due to his actions today, and the way which he treated Blank, as well as his betraying the team. He stated that at first he wasn't upset, but seeing Petrino happy made him mad. Me personally, I just wanted to see if any of the reporters at the press conference would have the Chutzpah to ask Bobby how long he planned on staying, and more importantly, had he spoken with Michigan yet?

by Hamburger on Dec 12, 2007 12:02 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

add a little heat

You don't have to be a Falcon fan or even like or watch football to want to slap Bobby Petrino across his deceitful facade. So, Mr. Blank do us all a favor and let it slowly leak out in the coming days that the Atlanta Falcons won't spend much time scouting and drafting Arkansas Razorback players during Bobby Petrino's reign. And find a few other comrades in the NFL ownership fraternity who are willing to do the same. There are plenty of players available at other colleges. That's for sure. In so doing you will see higher caliber players choosing other schools, resulting in more losses for the Razorbacks. There is clearly a group of alumni and an athletic director who have no respect for you. Under the cover of Houston Nutt's resignation the alumni and AD were covertly planning a hostile takeover. Both the Razorback representatives and Petrino are two peas in a pod. So, put a little heat on their recruiting ability and show what disrespect and a lack of moral consciousness costs. Some times you feel like a NUTT sometimes you hire one.

by zippylip on Dec 12, 2007 11:54 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Hey Atlanta,

This is Seattle. I felt heartsick for Atlanta fans last August. Last week I hoped at least for some sense of closure for you guys.

Now this Petrino thing has actually made me angry. He's a wuss and a sheister, and the only silver lining is that you guys don't have to deal with the unethical roach anymore.

You've heard it from other folks this week, but I'll say it again 'cause ATL's been on my mind: You deserve much, much better, and I hope you all get it soon.

I mean, what a nut-sack.

Have a Merry Christmas.

--Shrug
Field Gulls - the SBN Seattle Seahawks Blog

by Shrug on Dec 14, 2007 2:15 AM EST reply actions 0 recs