Petrino Resigns as Falcons Coach
Bobby Petrino Quits as Head Coach of the Atlanta Falcons
Owner Arthur Blank, players blast Petrino after he resigns and takes a coaching job at the University of Arkansas 18 hours after assuring team he was staying in Atlanta.
Atlanta Falcons head coach Bobby Petrino resigned Tuesday, leaving team officials and players furious. Petrino was 13 games into a five-year contract with the team. Hours later he was introduced as the new football coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks.
Prior to the Falcons’ game Monday night Petrino had assured team owner Arthur Blank he wouldn’t be leaving the franchise any time soon. At a press conference Wednesday afternoon Blank and Atlanta’s president and general manager, Rich McKay, told the media that Petrino twice assured team officials he was planning on remaining as head coach without question.
“I did press the question [of remaining with the team] with him,” Blank said. “And Bobby extended his hand and said, ‘You can tell them you have a head coach.’"
Blank and McKay said Petrino voiced some concerns about coaching in the National Football League over the past week. They huddled with Petrino Monday afternoon to allay his concerns, and said they believed at the time that they’d resolved the issues he raised.
Previously, both Blank and McKay had been contacted by Dallas Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones, asking if University of Arkansas officials could speak with Petrino about their coaching vacancy. Both men said they refused to give their permission for college officials to speak with Petrino. Apparently the school ignored their wishes.
Incoming Arkansas athletics director Jeff Long flew to Atlanta Tuesday morning, met with Petrino in mid-afternoon, roughed out a contract, and flew back to Fayetteville, home of the University of Arkansas. About two hours later Petrino told McKay he was leaving in a brief face-to-face meeting. He then telephoned Blank to inform the Falcons’ owner.
Blank was incensed at Petrino’s duplicity.
"I think the best way to describe the way that we feel is betrayed and let down," he said. "I think the timing of Bobby's decision was wrong. It was wrong for the coaches. It was wrong for the families depending on him, that he brought here that had invested in him and invested in this team. It's also letting our players down — the players I've heard him tell consistently to play all four quarters. All four quarters does not equal, in my opinion, 13 games."
Petrino signed a five-year, $24 million contract with the Falcons 11 months ago. His new job at Arkansas will pay him $2 million per year. Long-time Falcon secondary coach Emmitt Thomas – a former All-Pro cornerback with the Kansas City Chiefs – will helm the team for the remaining three games.
Falcons’ players learned of Petrino’s resignation through the media, and found a typewritten note comprised of four sentences signed by their former coach when they reached the team’s practice facility Wednesday.
"Atlanta Falcons Players," it began.
"Out of my respect for you, I am letting you know that, with a heavy heart, I resigned today as the Head Coach of the Atlanta Falcons. This decision was not easy, but it was made in the best interest of me and my family. While my desire would have been to finish out what has been a difficult season for us all, circumstances did not allow me to do that. I appreciate your hard work and wish you the best.
"Sincerely, Bobby Petrino."
The players – many of whom were disenchanted with Petrino’s people skills – were incensed.
“The man’s a liar,” declared quarterback Joey Harrington. Defensive back Lawyer Milloy scratched out Petrino’s signature in red magic marker and scrawled the word “Coward” below it.
Players were outraged at the uproarious press conference Petrino took part in at his new post, when he talked of commitment and family.
"That's what I think brought up the anger, to have him talk about family, about team and about commitment, and then to come in here and have a form letter at your locker," Harrington told the Atlanta Journal Constitution. "That's not how a man acts. That's how a coward acts."
