Falcons Coach Petrino Quits; Signs with Arkansas

[jamf]

Originally Posted by Giantone

Why ???

In My Opinion:
It's a pathetic move on Petrinos part.

He isn't some desk jockey at H&R Block that can be replaced by any CPA.
He isn't an assistant coach getting a shot at being a head coach.

This man was in charge of rebuilding the franchise. He brought in his coaching staff, His players and his system. He signed a LONG TERM Contract for a little under 5 Million per year.

Granted MV set the franchise back 4 years, but you don't quit because you lose a player. What if Greg WIlliams quit because sean taylor isn't coming back?

It's a chicken shit move.
There are some players on the team already fighting for a roster spot next year. His players are essentially wasting their time the next 3 games because there will be a new system next year.

It would be a bullshit move if he was fired and it's a bullshit move to quit before the season ends.

I guess in the end he couldn't deal with the men on his team so he is going back to coaching teenage boys on scholarship...

[Daseal]

Petrino couldn't have done this without Arthur Blank's permission. It's not like the Falcons were on their way to the playoffs. I'm fine with it.

[skinsfan69]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

I agree that it's a classless move on his part, but Arthur Blank has been in the media critizing their talent at QB and not really supporting his coach. If Blank really deserved Petrino's best effort, he should have been behind his personel decisions.

Who ever thought that a little sprinty quarterback who couldn't throw was the glue that held that circus together?

I was watching the game last night and they put up a very interesting stat. And I'm not a stat geek but this really stood out and shows you Vick's value to Atl. Since 2002 in games Vick started Atl's record is 37-27. The games in which he didn't start they were 6-20. That really tells you how important he is to that team. He is not the most gifted passer. But his ability to break defenses down opened up the running game for Duckett and Dunn. Plus he never ever had top quality wr's. But now it's all a mute point. His career is most likely down the tubes.

[MTK]

He's a quitter. Hard to respect that.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by Beemnseven

Why is it pathetic? So what if he decides to leave? If you're stuck in a shit job, where is it written you have to stay for a certain length of time?

An owner of a team certainly has the right to fire a coach midseason. Why isn't the opposite true?

Difference is when you quit a job in real life you would typically give appropriate notice of 2 weeks or more. In this case finishing out the season would have been the right thing to do.

Quitting on the spot with 3 weeks left and leaving the team high and dry?

C'mon, that's just lame.

[Beemnseven]

"In real life"? So what's Petrino in? An alternate dimension?

Sorry, I just don't think it's that big a deal. If the job isn't right for you, then you quit. 2 weeks notice isn't the law. Besides, if it's a situation that Petrino felt he had to get out of in a moment's notice, then chances are Blank would have sent him walking anyway.

Arthur Blank, Dan Snyder, Jerry Jones, and every other NFL owner has the absolute right to call up any head coach of any team and fire them on the spot. Why can't a coach do the same?

[GMScud]

This doesn't surprise me one bit. I feel bad for the guy. They hire him, then they trade Schaub, then the Vick situation? What a shitty way to debut as a head coach. I'd jump off a ship if it was sinking, too.

[SmootSmack]

At least be a man about it and resign in person. Why resign via phone call? He couldn't tell Blank face to face?

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

At least be a man about it and resign in person. Why resign via phone call? He couldn't tell Blank face to face?

This is true. But I don't blame him for hauling ass. If Arkansas was his opportunity and he had to leave now for recruiting purposes, etc, then so be it.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by skinsfan69

I was watching the game last night and they put up a very interesting stat. And I'm not a stat geek but this really stood out and shows you Vick's value to Atl. Since 2002 in games Vick started Atl's record is 37-27. The games in which he didn't start they were 6-20. That really tells you how important he is to that team. He is not the most gifted passer. But his ability to break defenses down opened up the running game for Duckett and Dunn. Plus he never ever had top quality wr's. But now it's all a mute point. His career is most likely down the tubes.

In this situation, a lot of those wins has to do with the guys who played in relief of Vick.

Doug Johnson(10), Kurt Kittner (2), Matt Schaub (2), Joey Harrington (9), Byron Leftwich (3), and Chris Redman (1) started those 27 games.

Now the team has gotten some good QB play from Schaub, periodically Harrington, and Leftwich, all of whom are good QB prospects. However, you can see that Johnson and Harrington dominate those starts, and it's safe to say that neither really brings total value to that team of the equivalent of Vick.

Additionally, there's two other sides of the ball when talking wins and losses besides offense, and in both 2003 and 2007, the Falcons have played awful defense. That team is really, really missing Patrick Kerney, who of course is having a hell of a year in Seattle.

As more and more elite QBs enter the draft every year, the value of Vick's diminishing rushing skills would have continued to decrease over time. In 2002, when you considered Vick's athleticism, you could say that the Falcons were getting a bigger contribution out of their QB position than were about half the NFL teams despite his passing deficiences. His division at the time included Aaron Brooks, Chris Weinke/Rodney Peete, and one of the better QBs in the league at the time...the incomparable Brad Johnson. Vick wasn't such a bad option then, at all.

Last year, he wasn't even the best QB option on his own team. This year, his division has Drew Brees, Jeff Garcia, and prior to injury, Jake Delhomme. All of whom far better than Vick.

So yeah, that's why that winning percentage number is a bit misleading.

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

At least be a man about it and resign in person. Why resign via phone call? He couldn't tell Blank face to face?

I see there is an 11:30pm press conference from Fayetteville. Is it gonna be on any of the ESPNs??

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by GMScud

I see there is an 11:30pm press conference from Fayetteville. Is it gonna be on any of the ESPNs??

I'm sure it will be on ESPNews. But I'm not at work right now so I plead the 5th

[MTK]

Originally Posted by Beemnseven

"In real life"? So what's Petrino in? An alternate dimension?

Sorry, I just don't think it's that big a deal. If the job isn't right for you, then you quit. 2 weeks notice isn't the law. Besides, if it's a situation that Petrino felt he had to get out of in a moment's notice, then chances are Blank would have sent him walking anyway.

Arthur Blank, Dan Snyder, Jerry Jones, and every other NFL owner has the absolute right to call up any head coach of any team and fire them on the spot. Why can't a coach do the same?

You know what I mean, working in the NFL is not you typical everyday kind of job.

Of course there's no law saying you need to give notice. So why do people do it? Because it's the courteous and professional thing to do.

Of course he's free to quit, just do it the right way, that's all I'm saying.

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

I'm sure it will be on ESPNews. But I'm not at work right now so I plead the 5th

Thanks... This is kinda nuts. One of the shortest tenures in league history...

[FRPLG]

He also told his coaches in a 10 second meeting. That's SECONDS, as in a division of a minute. He basically said I am resigning to take the job at Arkansas and walked out of the room. WTF is that?

It's not the realizing that the job wasn't for him. It is the way he went about it. At least the Ole' Ballcoach gave it more than one season.