Terence Moore takes a whack at Petrino (and the Falcons organization):

http://www.ajc.com/blogs/content/sha..._blank_hu.html

All Petrino did was become Petrino, and this is what Petrino does: He lies, and then he leaves. He almost did it when he coached Louisville and tried to sneak into Alabama in the middle of the night to take the job of Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville. Later, Petrino signed a hefty extension with Louisville, supposedly as a sign of his loyalty, but he tried to get the LSU job a few days later. He also swore his allegiance to the University of Louisville, and then to the city, and then to college football two summers ago after he agreed to a 10-year deal worth $25 million. Several months later, he worked in the shadows to get his “dream job” in Atlanta.

Even so, Blank and McKay did a series of foolish things. First, they ignored Petrino’s historically deceitful ways - including the ones that got him to the Falcons - and then they shrugged over the fact that college coaches regularly flunk in the NFL, and then they hired the guy anyway.

That’s why it deserved just a yawn when Blank spent his portion of the news conference speaking of feeling “betrayed” and “let down” after Petrino did what Petrino always does. Blank also said he felt “abused” when he was told by Petrino that “You’ve got a head coach” after a firm handshake only to watch Petrino smile and grin and laugh the next day as the new head coach of the Razorback Nation.

McKay added later that Petrino expressed often during recent days that “He was able to communicate better with college players than pro players.”

Really? I mean, how could Blank and McKay not know as much before they did the ridiculous by giving the guy that five-year contract worth $24 million? The examples were everywhere (Lou Holtz, Steve Spurrier, Butch Davis, Nick Saban, Dennis Erickson) of college coaches who didn’t realize they were dealing with grown men in the NFL. “He couldn’t handle a lot of noise, so he didn’t even want us to speak that loud at team dinners,” said the normally taciturn Warrick Dunn, whose tongue was on automatic on Wednesday while speaking of Petrino. “It was like we were in kindergarten. He didn’t even want us to have the TV on in the locker room, and not even Coach [Bobby] Bowden or Coach [Mark] Richt was like that.”

I bet the Falcons have a hard time...who the hell wants that job?

wow, these players say it perfectly....Petrino is a coward. He ran away. I don't care what his college coaching record is. He isn't a man.

Note to all NFL Owners:

Stop hiring highly touted College Head Coaches.

I agree, I guess. But these are the same players who still act like Michael Vick is a fellow human being, so I have a hard time with the fake indignation.

guess I don't see the connection...

regardless of anyone's opinion on Vick, it is clear that Petrino is a spineless coward...not telling your assistants? lying to your owner? not speaking to your team? leaving them a 5 sentence note?

You get paid millions. You should at least be able to look your peers in the face and tell the truth.

Well, Vick's a dog killer who lied to everyone under the sun about it, and they're still wearing his initials on their game gear. Petrino lied about his job interests. That's all I'm saying, not that I really care.

Then why are all those sports jackets hanging in his closet?

My money would go on either Cowher or Marty. Write it down.

My guess is as a whole, that trend is over for a long time.

You mean like Roddy Whites "free Mike Vick" shirt?

To me the funniest thing about that is Roddy White this season has doubled in production....he's basically twice as good and finally shown he can play without Vick.....yet he does that......

Does he have no brain?

I think the top candidate would be Jason Garrett. However, Arthur Blank was one of the main proponents of the NFL rule requiring NFL teams to interview minority candidates. When the Falcons hired Jim Mora Jr. I don't recall any minority candidates getting interviewed. Before Petrino was hired the Falcons interviewed Ron Rivera, but I think everyone knew Petrino was getting that job. Blank is going to have to make it known that he's giving serious consideration to a minority head coach. I'm not suggesting that he's obligated to hire someone because they are a minority, or that if a minority candidate gets the job they did so because they are a minority. I just think, given the racial climate in Atlanta right now due to the Mike Vick trial, Blank is going to need to do some PR- especially in light of the fact that he helped bring about the Rooney Rule. It's an interesting dynamic, to me.(I don't think the "fried chicken" remark will factor too much. From what I've heard most of the African American population in Atlanta did not perceive that as racist, and it's widely known there that Arthur Blank has a strong commitment to diversity in the workplace)
That being said- if it was me, the guy I'd want would be Jason Garrett.

LMAO

That is awesome. Petrino is a douche bag and a coward. I hope parents that have kids recruited by Arkansas give a big middle finger to that school.

As I said last night from that ESPN report if he would have showed his face at the Falcons headquarters he probably would have got the shit kicked out of him deservedly so.

Yet it's still a giant upgrade over Houston Nutt...

Do you not understand that they were playing a Monday Night Football game the same day he was sentenced? They were just showing some love for their friend. At least some of them are loyal unlike Petrino.