Petrino reportedly phones in resignation to Falcons

[playmaker7]

Bobby Petrino abruptly resigned his position as coach of the Atlanta Falcons on Tuesday and is negotiating an agreement to become the new coach at the University of Arkansas, multiple sources told ESPN.





Petrino and his agent had been talking with the Falcons about his preference to return to the college ranks. The former Louisville coach was looking for an opportunity to break into the Southeastern Conference ranks, and Arkansas was a natural fit.

Citing the team as its source, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported on its Web site that Petrino phoned the Falcons about 5:45 p.m. Tuesday and resigned. Petrino and the team agreed he would not coach the Falcons' remaining three games, a source told ESPN.com's John Clayton.







Negotiations between Petrino and Arkansas are ongoing, the sources told ESPN. Once a deal is in place, Petrino is expected to be paid around $3 million a year, the sources said.

Petrino signed a five-year, $24 million contract to be the Falcons head coach, so he will be taking a pay cut to re-enter the college ranks. The Falcons are 3-10 and have had their season torn apart by Michael Vick's involvement in a dogfighting ring and subsequent 23-month jail sentence, which was levied Monday.



NFL sources said there was no buyout in Petrino's contract with the Falcons.







Petrino will succeed Houston Nutt, who was hired by Mississippi immediately after resigning at Arkansas. Tommy Tuberville and Tommy Bowden were both linked to the Arkansas opening, but they remained as coaches at Auburn and Clemson, respectively.

Arkansas flirted with hiring Jim Grobe -- a private fundraising arm for the Razorbacks approved a salary supplement for the Wake Forest coach -- but Grobe stayed with the Demon Deacons.





Information from ESPN.com senior NFL writer John Clayton and The Associated Press was used in this report.

Wowz. And just nearing the end of the season. Atlanta just needs to look to next season. Hope Petrino does better at Arkansas than he did in the NFL.

 

[$tunna]

well this is kinda disappointing but I already know most of the Falcons players didin't like the way he was cozching anywayz

 

[bulls12]

I am pretty surprised by this, I wonder if he leaves if they will still try for Brohm in the draft next year.

Falcons cannot really stick with a coach since Dan Reeves left. I hope Petrino changes his mind.

 

[vikesfan]

I'm suprised he resigned too, you'd think he would at least give it a couple years to see what he can do with this team.

 

[DJT]

I hope he does well in Arkansas.

 

[bulls12]

I don't care how well he does in Arkansas after being such a tease to the Atlanta Falcons organization.

 

[DJT]

I don't care how well he does in Arkansas after being such a tease to the Atlanta Falcons organization.

You can't blame all their losses on him.

 

[bulls12]

I'm not blaming any losses on him at all, I just think he was wrong to tell everyone he would help the organization and turn it around into a winning team and ultimately leave.

 

[DJT]

I'm not blaming any losses on him at all, I just think he was wrong to tell everyone he would help the organization and turn it around into a winning team and ultimately leave.

Well when a coach is coming in....you kinda have to say those things....its what everyone wants to hear.

 

[bulls12]

I guess the team can still get better without a coach like him, so it's like Mike Vick all over again. the Falcons will have to move on.

 

[A.E]

Not surprised at all. I thought Petrino was the best choice for Falcons' head coach being that he could of better utilized Vick's abilities in taking him out of the West Coast Offense. This was obviously prior to Mike Vick's world crashing down.

In retrospect, what Petrino had in Louisville compared to what life is like at head coach of the 3-10 Falcons...it's no wonder why Petrino broke down. It's a much easier off-season for head coaches in the NCAA, much less job-related stress, and plenty of time to golf.

Petrino clearly sees the Falcons road to rebuilding as a longer process than he is willing to be a part of. For me personally, $3M a year as head coach of Arkansas is all the money and fame I would need to be content with. It certainly beats the countless hours of game-planning, sleeping in your office, the long off-seasons, and the constant shadow of the Mike Vick fiasco.

I am surprised Michigan hasn't called him yet. Anybody have any ideas who the next Falcons head coach may be? I'm thinking that hiring another guy from the NCAA isn't an option, which brings me to a Jim Fassel or maybe Jim Haslett...a guy with plenty of experience in the division.