I rather disagree with the media and the Falcons reaction to Bobby Petrino resigning as the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons yesterday. We live in a free country. One of our rights is the ability to make a decision about our employment.
If a job opens up in Arkansas that someone wants to work at instead of Atlanta, let him work in Arkansas. What was Petrino supposed to do: decline an opportunity he saw as better than what he was doing previously? At least he didn't lie about staying the way Nick Saban did at Miami last year.
I myself have changed jobs this year when an opportunity arose that I felt better suited me. I was part of a team, albeit a team of consultants, that was working to accomplish a goal. But when a better opportunity came along, I couldn't worry about letting anyone else down and knew it was the right decision to accept the new opportunity.
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Bob, did you watch PTI tonight? It was reported that Blank asked Petrino what he should say about Petrino when the media asked. Reportedly Petrino said that he was going to stay with the Falcons until Blank decided to fire him.
I agree that Petrino has the right to go for the Arkansas job. But bailing on his team without even speaking to them? The media may have embellished parts of the story, but it sounds eerily similar to what the Baltimore Colts did. Left town without really saying goodbye.
I'd have to side with Bob on this one. It's so easy to judge. When a player holds out, you often hear that it's a business and that a player has to look out for himself and or his family, so why isn't the same consideration being made for a coach.
Should Petrino have called each player up individually or sent a mass e-mail in a classy move or accept a position and deal with everything else second?
All Petrino did was take a page from George...Costanza, "Good night everybody" and "leave on a high." Petrino was lucky to have as many wins as he has with little talent on the Vick-less Falcons. Sure make fun of the Dolphins but will anyone nominate Petrino for honorable mention for Coach of the year? It usually goes to a winning team and not a .500 or sub .500 team.
Reports indicated that Petrino had no contact with the team before flying off to Arkansas. He met with Rich McKay, his assistants, made a phone call to Arthur Blank, wrote a letter to the team and then hopped on a plane.
Was it a crime that he didn't talk to his team? No. Is it even morally or ethically wrong? Borderline, but let's say no. However it's classless. You can't even be enough man to show up to your team and let them know you have decided in a matter of hours that you are jumping ship. Sure he's probably been talking with Arkansas for awhile, but your team played Monday Night Football. The next morning, your gone?