NFL 30 to Watch: Bobby Petrino, Head Coach, Atlanta Falcons

TDJets72027 · Jul 18, 2007

If Bobby Petrino had it to do over again, I'm guessing he would have just stayed at Louisville. He's been on the job for seven months and in that time basically all he's done is answer questions about Michael Vick Ron Mexico Ookie and his predilection for dogfighting.

Now his starting quarterback has been indicted and the only question is who will be the under center for the Falcons when the season begins (assuming Mr. Mexico incurs a suspension). The obvious answer is Joey Harrington, signed this off-season to replace Matt Schaub. But what if Harrington struggles in Atlanta like he did in Detroit and Miami? Then what? Chris Redman? D.J. Shockley? Uh, no thanks.

With hindsight offering more clarity and all that, trading Schaub and passing on Brady Quinn (or whomever you had as the second-best quarterback in the draft) with the eighth-overall pick last April seems like a pretty big misstep by the Falcons front office. To be fair, at the time I don't think anybody outside of Vick's posse knew the extent of the dogfighting allegations, but that doesn't change the fact the team doesn't have a legit starting quarterback.

Of course, you could argue Atlanta didn't have a legit starting quarterback last season either. Fair enough. Who knows, maybe Harrington will thrive under Petrino -- it's a new city, new offense, with none of the pressures that go along with being the face of the franchise. And even if the Falcons implode in '07, the good news is that Petrino -- assuming he stays around -- could be in position to draft Brian Brohm next April.
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NFL 30 to Watch: Bobby Petrino, Head Coach, Atlanta Falcons

TDJets72027 Rex Ryan baby

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NFL 30 to Watch: Bobby Petrino, Head Coach, Atlanta Falcons

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