Those hoping the Atlanta Falcons would rally behind interim coach Emmit Thomas...um, guess you'll have to find something new to hang your hat on. The Petrino era may have come to an end in Atlanta but the futility hasn't, as the Falcons proved today by going into Tampa and getting spanked 37-3.
If you want to know how bad it was today for the Falcons, all you have to do is look at QB Chris Redman's stat line: 4/15, 34 yards, 0 TDs, 2 INTs, and 2 fumbles, 1 lost. Even John Beck laughs at that line. Defensively, the Falcons at least were able to hold their own, allowing Tampa only 285 total yards and 2 offensive touchdowns. The Bucs made up for their somewhat listless offense by scoring on an INT (Ronde Barber), and by notching the first kick-off return TD in franchise history, on a 90-yard scamper by Michael Spurlock.
Clearly, getting rid of Petrino did not spur the Falcons to some kind of inspired performance. Instead, it looks like their travails have given most of the players on that team an excuse to pack it in early. And, to make matters worse for this miserable franchise and their fans, it appears Bill Cowher will not be riding to the rescue any time soon. Sources tell ESPN's Chris Mortensen that the Falcons did indeed make preliminary contact with Bill Cowher about the job vacated by the sniveling slimebag Petrino, but Cowher told the team he was sticking to his original two-year sabbatical plan, meaning he will not be coaching for the Falcons or anyone else in 2008.
I have to wonder myself if Cowher would be so committed to taking another year off if a better franchise - say Carolina - contacted him instead of the Falcons. I suppose Cowher figures he can just sit and wait for the perfect job to open up - and I don't blame him for doing that. I don't care how much money they offered me, I wouldn't want the Falcons job. That is a radioactive franchise right now, and I can't see a guy like Cowher being willing to put up with that sort of crap.
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NFL
Tags: atlanta falcons, bill cowher, bobby petrino, chris redman, ronde barber, tampa bay buccaneers
Comments (1)
Last sentence, second parag... (Below threshold)1. Posted by Danny Strickland | December 16, 2007 5:53 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Last sentence, second paragraph; I think you ment "Bucs" instead of "Falcons". Otherwise, excellent post. I don't know who could come in and save this franchise.
Maybe Jimmy Johnson? Oh yeah, the Falcons don't have a Herschel Walker to trade and no front office is as dumb as the Vikes were on that deal.
1. Posted by Danny Strickland | December 16, 2007 5:53 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on December 16, 2007 17:53