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Falcons' Petrino Resigns

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The Associated Press

Published: December 12, 2007

Updated: 12/12/2007 12:17 am

ATLANTA - Bobby Petrino resigned as Atlanta Falcons coach Tuesday, having lasted only 13 games with the NFL team, to take the head coaching position at Arkansas.

Petrino was introduced as the 30th Razorbacks coach by incoming athletic director Jeff Long at a late-night news conference Tuesday.

"It is a tremendous honor for me to be named the 30th head coach at Arkansas, particularly on a night when we honored Coach Frank Broyles for his 50 years service," Petrino said, referring to former head coach and outgoing athletic director Frank Broyles. "He's such a legend and I can't wait to develop a relationship with him."

Petrino left Louisville in January to become Atlanta's coach for a five-year, $24 million contract, largely because the Falcons believed he could help star quarterback Michael Vick reach his full potential.

A few months later, Vick came under investigation for a grisly dogfighting operation that eventually led him to plead guilty to federal charges. He was sentenced Monday to 23 months in prison without ever taking a snap for Petrino.

The Razorbacks have been looking for a coach for two weeks to replace Houston Nutt, who resigned after a tumultuous season and took the Mississippi job.

The 3-10 Falcons declined further comment beyond a terse, two-paragraph statement released Tuesday night. Owner Arthur Blank and General Manager Rich McKay were scheduled to hold a news conference today.

There was no immediate word who would take over as head coach for the final three games, though defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer and offensive coordinator Hue Jackson would be the most logical candidates.

CHARITY TO DISSOLVE: Mike Ditka will dissolve his Hall of Fame Assistance Trust Fund in the wake of a report that the charity had given only a small amount of money to needy former NFL players.

USA Today reported last week that Ditka's fund had collected $1.3 million since it was formed in 2004, but netted only about $315,000 after expenses and distributed just $57,000 to former players.

Ditka disputed part of the report, saying the trust has actually given away $159,000.

PROJECT RECEIVES GRANT: The NFL has awarded a $113,000 grant to the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, which played a role in Bills tight end Kevin Everett's recovery from a serious spinal cord injury.

PACKERS: Linebacker Nick Barnett pleaded not guilty to two charges of disorderly conduct stemming from a confrontation outside an Appleton, Wis., nightclub.

RAMS: Owner Georgia Frontiere, 80, has been hospitalized in Los Angeles with an undisclosed illness, a family spokesman said Tuesday night. "Our mother has been in a hospital for some health issues and is feeling better," Frontiere's son Chip Rosenbloom and daughter Lucia Rodriguez said in a statement.

STEELERS: Defensive end Aaron Smith is out for the rest of the season after he tore a biceps muscle Sunday.

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