The star quarterback has been sentenced to prison, the new head coach resigned after only 13 games and for the first time in six years, a game was blacked out due to slow ticket sales. Just when it seems it can't get worse for the Atlanta Falcons, it does.
With the franchise in limbo, where do the Atlanta Falcons go from here?
Who Will Takeover?
On January 4, Rich McKay signed a two-year contract extension Friday to remain the Atlanta Falcons' president, but relinquished the general manager's duties. Now that the regular season is over, the search for a new Falcons head coach and a general manager are about to heat up.
Defensive backs coordinator Emmitt Thomas took over as interim Falcons head coach for the remaining three games of the season and under his watch, the Falcons had two rough loses in row to Tampa Bay and Arizona. Finally the Falcons' prayers were answered with a win over the Seattle Seahawks for the last game of the season.
Back in December, legendary Dallas Cowboys coach, Bill Parcells was offered a position with the Atlanta Falcons that would have made him head of football operations. It would have been a role that would have put Parcells in charge of hiring players and finding a new skipper for the sinking Falcons.
Parcells announced to the New York Daily news that he would most likely take the Falcons position, but soon after, talks broke down.
A statement released by Falcons owner Arthur Blank on Wednesday, Dec. 19 said Parcells thought the Miami Dolphins were offering a better deal.
"We gave it our best shot, and it didn't work out," Blank said.
Parcells signed a four-year contract with the Dolphins on Thursday, Dec. 20.
The search for a new Falcons head coach continues and now, the Falcons are also looking to fill the role of general manager.
"We will continue down the same overall path, proceeding with plans to hire a general manager and a head coach," Blank said. "We will identify and consider every strongly viable candidate for these positions, with the goal of hiring the best. Rich McKay remains president of the club and will retain general manager responsibilities until a new GM is hired."
As for the position of Falcons head coach, Bill Cowher quickly took his name out of the running, saying he wasn't ready to return to coaching.
Now that the regular season is over, the Falcons will most likely start officially interviewing candidates. Some of the names that remain on the table are Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, Falcons offensive coordinator Hue Jackson and Georgia Force head coach Doug Plank.
The Prospects - Pros and Cons Jason Garrett He's a young, energetic offensive coordinator for the explosive Dallas Cowboys.
Garrett has limited playing experience behind Troy Aikman and has absolutely no head coaching experience.
Doug Plank Plank is currently the head coach for AFL's Georgia Force which shares Flowery Branch facilities with the Falcons. How would success in the AFL translate on an NFL field?
Mike Zimmer He is widely respected as one of the NFL's best defensive minds. It is his first year with the Falcons, why wouldn't he want to jump ship too?
Hue Jackson Jackson helped develop Atlanta's receivers into a respectable unit in his first year with team. He has limited experience at this level.
Beyond the question of who will lead the Falcons on the sidelines, there is now the question of who will lead them on the field.
During Petrino's short tenure, he rotated three players at the starting quarterback position: Joey Harrington, Byron Leftwich and Chris Redman. None of the them met with much success and the Falcons were sitting with a 3-10 record by the time Petrino announced his resignation.Related Story: Petrino Looks for Fourth Quarterback
The Falling Star
The hits just keep on coming for the Atlanta Falcons. Less than a year ago, Bobby Petrino left Louisville for the more lucrative pastures of the NFL and the Atlanta Falcons. Just 13 games later, Petrino announced he was done in Atlanta and headed to the University of Arkansas to coach in the SEC.
The season from hell began even before the first day of training camp.
In April, federal agents stormed Michael Vick's Virginia property to investigate a possible drug situation involving Vick's nephew. When police arrived on the property, they found evidence of a dogfighting ring.
At first, Vick steadfastly denied any involvement in dogfighting and the Falcons organization rallied around the star quarterback.
By July, federal investigators indicated that they had a strong case against Vick and he was later indicted on federal charges. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell ordered Vick to stay away from training camp and Vick was suspended for four games.
Training camp went on without Vick. As the season began Vick entered a guilty plea on August 27 and it became clear the season would have to go on without Vick as well.
Vick admitted to conspiracy in a dogfighting ring and helping kill pit bulls. He denied betting on the fights, only bankrolling them.
Vick apologized to the NFL and the Falcons saying, "I offer my deepest apologies to everyone. And I will redeem myself. I have to."
On December 10, Vick was sentenced to 23 months in prison and the former Falcons star fell amid controversy and disgrace.
Jumping Ship
The same day that Vick officially lost his freedom, the Falcons racked up an embarassing loss to bitter rivals the New Orleans Saints. That night, head coach Bobby Petrino assured Falcons owner Arthur Blank that he would stay with the team, only to announce his resignation the following day.
Petrino accepted an offer to return to the college ranks as the head coach at the University of Arkansas.
"Today was a day of decision," Petrino said. "It was difficult on one side very easy on the other. It was difficult to leave Atlanta, the staff, players, fans. The timing of it probably the thing that made it most difficult. Coming to Arkansas was the easy part."
It was a swift one-two-three punch and the Falcons are now left reeling and scrambling to put an end to the free fall.
So many questions surround the ailing franchise that no one really knows where to begin to put the pieces back together.
Labels: Atlanta Falcons, Coach, Football, Mike Vick
# posted by
Brian Vanderhoff @ 7:32 AM
