FALCONS FUMING OVER PETRINO’S HIGHTAILING TO HOGS: As Arkansas is overjoyed with finally finding a new head coach, members of the Atlanta Falcons are pretty p.o.’ed about Bobby Petrino’s departure.

The ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION runs down reactions from the team. Owner Arthur Blank began his Wednesday press conference by saying, “I think the best way to describe the way that we feel is betrayed and let down.”And the players themselves had some choice words for their now ex-coach:

Safety Lawyer Milloy: “I didn’t really realize we had a cancer on our team. And it was in the form of the head coach.”QB Joey Harrington: “He lied to us. After that Monday night game, he said we all need to go home and take a look in the mirror and see what we can do to make this organization better….And then he left.”

RB Warrick Dunn: “He put this organization last in his life….He’s selfish….He’s definitely a liar.”

Cornerback DeAngelo Hall: “If I saw him in the street I wouldn’t have anything to say to him. I don’t have any respect for him. He turned his back on the organization.”Petrino didn’t even say goodbye in person. On Tuesday, players were notified of Bobby’s bailout via a short, four-sentence letter.

Even ex-Falcons are perturbed with Petrino. Grady Jackson, a lineman who was suddenly cut by the coach earlier this season, said, “For him to quit like that, it just shows his true color, like a coward with a yellow stripe down his back.”

So, who can fill the Falcons’ coaching void? While Emmitt Thomas temporarily takes over, Mark Bradley of the AJC offers a chin-up for the downtrodden franchise: former Steelers boss Bill Cowher.

PETRINO FALCONS FAREWELL LETTER DOESN’T FARE WELL: The ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION gets ahold of one of the farewell letters Bobby Petrino sent to Falcons players upon his departure from the team on Tuesday:

“Atlanta Falcons players;Out of my respect for you, I am letting you know, with a heavy heart, I resigned today as the Head Coach of the Atlanta Falcons. This decision was not easy but was made in the best interest of me and my family. While my desire would have been to finish out what has been a difficult season for us all, circumstances did not allow me to do so. I appreciate your hard work and wish the best.

Sincerely,

Bobby Petrino”

For the benefit of the AJC and everyone with the Falcons, team strong safety Lawyer Milloy made a slight edit to the note:

RICK PITINO: YOUR LEADING REVISIONIST NBA HISTORIAN: The LOUISVILLE COURIER-JOURNAL today has Rick Pitino comparing his fate with the Celtics to Bobby Petrino’s putrid run with the Falcons: “He got the same bad break I got losing the pingpong balls. … You have to have the talent, or it’s a miserable life.”

Petrino of course had nothing to do with being dogged by the defection of QB Michael Vick. But Pitino’s so-called “bad break” was when the Celts didn’t get the first pick (and a crack at Tim Duncan) in the 1994 NBA Draft. Apparently Pitino forgot that he took Ron Mercer over Tracy McGrady in the same draft and then traded draft pick Chauncey Billups, a future all-star, for a bag of magic beans.Forget bad break, that’s a self-inflicted compound fracture.

HOGS GET PETRINO; WAZZU, S. MISS, NAVY NAB COACHES: The college coaching carousel seems to be slowing down.

While the Michigan mess continues to spin out of control, Arkansas has finally landed a leader, as Bobby Petrino fled the Falcons for Fayetteville.The NORTHWEST ARKANSAS TIMES reports the new coach signed a 5-year deal worth $2.8 million per season Tuesday night, a few hours after turning in his resignation to his Atlanta employers.

Petrino becomes the 4th ex-NFL coach to currently roam the SEC sidelines, joining South Carolina’s Steve Spurrier (Redskins), Alabama’s Nick Saban (Dolphins) and Kentucky’s Rich Brooks (Rams).All four also share the common trait of previously coaching successfully at college, only to poop out in the pros - Spurrier at Florida, Saban at LSU, Brooks at Oregon, and Petrino at Louisville.

Now other schools are also starting to fill in their coaching blanks. Washington State nabbed Eastern Washington coach & former Cougar player Paul Wulff to prowl around Pullman. Southern Miss will be tipping their hat to Oklahoma State coordinator Larry Fedora to lead the Golden Eagles program.

And Navy has promoted assistant Ken Niumatalolo to captain the Midshipmen in the wake of Paul Johnson’s departure. The hire is also a barrier-breaker, as Niumatalolo is believed to be the first-ever NCAA head coach of Polynesian ancestry.Checking the leaderboard, these teams still need a savior (or at least someone to send them to a bowl game):

• Colorado State
• Duke (Vandy coach Bobby Johnson declined the offer)
• Houston
• Michigan (Last report, Les Miles still saying no)
• Northern Illinois
• SMU
• UCLA

Oh, and there’s one more opportunity that’s just opened up. All interested parties should send their resumes and headshots, along with a self-addressed stamped envelope, to:Arthur Blank
Atlanta Falcons Football Club, Inc.
4400 Falcon Parkway
Flowery Branch, GA 30542

No postcards, please.

REPORT: PETRINO BIDS ADIOS TO ATLANTA FOR ARKANSAS: ESPN is reporting that Atlanta Falcons coach Bobby Petrino will be jettisoning from the Georgia Dome to take over at Arkansas:

USA TODAY follows up that Petrino has resigned from the NFL team on Tuesday.Not even finishing a full season in the pros, sources say Petrino is bolting the 3-10 Falcons to return to the college ranks. Last year, Petrino led Louisville to a Big East title and Orange Bowl victory over Wake Forest.

If Bobby is indeed Arkansas bound, it’ll be the 4th time’s a charm for the fans in Fayetteville. The Razorbacks have already had to handle rejection from Tommy Tuberville, Tommy Bowden and Jim Grobe about their job vacancy.

THIS GIVES NEW MEANING TO THE WORDS *DOG POUND*: Michael Vick was sentenced to 23 months in federal prison today. The Feds had recommended 12-18 months, but because prosecutors indicated that Vick had not cooperated fully with them per his plea agreement, judge Henry E. Hudson sentenced Vick to nearly two years.

The ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION: “U.S. District Court Judge Henry E. Hudson said he believed Vick had been less than candid in admitting to killing pitbulls that did not test well as fighting dogs.

“The judge also noted that Vick had given contradictory statements to officials regarding his drug use while out on bond. Vick tested positive for marijuana in September shortly after entering a plea agreement.“The earliest Vick can get out is May, 2009, which is also about the time current Falcons coach Bobby Petrino will be taking a high profile college coaching job.