Blank gets a pass, Petrino gets the bird! Posted by The Sports DivaSports/shock columnist Jason Whitlock never lets me down, and like on most occasions, I disagree with some of his recent comments in his recent piece. He implied it was Michael Vick who set the roof on fire at the Georgia Dome and let that mutha burn and everything that's set the Atlanta Falcons back 10 years since April is his doing. So, owner Arthur Blank should be the hero? Bobby Petrino should get a pass, despite the fact that in his inaugural season as NFL coach, he deserted his team with three games remaining only to return from whence he came-college?http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/7559392I'll admit Blank deserves every bit of a break. Considering the crises he's endured, from the Vick mess and now his head coach flying the coupe, he deserves our sympathies. Shoot, I'll even give Blank a hall pass this time for his comments during the Saints/Falcons game Monday Night Football only hours after Vick's sentencing. Blank implied he won't slam the door on the possibility of Vick returning to the Falcons once he's a free bird and he can demonstrate he's in healthy football shape, but "if he doesn't watch himself and eat a lot of fried chicken and fries, in prison and he comes out 215 pounds, then he's not going to be the same athlete he was."Look Blank's post-traumatic stress levels are probably at an all time high. But there are no racist implications. Now if Blank verbally illustrated a correlation between Vick and a jar of pickled pig feet or plate of chitlins, collard greens, and watermelon with a glass of red soda…Then Reverends Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton have my blessings!As a native Texan, I know us Southern folks-Black and White- eat fried chicken; I, too, have a personal relationship with it. Furthermore, prisons serve chicken. It certainly puts the pounds on you. And Blank. Who knows? He probably goes on chicken binges himself.But, no pass no play for Petrino. We know Vick is what attracted him to the job. And granted, he didn't have a crystal ball on hand so he didn't expect Vick's transgressions to ruin his plans. Sure as heck didn't see him going to prison. He didn't harm any animals, but Whitlock and others in his amen corner should be examined if they believe Petrino isn't as much (or more) of a liar as Vick was labeled-who's mainly at fault for being too loyal to his homies and just plain stupid in his decision making. Petrino-he was stupid in his decision making but disloyal to Blank, the team, and the Falcon fans. Players' explanation of his abrupt departure via a sorry ass letter- typed and not even close to a five paragraph essay. Before Monday's game, after hearing of the rumors of Petrino courting the Arkansas job, Blank asked Petrino if he'd be around to ride out the storm with them. "You have a coach," said Petrino. Maybe that was the clue Blank didn't pick up on; he didn't specify how long he'd stick around. Hoodwinked, used and 'abused' less than 24 hours later.Vick never intentionally 'quit' or 'resigned' from his job as a Falcon; he was asked not to return. And even though he knew this season was doomed as well, I doubt Vick consulted Petrino on an exit strategy to get the heck out of dodge. He had his own issues to deal with.Petrino quit voluntarily. He was a smoking gun and like a thief in the night, he robbed an entire organization of trust when he threw up the two finger deuce and boarded the plane to chop it up pig "suey" style past 10 at night to announce his new play things: the kids, student-athletes at the University of Arkansas.So for that, he doesn't deserve a pass. Current and potential Razorbacks don't deserve to stare at the question mark that'll follow Petrino around the gridiron grounds of Fayetteville. Will he stay or will he go?A vagabond- a mover and a shaker coach like him who'd pull an about face- should serve as a plate of caution to parents whose sons will be the next student-athletes. Don't just settle on a university with a big television contract, but also a coach/leader/mentor with stability, especially in 'unique' situations. Sticking around through the tough times (i.e. losing seasons, adversity) ain't likely in Petrino's forte.Before this (one season) disaster in lone NFL stint, he was a great coach in college at Louisville, with a 41-9 record in four seasons. So will you still give Petrino a pass to have a seat on your couch, promise your son's in good hands, but not really certain if his firm handshake at the conclusion of his speech is the most honest?I wouldn't let him sit on my couch.Even if the plastic was still on it!

Posted by The Sports Diva

Sports/shock columnist Jason Whitlock never lets me down, and like on most occasions, I disagree with some of his recent comments in his recent piece. He implied it was Michael Vick who set the roof on fire at the Georgia Dome and let that mutha burn and everything that's set the Atlanta Falcons back 10 years since April is his doing. So, owner Arthur Blank should be the hero? Bobby Petrino should get a pass, despite the fact that in his inaugural season as NFL coach, he deserted his team with three games remaining only to return from whence he came-college?

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/7559392

I'll admit Blank deserves every bit of a break. Considering the crises he's endured, from the Vick mess and now his head coach flying the coupe, he deserves our sympathies. Shoot, I'll even give Blank a hall pass this time for his comments during the Saints/Falcons game Monday Night Football only hours after Vick's sentencing. Blank implied he won't slam the door on the possibility of Vick returning to the Falcons once he's a free bird and he can demonstrate he's in healthy football shape, but "if he doesn't watch himself and eat a lot of fried chicken and fries, in prison and he comes out 215 pounds, then he's not going to be the same athlete he was."

Look Blank's post-traumatic stress levels are probably at an all time high. But there are no racist implications. Now if Blank verbally illustrated a correlation between Vick and a jar of pickled pig feet or plate of chitlins, collard greens, and watermelon with a glass of red soda…

Then Reverends Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton have my blessings!

As a native Texan, I know us Southern folks-Black and White- eat fried chicken; I, too, have a personal relationship with it. Furthermore, prisons serve chicken. It certainly puts the pounds on you. And Blank. Who knows? He probably goes on chicken binges himself.

But, no pass no play for Petrino. We know Vick is what attracted him to the job. And granted, he didn't have a crystal ball on hand so he didn't expect Vick's transgressions to ruin his plans. Sure as heck didn't see him going to prison. He didn't harm any animals, but Whitlock and others in his amen corner should be examined if they believe Petrino isn't as much (or more) of a liar as Vick was labeled-who's mainly at fault for being too loyal to his homies and just plain stupid in his decision making. Petrino-he was stupid in his decision making but disloyal to Blank, the team, and the Falcon fans. Players' explanation of his abrupt departure via a sorry ass letter- typed and not even close to a five paragraph essay. Before Monday's game, after hearing of the rumors of Petrino courting the Arkansas job, Blank asked Petrino if he'd be around to ride out the storm with them. "You have a coach," said Petrino. Maybe that was the clue Blank didn't pick up on; he didn't specify how long he'd stick around. Hoodwinked, used and 'abused' less than 24 hours later.

Vick never intentionally 'quit' or 'resigned' from his job as a Falcon; he was asked not to return. And even though he knew this season was doomed as well, I doubt Vick consulted Petrino on an exit strategy to get the heck out of dodge. He had his own issues to deal with.

Petrino quit voluntarily. He was a smoking gun and like a thief in the night, he robbed an entire organization of trust when he threw up the two finger deuce and boarded the plane to chop it up pig "suey" style past 10 at night to announce his new play things: the kids, student-athletes at the University of Arkansas.

So for that, he doesn't deserve a pass. Current and potential Razorbacks don't deserve to stare at the question mark that'll follow Petrino around the gridiron grounds of Fayetteville. Will he stay or will he go?

A vagabond- a mover and a shaker coach like him who'd pull an about face- should serve as a plate of caution to parents whose sons will be the next student-athletes. Don't just settle on a university with a big television contract, but also a coach/leader/mentor with stability, especially in 'unique' situations. Sticking around through the tough times (i.e. losing seasons, adversity) ain't likely in Petrino's forte.

Before this (one season) disaster in lone NFL stint, he was a great coach in college at Louisville, with a 41-9 record in four seasons. So will you still give Petrino a pass to have a seat on your couch, promise your son's in good hands, but not really certain if his firm handshake at the conclusion of his speech is the most honest?

I wouldn't let him sit on my couch.

Even if the plastic was still on it!