By Scott Daniels, Esq., NFL Draft Bible
Treason. It's defined as a violation of allegiance to one's sovereign or to one's state. It's also known as the betrayal of trust or confidence. It is an act of dishonor and is potentially the most shameful crime one can commit. Anyone who audaciously commits such a heinous act is deemed a traitor.
Bobby Petrino is a traitor.
Bobby Petrino was recently convicted for treason in the court of public opinion after his shameful resignation from the Atlanta Falcons. Earlier this week, Petrino abandoned his depleted Falcon team to become the head coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks. The move was not only classless, but many saw it as a disgrace to the coaching world.
In 2006, Petrino inked a five-year deal with the Falcons worth $24 million and left the University of Louisville to jump to the pros. With expectations of coaching the now incarcerated Michael Vick, Petrino was left to mold a scarred and somewhat dejected Atlanta Falcon team. Thirteen games into the current season, Petrino stepped down as head coach. Petrino's resignation not only surprised his players, but his owner, Arthur Blank, was under the impression that Petrino had no intentions of leaving the Falcon organization any time soon.
It's perfectly acceptable to portray Petrino as a traitor. The way he went about resigning as head coach of the Falcons was downright egregious. In fact, he even told his owner that he was remaining on board as the Falcon's head coach a day before Blank appeared on Monday Night Football. Petrino blatantly lied and misrepresented his intentions about carrying out his contractual duties as the head coach of the Falcons.
What makes this story even worse is that Petrino notified his players of his resignation by affixing a letter to their lockers. He didn't even have the dignity to face each player and tell them he wasn't happy with his current job.
In a league where the NFL is sometimes referred to as "Not For Long," coaches frequently jump at other opportunities because they know job security is a rarity. Unfortunately, loyalty in sports is virtually obsolete these days. However, this does not excuse Petrino's utter disregard for his team, his colleagues and the Falcon organization.
Petrino's act of betrayal will not land him in any prison. He will most likely avoid any civil liabilities as a result of his resignation. But in the eyes of the sports world, Bobby Petrino's unethical tactics have branded him as a traitor.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Who wants to coach the Falcons anyway? They have relied for too long on this one great player who is now in prison, built a team around him when they should have been concentrating on other areas, such as defense. . .
Personally I think it would be way better to coach in the NCAA anyway. I mean he left for the money, but he went back for the love of the game. That is how I see it.
Screw the traitor BS. If that is true then every coach that leaves before his bowl game is a traitor. Look at Rich Rodriguez heading to the team up north. I mean yeah, it's a way better job, but wait until the season is over.
Post a Comment