Screw the NFL

- Bobby Petrino jumps ship from the No Fun League to Arkansas. Just proves again that even 2nd tier college jobs are light years better than NFL jobs.

I'm not defending these coaches like Spurrier, Saban, Petrino. I think they're idiots for even jumping to the NFL to begin with. But it adds to my ongoing disgust of the NFL. It's run by communists, it's more powerful than it needs to be, the public is blind and somehow obsessed with it, it's been saved by fantasy football, and outside of 1-2 games a weekend, they're all snoozer matchups.

All the coaches are retreads and no names, and you never know coaches around the league from year to year. You can't build teams anymore, you draft a guy and in 3 years he's gone. The salary cap handcuffs you. The games are on Sundays. The ticket prices are in the 100s. The clock doesn't stop at first downs because they have to have games end at 3 hours to usher in a new set of games. Comebacks are next to impossible. Screw the NFL.

Falcons' Petrino resigns, is hired as Arkansas head coach

11:16 PM CST on Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Associated Press

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Bobby Petrino was hired Tuesday as the football coach at Arkansas, capping a whirlwind day in which he stunningly resigned from the Atlanta Falcons after just 13 games.

Petrino succeeds Houston Nutt, who stepped down at Arkansas two weeks ago and became the head coach at Mississippi. Petrino was introduced as the Razorbacks coach by incoming athletic director Jeff Long at a late-night news conference.

“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 friendship with him.”

In January, Petrino left as head coach at Louisville to take over in Atlanta, agreeing to a five-year, $24 million contract handed out by a team that felt he could help Michael Vick reach his full potential.

However, the star quarterback came under investigation for a grisly dogfighting operation that led him to plead guilty to federal charges. On Monday Vick was sentenced Monday to 23 months in prison without ever taking a snap for Petrino.

On Monday night, the Falcons lost to New Orleans 34-14, and hours later Petrino left the team with a 3-10 record to return to the college ranks.

“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 is the thing that made it most difficult. Coming to Arkansas was the easy part.”

Arkansas had been looking for a coach for two weeks to replace Nutt, who resigned after a tumultuous season of his own. The Razorbacks came close to hiring Wake Forest's Jim Grobe last week, but Grobe remained with the Demon Deacons and Arkansas fans had to wonder whether the school could attract a big-name coach.

In Petrino, the Razorbacks found one. Petrino went 41-9 in four years at Louisville, coaching some of the highest-scoring teams in the country before leaving in January to join the Falcons.

Petrino received a standing ovation from the Arkansas supporters who came to his introductory news conference.

“Coach, this is just the tip of the iceberg,” chancellor John White announced.

Petrino's stint was one of the shortest for a non-interim coach since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger. Pete McCulley was fired after starting out 1-8 with San Francisco in 1978, and Sid Gillman lasted only 10 games in his second stint as San Diego coach, going 4-6 in 1971 before quitting.

In an interesting twist, Lou Holtz coached the New York Jets for 13 games in 1976. He went 3-10, then left the team with one game remaining to become the coach at Arkansas.

Atlanta owner Arthur Blank and general manager Rich McKay were scheduled to hold a news conference Wednesday. There was no immediate word on who would take over for the team's final three games.

After losing Vick, Bobby Petrino tried three quarterbacks without success. The Falcons have lost four straight, all by double-digit margins, and are assured of the 32nd season of .500 or worse in their 42-year history.

“Anytime you're without one of the best athletes in the National Football League, it's going to be tough,” cornerback DeAngelo Hall said earlier in the season. “Take Peyton Manning from the Colts, and they'll go through a little slump.”

Arkansas played in the Southeastern Conference championship game in 2006, but the Razorbacks finished that season with three straight losses and Nutt faced unrest from fans and dissension in the program.

Fans used the Freedom of Information Act to investigate Nutt's cell phone records. As the team struggled this year, planes were spotted at games towing anti-Nutt banners.

This season started with Nutt's longterm status shaky, and the mood in Arkansas worsened when the Razorbacks began the SEC season 0-3. They finished strong, beating then-No. 1 LSU in their regular-season finale to go 8-4.

However, within days of one of his biggest victories at Arkansas, Nutt departed and defensive coordinator Reggie Herring was named interim coach.

Herring will coach the 25th-ranked Razorbacks when they face No. 7 Missouri in the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 1. Then Petrino is the only person in charge.

“I knew I wanted to come back and coach in college football,” Petrino said. “I'm very excited to get back and work with the student athlete.”



- Another MLB gang bang of free agent signings leaves the Rangers sitting in the corner of the room playing with themselves. Japanese corner outfielder signs with the Cubs. And for a reasonable $12 mil a year. Would have been a nice, affordable option for the weakest outfield in the majors, and probably a top 5 worst 3-5 hitting lineup in the league as well. Why not sign this guy for 4 years at below market value, give yourself some extra development time for your outfielders in the minors, and bolster your outfield without breaking the bank? I hate Tom Hicks.



Japanese star Fukudome coming to Chicago to play for Cubs

CHICAGO -- Japanese outfielder Kosuke Fukudome and the Chicago Cubs reached a preliminary agreement Tuesday on a $48 million, four-year contract.

The deal is subject to a physical, according to a person familiar with the negotiations who spoke on condition of anonymity because no announcement had been made. The agreement could be finalized as early as Wednesday.

ESPN 1000 radio in Chicago first reported the agreement.

Fukudome was considered one of the best outfielders in Japanese baseball. The 30-year-old slugger was a key member of the Japan team that won the inaugural World Baseball Classic in March 2006.

He had surgery on his right elbow in August and sat out the Japan Series, but has 192 homers and a .305 batting average over nine seasons with the Chunichi Dragons, who won their first championship in 53 years on Nov. 2.

After becoming a free agent, Fukudome drew interest from the Cubs, San Diego Padres and White Sox.

He is expected to play right field for the Cubs, who traded outfielder Jacque Jones to Detroit this offseason and declined their contract option on veteran Cliff Floyd.

All-Star slugger Alfonso Soriano returns in left and speedy prospect Felix Pie is expected to take over in center after shuttling between the majors and minors this season. The Cubs hope Fukudome will provide the consistent left-handed bat they seek to go along with righties Soriano, Aramis Ramirez and Derrek Lee.

Chicago won the NL Central title last season before being swept by Arizona in the first round of the playoffs.

Fukudome was the 2006 Central League MVP, batting .351 with 31 homers and 104 RBIs. He recently told the Dragons he wouldn't return next season, saying he wanted to move to the major leagues.



- Very cool time-waste. Although I've run this many times and I don't agree with the results at all.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/bowls07/bracket