Former Razorback Jamal Anderson Has One Word for Bobby Petrino

I’ll tell you who is really getting hosed by Bobby Petrino’s defection to Arkansas: Jamal Anderson. He’s the Falcons rookie DE from Arkansas who now can’t enjoy romping on the Razorback sideline next year without seeing and most likely loathing his old coach.

Defensive end Jamaal Anderson, the Falcons' first-round pick from Arkansas, was asked what he would tell his alma mater about its new coach.
"One word: Disloyal," Anderson replied.

I doubt he would even go near the sideline now. Hell, Petrino might ban him just to avoid the potential confrontation. Either way Jamal Anderson is going to have mixed emotions about his Alma Mater. Why would Arkansas want a guy willing to leave a new job after 13 games (for less money too)?

When I first heard this news I was shocked and humored that a coach would bail out so quick on his first NFL job. Then I read some of the comments from the Falcons and I realized this guy was not making any friends in Atlanta.

RB Warrick Dunn had this to say:

We're not college kids," said Dunn, a 32-year-old, 11-year veteran. "I'm a professional, grown man. Look at me eye to eye. Talk to me. But Bobby wasn't like that."

"It got to the point where I never went down to team dinners to eat because I was not going to sit there in silence," Dunn said. "It's a joke. You tell kindergartners things like that."

I saved the best for last, from Lawyer Milloy:

This league is not for everybody," Milloy said. "This league is for real men. I think he realized he didn't belong here."

Slap!! No, I mean BITCH slap!! What’s Petrino going to say? Most of these guys would love the opportunity to ‘discuss’ this move in private. Petrino better stay in Little Rock for a while.

So again, how did the Arkansas brain trust come to the conclusion that this is the right guy? Petrino must have spun quite a story to the Arkansas brass. I’ll bet it went something like this:

• "Professionals are spoiled and unmotivated and I want to wear long hair"
• "I really missed working with the kids and their love for the game"
• "I lost Michael Vick"
• "I’m a Razorback at heart ...I loved that movie Deliverance...Soooeeeey!"
• "Arthur Blank made me shop at Home Depot and I’m a Lowes guy"

Surely I jest. Falcons owner Arthur Blank on the other hand is also pissed. Here’s how things went down for him after confirming Petrino was going to stay with the Falcons:

"He stood up, we shook hands and he said, 'You have a head coach,' " Blank said.
Twenty-four hours later, Petrino submitted his resignation, hopped on a plane to Arkansas and signed a deal as Razorbacks coach for less money than his five-year, $24 million deal with the Falcons.
"The best way to describe the way we feel," Blank said, "is betrayed."

How does someone do that? Look the guy that gave you your biggest opportunity and tell him you’re staying only to leave 24 hours later? I can’t improve on what the Falcons have said except to say this guy must not have much confidence in his own ability. Something tells me some Arkansas alums may not be happy with the way this reflects on their program. Jamal Anderson is at the top of the list.