I'll say one thing for former Falcons turned Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino:  He just doesn't just burn bridges, he blows them up like Bill Holden in "The Bridge on the River Kwai."  Yesterday, Petrino walked out on the Falcons, thus cementing his chances of never coaching in the NFL again.

I do have some empathy for Petrino.  He came to Atlanta with the expectation of building an offense around Michael Vick, not knowing what we know now.  Petrino is not a master builder, he is a system builder and obviously thought his system would work for Vick and the Falcons who were on the cusp of being a playoff team.  That all changed when Vick was arrested and eventually jailed for dog fighting and Petrino was left with Joey Harrington.  One wonders if Petrino yelled "do over!" as he ran out the door at the Falcons complex.

Petrino is quickly getting a reputation worthy of Nick Saban.  After getting the head coaching job at Louisville, he entertained officials from Auburn where, if they would have gotten away with it, he would have stabbed his old head coach in the back.  He sought opportunities at LSU and with the Raiders while all the time denying that he was leaving Louisville.  Of course he was, to the bright lights and big cities of the NFL where he laid a dodo sized egg, not only for running out on a 3-10 team, but for treating the players like children instead of like men. 

Petrino, like Saban, Darth Visor and several others before him are not equipped mentally to handle pro players and the demands of the NFL.  That's why there are few coaches who can cross over from D1 to the NFL.  Probably the last guy to do it successfully was Barry Switzer who followed another former college coach who was successful at the pro level, Jimmy Johnson in Dallas.  While the NFL is proving that it is backward compatible to D1 football, the quantum leap between college and the pros is still a daunting task.

So, Petrino now returns to the SEC, this time as the head coach of an Arkansas program that is in need of a tune up.  The pieces are in place and Petrino, with a little bit of system work, can make things happen for the Hogs.  Until of course the next entity comes and whispers sweet nothings in his ear.

And, just for the record, Bobby.  If you read this blog daily, you would have seen that we did warn you.

Lighting Round:

• In beating out the White Sox over outfielder Kosuke Fukudome, the Cubs proved once and for all how unrealistic the White Sox are about money.  The Cubs, who are on the block to be sold and may have completely new ownership sometime soon, went out and did what needed to be done to get their man.  The Sox, not so much.  Unless Kenny Williams can entice Aaron Rowand to take a three year deal, it looks like this off season has been a big bag of nothing for the White Sox.  And while staying focused is nice, it's hard to beat the bigger kids in the division when you have fewer weapons.  Especially pitching.  And, kids, if you think Scott Linebrink is going to shore up the bullpen, guess again.
• White Rex Grossman ponders his future with the Bears, Kyle Orton's future is now.  Either or, it's still down the crapper.
• Just a couple of years ago, Al Borges was being toasted as an offensive genius at Auburn.  Now, he's gone.  The problem is when the talent the first year is Ronnie Brown, Jason Campbell and Cadillac Williams, you are going to be successful.  Clearly, Borges wasn't given the talent to put up gaudy numbers.  It's another case of Tommy Tuberville rolling the bus over one of his assistants.
  
• Duke is looking at Vandy coach Bobby Johnson.  Coach, you have a better program now, why the heck would you leave?
• Tyrone Nix leaves Darth Visor for Houston Nutt.  Now that's what I call a glutton for punishment.
• Bobby Bowden will coach Florida State through 2008.  If he doesn't make a BCS bowl, he will be persuaded to "retire."  Bet on it.  And as for Jimbo Fisher, coach in waiting, don't trust anyone or anybody.  There's always someone else.
  
• How tough a week as Kevin Mench had?  First, he's let go by the Brewers and now the Royals aren't even interested in him.  If the Royals don't want you, that's pretty much notice that your career has concluded.
• Humor Department: AOL Fan House has some fun with the White Sox and EDSBS made me laugh until I cried with this one.
• In the category of good things happen to good people, congratulations to our friend David Poile.
  
• Isn't it frustrating enough that ESPN has power, pool, cheerleading, team dance and a spelling bee on when all you want is a game of some kind.  And now comes word that ESPN may get even more boring.
  
• You can learn a lot from a dummy (video below)