Editing Atlanta Falcons (section)

====Bobby Petrino====
[[Bobby Petrino]], the [[University of Louisville]]'s football coach, replaced Mora.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2007-01-08 |title=Falcons hire Louisville's Petrino as new coach |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=2723700 |access-date=2024-08-24 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref> Before the [[2007 NFL season|2007 season]] began, Vick was suspended indefinitely by the NFL after pleading guilty to charges involving dog fighting in the state of Virginia.<ref name="x199">{{cite web  | title=Vick suspended indefinitely | website=The Denver Post | date=2007-08-25 | url=https://www.denverpost.com/2007/08/24/vick-suspended-indefinitely/#:~:text=Commissioner%20Roger%20Goodell%20suspended%20the,judgment%20for%20associating%20with%20them. | access-date=2024-08-24}}</ref> On December 10, 2007, Vick received a 23-month prison sentence and was officially cut from the Atlanta roster.<ref name="b006">{{cite web | last=Macur | first=Juliet | title=Vick Receives 23 Months and a Lecture | website=The New York Times | date=2007-12-11 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/11/sports/football/11vick.html#:~:text=Hudson%20then%20sentenced%20Vick%20to,which%20had%20lasted%20six%20years. | access-date=2024-08-24}}</ref>

For the 2007 season, the [[2007 Atlanta Falcons season|Falcons]] were forced to start [[Joey Harrington]] at quarterback.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2007-04-09 |title=Falcons add QB Harrington as backup for Vick |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=2830712 |access-date=2024-08-24 |website=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press |language=en}}</ref> On December 11, 13 games into his first NFL season as head coach, [[Bobby Petrino]] resigned without notice to coach at the [[Arkansas Razorbacks football|University of Arkansas]], leaving the beleaguered players only a note in the locker room.<ref name="u444">{{cite web | last=Battista | first=Judy | title=Petrino Quits the Falcons to Coach the Razorbacks | website=The New York Times | date=2007-12-12 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/12/sports/football/12falcons.html#:~:text=A%20miserable%20year%20for%20the,best%20job%20in%20the%20N.F.L. | access-date=2024-08-24}}</ref> Secondary Coach [[Emmitt Thomas]] was named interim coach for the final three games of the season on December 12. The Falcons ended the year with a dismal 4–12 record.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2007 Atlanta Falcons Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/atl/2007.htm |access-date=2024-08-24 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

After the tumultuous and disappointing 2007 season, the Falcons made a number of moves, hiring a new general manager and head coach, drafting a new starting quarterback, and signing a starting running back.