The Best Untold Story of 2007: Arthur Blank

As a Cardinal fan of fifty years who's experienced a few highs and many lows of the franchise under Bidwill ownership, it's hard to ignore the fan criticism (fairly or unfairly) leveled at the Bidwills. (It's bound to happen when you lose a lot).
 
It's hard, therefore, not to draw comparisons between the Bidwills (as perceived by the fans) and Atlanta owner, Arthur Blank (as perceived by me from my distant vantage point in NJ).
 
By all appearances, Mr. Blank is "one of the good guys"—an owner who treats his people well, treats his fans well, and who isn't afraid to surround himself with good football people while still being there for his players and staff when the occasion dictates.
 
A revealing example of Arthur's ownership style is happening even as we speak—he apparently arrived at the decision that Pres/GM Rich McKay wasn't getting the job done as Falcons GM. He didn't let grass grow under his feet, but instead, is said to have relieved McKay of his GM reponsibilities. However instead of throwing Rich into the street, he's allowed him to retain his post as President if he elects to do that.
 
So what has being a good guy gotten Arthur?
 
-He was foresaken by head coach Jim Mora
 
-His star QB, Michael Vick, is now in jail.
 
-His new Head Coach, Bobby Petrino, deserted the Falcons before his first season was over.
 
-Bill Parcells agreed to terms in the morning and jilted the Falcons for the Dolphins by day's end.
 
In the midst of molding the Falcons into a winner, head coach Jim Mora let's it be known that he'd rather be coaching in the state of Washington (and apparently had "been looking"). Because it's difficult for a Head Coach casting his eyes elsewhere to retain the loyalty of his players, it was decided that Mora's rein in Atlanta was over.
 
Vick—who, according to Arthur, was "like a son"—didn't level with the owner in a timely manner about his difficulties, and is now serving a jail term for (of all things) "promoting and profiting from dog fighting." (Note: losing your QB is one thing. Losing your QBOF is even tougher. And when your QBOF is also a home-run hitting rushing threat your entire offense is built around, you've got a heap of hurt to deal with).
 
Bobby Petrino was hired as the new Head Coach. He was most recently HC at the University of Louisville. Whenever a college coach comes in to lead an NFL team, there typically are going to be major changes—in coaching style, X's & O's, personnel policy etc. The transition usually isn't a cakewalk.

Vick's departure had thrown a monkey-wrench into Petrino's plans and, at the very least, proved to be a distraction to the team. After a devastating loss to a (stabilized and very good) Saints outfit, the Falcons were 3-10. Petrino decided to cut his losses and escape to the University of Arkansas. (Our understanding is that in a meeting the evening before, he had told Blank that he was staying and then double-crossed him the next day).

Petrino left his players high and dry, and wasn't even man enough to speak to the team directly.  Instead, he sent each of his players "a memo" (one in which his signature was crossed out by some of the players and replaced with the word "Coward!"). His departure leaves the team a boat without a rudder.
 
Rather than let the situation continue to fester, Blank and McKay did the responsible thing and immediately started a search for someone to come in to right the ship. Talks were initiated with coaching legend Bill Parcells to assume responsibility for Football Operations. The deal was apparently agreed-to in principle, with Parcells calling a NY Daily News reporter at 7:30 am on a Tues. in mid-December to tell him that he had accepted the Falcons job.

But soon thereafter, the Miami Dolphins (whom Parcells had been in discussions with earlier) upped the ante of their previously unacceptable offer. Parcells let Blank know that Miami was back in the picture and his deal with the Falcons was not done. By day's end, the Dolphs were announcing that Parcells would become their GM.
 
-Was Parcells using Blank and the Falcons purely as leverage to boost his deal with Miami?
 
-Did Petrino see the handwriting on the wall early-on and was planning his exit the whole time?
 
-Were Vick and his advisors pretty certain he'd face jail time before Blank and Rich McKay decided to "make a show of support for their guy" by trading Matt Schaub to Houston?
 
-Was Mora actively seeking a move to Washington state well before he slipped and let his thoughts become public?
 
Hard to say. Because the pattern has repeated itself so may times, it's fair to explore whether Mr. Blank is simply one of those "kick me here" perennial victims.

But it also raises the legitimate question of whether the way things now get done in the NFL have descended to a point where bright, honest, well-intentioned individuals get regularly screwed by ambitious high-ego people with the personal loyalty of Aaron Burr.
 
The NFL family has many issues to contend with, including: Criminal activity among its players, concussions, care and treatment of former players, high paid players as targets, and performance enhancing drugs. To effectively deal with these problems while attempting to put its best public foot forward, it needs all the "good guys" it can get.
 
Allowing honorable owners like Arthur Blank to be screwed over by less-principled members of the NFL family is tantamount to "eating your young."
 
Without a doubt, there are other sides of each incident worth exploring. But it all comes down to: "Why has a good guy like Arthur Blank been screwed over so repeatedly?" and "Does this mean that NFL owners have to be bastards in order to survive?"
 
For all of the above reasons, I believe this represents the Best Untold Sports Story of 2007.