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Following the unexpected
resignation of Bobby Petrino on Tuesday, Emmitt Thomas was announced as the new
interim coach for the Atlanta Falcons. "The rest of this season, Emmitt
Thomas will be our interim head coach," Falcons owner Arthur Blank said
Wednesday. "He's a 28-year coaching veteran with a 13-year playing career.
He has two Super Bowl rings, as defensive backs coach for the Redskins and one
as a player. He's in the Kansas City Chiefs Ring of Honor."
The 64-year-old
former Chiefs cornerback said: “I’m honored and excited and nervous and
happy to have the opportunity. It’s an opportunity for myself and the other
coaches and coordinators to try to rally these guys and get them going to play
competitive football the rest of the season.”
However, Thomas,
who has been the Falcons’ defensive-backs coach since 2002 and coached 6 NFL
teams in his 28-year career, said he isn’t planning on a full-time job coaching
the Atlanta team: “Let’s don’t take this any further than this day and
this game-to-game situation,” he said. “I’ll be 65 in June, and all the years
I’ve been here have been good to me, and I’m just happy I can give some back.”
“I respect
Emmit the utmost. He’s been a player. He has a ton of experience. I know he’s
going to lead us in the right direction. I think everybody in this locker room
is looking forward to playing for him,” said Todd McClure, center for the
Atlanta Falcons.
Falcons come
after a 3-10 under Petrino, who had little support from the players on his
departure. According to the players, they never got used to his tougher and
more disciplined style. Thomas’ appointment however brought a note of
enthusiasm in the Falcons’ locker room.
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