John Bazemore / AP file

Falcons quarterback Joey Harrington will be Atlanta's starter this season until Michael Vick's dogfighting indictment is resolved.

“The doctors told me that the discomfort would have lingered throughout the 2007 season had we not had the surgery, so I felt like this was the best course of action for me,” Dunn said in a statement.

Only seven months into his job, Petrino has endured one setback after another.

The Falcons traded highly sought backup quarterback Matt Schaub just weeks before the allegations against Vick surfaced. Defensive lineman Rod Coleman ruptured his right quadriceps in a watercraft accident. Linebacker Demorrio Williams underwent surgery after tearing a pectoral muscle while lifting weights. Defensive lineman Jonathan Babineaux faces felony animal cruelty charges over the death of his girlfriend’s dog.

Then, in the days leading up to training camp, there was Vick’s indictment, Dunn’s surgery and misdemeanor marijuana charges against cornerback Jimmy Williams.

“Every year, you’re going to deal with controversy and adversity,” Petrino said. “We’ve certainly had our fair share so far.”

Having left a highly successful college job at Louisville, he’s now coaching a franchise in disarray. Any second thought?

“I have absolutely no regrets about taking this job,” Petrino insisted. “I’m very motivated and energetic toward the challenge.”

Maybe he’s already sneaking a pick at next season. If Vick doesn’t return and the Falcons have the sort of season that prognosticators are expecting, they’ll wind up with a high pick in next year’s draft.

And, if they’re in the market for a quarterback, there could be a pretty good one available that Petrino knows a thing or two about:

Louisville’s Brian Brohm.

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