While most players figured Petrino would bail at the end of the season, Blank thought his coach was in it for the long haul. Even when it became apparent that Petrino was having trouble relating to pro players. Even when Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, an Arkansas alumnus, called to say his alma mater was interested in talking with the coach. Even when Petrino expressed a list of concerns during a series of meetings last weekend.

Blank took Petrino at his word when he said he planned to stay, going on national TV during a Monday night loss to New Orleans to proclaim that he felt better than ever about his rookie coach.

Less than 24 hours later, Petrino quit. Blank, a man who built a vast fortune largely on anticipating what people wanted and how they would react, comes off looking rather naive through the whole affair.

“Mostly I feel sorry for Arthur Blank,” cornerback DeAngelo Hall said. “Arthur put a lot of trust in this guy to make a lot of decisions, a lot of changes. For him to leave after tearing things up is kind of disheartening.”

Imagine how Blank must feel.

“If I end up becoming a real cynic as a result of owning a National Football League team, I probably shouldn’t be in this business,” he said.

While warning he’s “not a bottomless pit,” Blank insists that he has no intention of getting out. He also owns an Arena League team, made a bid to buy the Braves and has talked with Major League Soccer about bringing an expansion franchise to Atlanta. He seems committed to leaving a legacy in the city beyond hammers and nails.

Special feature Colts perfect, but Vikings are better

“I’m not disillusioned at all,” Blank said. “If anything, I usually end up being more committed, more focused and put more energy into what I want to accomplish, what I promised Atlanta we were going to accomplish: That’s putting a winning team on the field and bringing that Lombardi Trophy to Atlanta for the first time sometime during my tenure in Atlanta.”

Two days after Petrino left, Blank seemed like his old self again.

“Bobby who?” he said. “I’ve moved past that and moved on.”

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