Judge Denies Rapper's Prison Request

Rapper T.I. must report Tuesday to a federal prison at Forrest City, Ark., as previously ordered, a federal judge ruled Friday. T.I., whose real name is Clifford J. Harris Jr., was sentenced to a year and a day in prison for a federal weapons charge. He asked a court Thursday to let him remain free while he seeks placement in a minimum-security prison closer to his Atlanta home, but that request was denied the next day by U.S. District Judge Judge Charles A. Pannell Jr. Harris claimed prison officials miscalculated his criminal history in a pre-sentencing report that said he had a "serious history of violence." His lawyer called a 2003 incident a "scuffle" with a mall cop. Lawyer Donald F. Samuel said he would continue to ask the federal Bureau of Prisons to re-classify the music star. The rapper is scheduled to report by noon Tuesday to the Federal Correction Institution at Forrest City, Ark. He was fined $100,000 and sentenced to 366 days for trying to buy machine guns and silencers he said he needed for protection.

(Associated Press)

Petrino quits Falcons, takes new job same night

In the midst of a difficult season for the Atlanta Falcons, another sudden twist has hit the team. Its head coach quit late Tuesday afternoon, then six hours later was introduced for a new head coaching job.

Bobby Petrino called Falcons officials yesterday afternoon to say he was resigning his post, with still three games to go in the season. By late last night, he had flown to the Midwest and was introduced as the new coach for the University of Arkansas.

Petrino goes back to the college ranks, from where he came previously--leaving Louisville to join the Falcons last January. Petrino in his comments to the media in Arkansas last night.

"It was very difficult to leave Atlanta and what we had started there. Difficult to leave the staff, the players and the fans. The timing of it was probably the thing that made it the most difficult. Certainly would have liked to have stayed and finish the season and have it all work out".

But those comments didn't sit well with at least one Falcon player when he heard of the sudden news on Tuesday--defensive back DeAngelo Hall.

"I don't have any respect for him. To just turn his back on the organization like that, it just doesn't make any tpye of sense". Coach comes in after every tough game, every tough loss and tells us to keep fighting, that he's not going to quit....for him to jump ship like that, it's very disheartening".

The Falcons are only 3-10 this season. The spectre of the team's star quarterback, Michael Vick, has hung over the franchise all season. Vick on Monday was sentenced to 23 months in prison for his role in a dogfighting operation.

The Falcons are holding an afternoon news conference to address their coaching situation.

Petrino quits as Falcons' head coach

In a season of unprecedented adversity for the Atlanta Falcons, the team sustained another blow early Tuesday evening--its rookie head coach quit after 13 games. The team has confirmed Bobby Petrino resigned his post. Reports indicate that he will return to the college gridiron to coach the University of Arkansas.

The abrupt move by Petrino comes only a day after the team's once-star quarterback, Michael Vick, was sentenced to 23 months in federal prison for his involvement in a dogfighting operation. Monday night, the Falcons lost for the 10th time in 13 games this season--a 34-14 loss to the New Orleans Saints.

Petrino in January signed a 5-year, 24.5 million dollar contract to leave his college job at Louisville and coach the Falcons. Soon after, troubles out of his control began--mainly revolving around Vick. On January 17th airport officials in Miami seized a water bottle from Vick with a hidden compartment. Later tests revealed there was no illegal substance, with Vick cleared of wrongdoing. But in April an investigation of Vick's Virginia residence turned-up evidence of a dogfighting operation. Vick's major legal troubles grew from there, resulting in his prison sentence Monday. The absence of Vick and dark cloud over the team from off-the-field distractions has been a factor in the Falcons' dismal on-field performance.

Some Falcon players at different times this season have had vocal issues with how Petrino has handled the team.

Before Monday night's game, Petrino reportedly was asked by team owner Arthur Blank whether he intended to be with the Falcons in 2008. Petrino told Blank he definitely would return as coach. That changed late Tuesday afternoon.

The Falcons have called a 2pm Wednesday news conference to address their coaching situation.