Falcons usher in "age of Petrino" tonight

He's waited 24 years to become an NFL head coach, but Bobby Petrino finally gets his first shot at the big time this evening, as the Atlanta Falcons tee it up in a pre-season match-up against the New York Jets at 7 p.m.

The Falcons will be without Mike Vick, Warrick Dunn and Brian Finneran. Those names have become synonymous with Falcons football in previous years. But with Vick banned from camp in the wake of a federal dog-fighting probe, and with Dunn and Finneran injured, the Falcons will introduce fans to a new genre of players.

Former Lion and Dolphin Joey Harrington is the team's new starting quarterback. Harrington is expected to take around a dozen snaps before giving way to D.J. Shockley and Chris Redman, who are battling for the number two job.

Second-year back Jerious Norwood will likely play a similar number of snaps in Dunn's absence.

As for the receiving corps, where Finneran has been a mainstay for some time, 12-year veteran Joe Horn appears to be the only lock starter. Fourth year pro Michael Jenkins is the other starting receiver, though the former first rounder is considered by some to be at a make-or-break point.

Single game tickets for the Falcons' 2007 season went on sale Friday. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting AtlantaFalcons.com or Ticketmaster.com.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2007/8/86836