Pete Carroll to leave USC for the Falcons?

The big news of the day is Pete Carroll has expressed interest in the Atlanta Falcons Head Coaching job, which immediately brings up a smack in the face and the question: Why?

Well obviously it is every coach's dream to coach at that highest level, and in this case, the NFL. But the Atlanta Falcons? I'm 83% certain the USC Trojans can beat the Falcons in a game, never mind compete with them. I mean how many 1st Round talents are there in Atlanta? Three?

So on first look, why in the blue hell would this job be attractive?

Maybe it's because this is one of the few NFL jobs that have "play God" in the job description. Our boy Petey would have complete control over the personnel decisions, just like he would in sunny Southern Cal. But is that what he really, truly wants?

Sure, in principle, that's what anybody would want. With a stroke of a pen, he could get guys perfect for his system and weed out everybody else. All questions would end with him, and there would only himself to second guess. But reality check: This isn't USC anymore. Sure the girls look the same but Matt Leinart and Carson Palmer aren't at the helm of your offense. If you want one of them, you need to draft them or sign them. It's not as easy as giving them a car or having one of the cheerleaders show them a "good time." And until that time, Joey Harrington is your best option at quarterback. Still excited?

The point is that there is a reason why they don't give coaches full control at this level. The NFL is a business, and from what I know about businesses, it's a heck of a lot harder to micro-manage than to hire somebody else to do it if for no reason but to have a fall back. Hire somebody. Anybody, really. Hey, if that new QB doesn't work out, you'll have a scapegoat and at the very least, it'll keep you around for a couple of years. Even if it was your pick. They wouldn't have to know.

Look at all the other college coaches. Look at the very job he's interested in taking. Look at recent history, look at all those coaches that have risen and fallen back into the SEC... cough. Not that Pete Carroll's just any coach, but geez, these Falcons' best example of teamwork was coordinating matching band-aids for their incarcerated former quarterback.

So with all this said, should Pete Carroll take the Atlanta job? The answer is about as complicated as Tiger Woods' ethnicity. His ego may want this fixer-upper just so that he can build on his legacy. His heart may remain with those 56 running backs in Southern Cal. His head should be just recovering about now after being blinded by the national spotlight. God knows he won't get much down there. This job may be everything that Pete Carroll wants, and yet everything he doesn't need. It's like that song.

It's not that USC is the better job, even though it is. It's that Atlanta is the worst job. If you asked me, I'd ask elsewhere.