By Robbie Neiswanger
Arkansas News Bureau • rneiswanger@arkansasnews.com
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino has put his multi-million dollar home in East Fayetteville up for sale. But don’t panic yet Arkansas fans: The Razorbacks say it’s not a sign the coach is preparing to load up the moving truck and leave town.
Petrino’s home — which is a reported 8,000-plus square feet and has an asking price of over $2 million — was listed on the Lindsey and Associates website Wednesday. The description and accompanying photos was later removed, however, after speculation started running rampant about Petrino’s future at Arkansas.
Petrino wasn’t available for comment Wednesday, but Arkansas tried to explain with a statement.
In short, the school said there are a couple of reasons for Petrino’s decision to sell the home. One of which is that he also owns a house in Atlanta that has been up for sale for some time now.
“Coach Petrino owns a home here in Fayetteville and he still owns a home in Atlanta,” Arkansas’ statement read. “His home in Atlanta has been on the market for some time and with the market being what it is he would like to sell at least one of the homes.
“Another factor on the timing is that … his daughter is headed to college this fall. His other children are older and at a point where they have their own residences.”
The decision to sell the home could raise eyebrows because of Petrino’s reputation for jumping from job to job before arriving at Arkansas. The most notorious move came in Dec. 2007, when he left the Atlanta Falcons for Arkansas before completing his first year.
It is not known where Petrino, who earns $2.85 million a year at Arkansas, plans to live if and when he sells the Fayetteville home. But he is preparing for his third season with the Razorbacks and Arkansas appears primed for a run at the Southeastern Conference Western Division title in 2010.
Mallett at Manning Camp?
Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett may be lending a helping hand at the prestigious Manning Passing Academy this summer. Chris Mortensen, an NFL analyst for ESPN, said via Twitter that the quarterback will join Washington’s Jake Locker and Stanford’s Andrew Luck, among others, as camp counselors.
Mallett’s mother, Debbie Mallett, acknowledged that her son and Petrino have discussed the quarterback attending the camp from July 8-11, but was not certain if a decision had been made as of Wednesday.
“I don’t know if it’s been finalized,” Debbie Mallett said. “He and coach Petrino have been talking about it to make sure it’s OK. I really don’t know definitely.”
The Manning Passing Academy, which will be held on Nicholls State’s campus in Thibidaux, La., is intended for high school quarterbacks, wide receivers, tight ends and running backs. Tuition price for individual campers is set at $550, but the camp considers itself the “premier offensive skills camp in the nation.”
Harris Signs With Cleveland
Former Arkansas safety Matt Harris impressed the Cleveland Browns enough last weekend to earn a free agent contract with the organization. Harris, the son of former Dallas Cowboys great Cliff Harris, said via text Wednesday he had agreed to terms with the Browns.
Harris said he wasn’t certain about the exact terms of the contract. However, he is scheduled to return to Cleveland for organized team activities next week.
