Atlanta Falcons linebacker Keith Brooking and his son Logan watched television from the couch a few weeks ago when a news flash broke in.

The news: Bobby Petrino, 13 games into his first season as head coach of the Falcons, had quit his job to take over the program at the University of Arkansas.

Brooking had spent the several preceding months listening to Petrino preach the value of commitment, shared sacrifice, dedication to a common goal … you know, winners never quit, quitters never win.

Only it turned out that Petrino was so eager to quit on Brooking and the rest of the Falcons that he couldn’t even wait until the end of the season. And he couldn’t be bothered to tell his players about it.

The survivors of this disastrous Atlanta season will play host to the Seahawks today in a season-finale that probably can’t come too soon for the 3-12 Falcons.

Brooking said his team still was playing hard and trying to stay focused until the end … but it might take awhile before the Falcons trust another coach again.

“I wanted to jump through the TV,” said Brooking of the way he heard of Petrino’s resignation. “I was very mad.”

He quickly flashed back to the day before, during a loss to the New Orleans Saints. “We were out there sacrificing everything for him, trying to lay it on the line for the Atlanta Falcons, and him as our head coach,” Brooking said.

(Let’s for a moment set aside the fact that they’re paid well to do so, regardless of their coach turning out to be a shifty invertebrate).

And then he saw a clip of Petrino being introduced to the Arkansas fans, and listened to him talking about how happy he was to be there.

“It made my skin crawl,” Brooking said.

Given the kind of season the Falcons have been through, their skin may have crawled for more yardage than their offense has picked up.

First it was Michael Vick’s dog-fighting allegations and subsequent sentencing to 23 months in jail. Vick was the highest-profile player in franchise history, a talent around whom the offense had been built.

After Vick’s suspension, the Falcons sent 10 hobbled players to the injured-reserve list. And after the injuries came the insult … from Petrino.

Brooking, who has now played for three head coaches in 16 games, was not as cautious with choosing his words. In fact, he had a hard time deciding which ones best suited his feelings.

“To have him back out like that and quit, and go against everything that he talked about … shoot man, it floored me,” he said. “It hurt me bad. Betrayal came to mind … coward, quitter … so many things.”

Maybe Petrino had good and rational reasons for backing out so abruptly on his commitment, Brooking allowed. But of his objections to Petrino’s actions, what may have bothered him most was the way he found out: via a television broadcast.

“If you do it, come in and look us in the eye,” Brooking said. “Tell us.”

He’s been in the league for 10 seasons; he’s seen the good, the bad and the felonious. But this season? Nothing like it.

“We’ve seen a lot this year with the things we’ve faced,” Brooking said. “I believe with all my heart that you get what you earn. No matter what situation you’re in, winning or losing, you still have to go out there and lay it on the line because we’re playing for a lot.”

Given the team’s circumstances, it’s an admirable attitude.

One he certainly didn’t learn from his last head coach.