Joey Harrington, Atlanta Falcons Starting QB?!?
Could a local boy maybe finally make good on the infinite promise of his early days? Harrington’s was supposed to be the guy to turn things around in Detroit when he was first drafted, but the Lions were pretty terrible while he was at the QB helm, not that they’ve been much better without him.
But then it was off to Miami and the Dolphins last year as their backup QB — a pretty big fall from being the third choice in the first round of the draft to instant backup status on your second team — but he was upgraded to the starting position after four games when Daunte Culpepper imploded. But with a 5-6 personal record there, Miami soon traded him to the Atlanta Falcons, again as a backup to the star QB Michael Vick.
But now that Vick’s in some superheated water due to his (alleged) nasty habits having to do with dogfighting, could this be Harrington’s time to shine, finally? I mean, even with Vick, Atlanta and their new coach were kind of in a rebuilding zone this year, and with Vick probably now out for the season, barring a miracle, the expectations are even lower. So if ever there was a low-pressure situation in which Harrington might be able to shine, this is it. Here’s hoping he and his new team surprise us all and have at least a decent year.
Not that I’ll be rooting for the Falcons, but you know, I’m all for some good (non-dog-fighting-related) entertainment value.
I’ve got to think that Harrington will do better in Atlanta than he did in Detroit. That said, he essentially ran the show in Miami and really never got consistent. It may be a matter of finding the right fit, but I’m really starting to wonder if he’s a legitimate starter in the NFL. Seems pretty clear to me that this is a make-or-break opportunity; he has the chance to be a hero here. I hope he can seize that opportunity.
1) Joey can do it
2) Brent sucks my balls
um, sorry, brent what now?
Harrington has a great arm, but slow feet and almost-as-slow decision-making abilities.
Vick has (had?) a fairly good arm, fast feet and interception-prone decision-making abilities.
Joey’s fate with the Atlanta Falcons will turn somewhat on how significantly the superior on-field infrastructure will let him capitalize on his strengths while minimalizing his limitations.
The Falcons led the league in rushing last year. That translates to additional offensive weapons and blocking that could- if channeled into QB protection- buy time for his receivers to get open and Joey’s great arm to reach them.
That said he will have better receivers, offensive line and running backs than he had to deal with in Detroit and Miami.
But can he capitalize?
but they led the league in rushing because Vick ran for over 1000 yards. subtract that, you got no time for joey to wait to pass ’cause the defense will be all over him.
Well, first the whole Mike Vick scandal now looms as the next O.J. Trial. This time it’s blacks VS the militant vegetarians and “dog rescuers”, 99% who appear to be… middle aged white women. So we’re in for some fun with Hip Hop culture VS the PETA cult.
Man I hope Joey has considered a career in politics, because he’s gonna need it. The ATL is a race-card hotbed going back 30 years in sports to Hank Aaron. Just visit the AJC newspaper website and read the blogs. Half the folks want a black QB and they’re not shy about saying it. Loud.
The Miami situation last year was another team disaster. Offense had NO direction and Harrington kind of got thrown into it. They really had no System, the team fell apart, and coach Saban quit.
He’s got a real opportunity here with new coach Bobby Petrino, to actually start the season #1. Joey’s QB Coach is Bill Musgrave, another ex-Duck. The O-Coordinator is Hue Jackson who came to ATL from Cincy where he coached a very good Offense.
One comment today after Training Camp was, he said Petrino’s system is “the opposite of” a West Coast Offense which he ran in Detroit all those years. Should be interesting to see Joey going vertical for a change – Go Falcons!!