The Harrington Family Foundation

Joey Harrington goes about life trying not to live in the past. Friends, family and sports therapists have worked with him over the past few years to help embrace every moment and not dwell on things he can't change.

That's why the Falcons quarterback comes off sometimes as a deep-thinking Hallmark card, laying out the realities before concluding his thoughts in a pretty, metaphorical bow.

For a few moments last week, he stepped out of his philosophical comfort zone and let human nature run its course.

He had yet to let anyone know what really went through his mind when, in the guts of last Sunday's 20-13 loss at Tennessee, he was pulled for No. 3 quarterback Byron Leftwich.

"I was angry. I was frustrated. I was, what other words can I use? Any adjectives you've got, I was all of them," Harrington said. "I didn't agree with it. I didn't like it."

Many of his teammates felt the same way. Several of them expressed surprise with the move and have been vocal in their support of Harrington, who was named the starter for tonight's game against the visiting New York Giants.

"It's not Joey," tailback Warrick Dunn said about the Falcons' offensive problems in their 1-4 start. "I've said that over and over. We have to be better. The offensive line has to be better. The backs have to block and run better. The wide receivers have to run better routes. We all have to be better.

"Is [Harrington] going to play great every game? No. But to me, he's played well above what anyone thought he would because of his history."

Harrington's past — it's a blessing and a curse.

He showed enough in five star-crossed seasons with Detroit and Miami to have a third team entrust him with its starting quarterback job (albeit by unforeseen circumstances). Yet, he's also shown enough for every team to have a backup plan, in this case Leftwich.

The insecurity of past letdowns is why Harrington could be on thin ice heading into Monday night's game.
Harrington has played fairly well (105-of-156 passing, 1,070 yards, four touchdowns, three interceptions), but his past run of hot-and-cold play, coupled with the position he plays, has him a deficit or a loss away from being Leftwich's backup.

"Your job is never safe, and that's the reality of it," Harrington said. "Some people have a longer leash. Some people have more leeway. I was in Lambeau Field when they booed Brett Favre three years ago when their offense was struggling. When I heard that, that validated to me that this is a crazy league.

"They're always looking for the stronger, faster, younger, better player. As soon as you learn that's how it is, the less you will need to be validated to help your performance."

Said Dunn: "Joey has been through so much in his career that to me he's ultimately a team guy. He understands the magnitude of the position, and he can handle it. If he's not the guy, he's going to support the guy who's in there. He wants to be the guy, and he has played well despite what some people have said."

Coach Bobby Petrino explained to Harrington why he pulled him. Petrino's candor may not have earned him many friends, but despite the recent locker room rumblings, it has earned him respect.

"He said he needed a spark, and you can't change the offensive line or running backs, so you change the quarterback," Harrington said. "I don't agree with it, but I understand. I very much understand."

Harrington added that he isn't feeling any pressure from Petrino to play better or to prove himself.

"I don't need extra motivation," he said. "My motivation is every guy in this locker room. It's playing well for them."

One of those 52 is Leftwich, who has made no bones about wanting to take Harrington's job.

"I don't really know how to do anything else but to go out and compete, and I hope he feels the same way," said Leftwich, who is nursing a mildly sprained right ankle. "I guess it's friends competing. He's a good guy. Everybody knows that. I understand that he wants to play, and I'm sure he understands that I want to play."

Said Harrington: "I can't do anything about decisions that are made or things I can't control. My job is to be the starting quarterback for this team, and I am the starting quarterback for this team."