Falcons resign harrington after releasing him last week.

[BB6dohcvtec]

Falcons re-sign quarterback Joey Harrington
QB situation looks awfully similar to last season

By STEVE WYCHE
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 03/11/08

With Joey Harrington signing a two-year contract with the Falcons on Tuesday — a week after he was cut by Atlanta — the quarterback situation looks like it did heading into training camp last summer after the NFL suspended starter Michael Vick.

The only difference could be the pecking order. Chris Redman, a minimum-salaried free agent who wasn't expected to make the final roster last season after being out of football for more than a year, could have the early track at the starting job. He finished the 2007 season with momentum and the confidence of his teammates, playing well over the final four games, and was rewarded Feb. 29 with a two-year, $4 million contract.


Harrington, who started the first six games last season — 10 overall — and College Park native D.J. Shockley could be competing for the main backup job. Byron Leftwich, who was added during the season and started two games, has been released.

Coach Mike Smith hasn't set a depth chart yet heading into a pre-draft veteran mini-camp in mid-April, so the job could be up for grabs. The only thing Smith has said is that he hopes to have stiff competition at all positions.

The Falcons also are expected to select a quarterback during the April 26-27 draft.

Harrington's return provides, at the least, more depth at a position that has been unstable since the NFL disciplined Vick for his role in a federal dogfighting operation. Vick pleaded guilty to criminal charges and was sentenced to 23 months in prison. Harrington signed a restructured, multiyear contract that will pay him just under $4 million total and gives the Falcons some short-term salary-cap relief from his previous deal.

Harrington would have counted a little more than $3.5 million on the 2008 cap before he was cut.

[gtikid]

Whhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhy??? What the fuck are the Falcons thinking?! I guess we can count another season down the drain. I wanna see D.J. Shockley play already

[Deke]

Well like the article says they are more than likely going to pick up a QB in the draft. I don't really see the problem.

[gtikid]

Well like the article says they are more than likely going to pick up a QB in the draft. I don't really see the problem.

Exactly. If they were gonna pick up a QB in the draft, what was the point of WASTING money by picking up Joey AFTER releasing him a couple weeks ago. Makes no sense. But then again, it is the Falcons we are talking about

[Double_0_Rusty]

Put DJ in and let him do his thang......

[BB6dohcvtec]

plz put dj in so he can suck, so we can recycle his ass

[FRYLOCK]

first of all falcons suck balls just like harrington the falcons will need another 6 seasons till they hit 500

[FRYLOCK]

tha smart thing to d0o wuld be to wait for vick to get out of jail and give him another chance

[OneSlow5pt0]

if we draft a QB,it will be good to have joey as insurance

[iNsTuN nOoDoH]

Harrington sucks! He can't scramble and when he gets rushed he balls up into the fetal position. I want to see Shockley play too, but Redman is doin pretty well at his job too.

P.S. Harrington sucks.

[Hulud]

Exactly. If they were gonna pick up a QB in the draft, what was the point of WASTING money by picking up Joey AFTER releasing him a couple weeks ago. Makes no sense. But then again, it is the Falcons we are talking about

it makes perfect sense, because they wanted the salary cap room.

they didnt want to get rid of a veteran QB, harrington is mediocre at best. but its better to have someone with some experience incase redman flops and shockley either gets hurt or he flops as well.

and then if those two took a sh*t then we would be stuck with a rookie QB, which is worse than having harrington. cause if the rookie has a bad season he could be f*cked for the rest of his career. you just dont usually have your rookie QB playing that much because you want him to have confidence and a great career cause of the investment on him

[Killer]

it makes perfect sense, because they wanted the salary cap room.

they didnt want to get rid of a veteran QB, harrington is mediocre at best. but its better to have someone with some experience incase redman flops and shockley either gets hurt or he flops as well.

and then if those two took a sh*t then we would be stuck with a rookie QB, which is worse than having harrington. cause if the rookie has a bad season he could be f*cked for the rest of his career. you just dont usually have your rookie QB playing that much because you want him to have confidence and a great career cause of the investment on him

"i like the way you talk"

[Greddypacked]

Harrington sucks! He can't scramble and when he gets rushed he balls up into the fetal position. I want to see Shockley play too, but Redman is doin pretty well at his job too.

P.S. Harrington sucks.

Lol your right, but if you know what it's like being in the pocket when all these 6'5" guys over 300lbs are all coming at you it makes some people feel that way. This is the pro's though, we dont need no half a s s players playing pro football.

[OneSlow5pt0]

some how 90% of NFL has pocket QBs....and they do great,so why does ATL have to have a running QB?

maybe if they get a OL thats worth a damn,he could have time to throw the ball,i dont care if tom brady was on team,he be just as bad

[Deke]

some how 90% of NFL has pocket QBs....and they do great,so why does ATL have to have a running QB?

maybe if they get a OL thats worth a damn,he could have time to throw the ball,i dont care if tom brady was on team,he be just as bad

Thank you. I mean don't get me wrong, Vick was exciting as hell to watch, but they just need to pick up a solid pocket QB (Matt Ryan).

[gtikid]

it makes perfect sense, because they wanted the salary cap room.

they didnt want to get rid of a veteran QB, harrington is mediocre at best. but its better to have someone with some experience incase redman flops and shockley either gets hurt or he flops as well.

and then if those two took a sh*t then we would be stuck with a rookie QB, which is worse than having harrington. cause if the rookie has a bad season he could be f*cked for the rest of his career. you just dont usually have your rookie QB playing that much because you want him to have confidence and a great career cause of the investment on him

Now that just makes even less sense. They want the salary cap room, so they should sign a shitty quarterback AFTER they released him? If they decided to release him just after one season of him playing and not even completing the whole season () what's the point of WASTING the salary cap room they have and resigning him? Redman did ok towards the end and come on, who would you rather see on the field? Who would you rather "fall-back" on ()? Redman or Herrington? NEITHER! So why not just ditch Joey like they did, and keep Redman starting leaving him with Shockley as the back-up and trying to mold Ryan? Let's face it, this season isn't gonna be a winning season for the Falcons either. Might as well get Ryan a little playing time and break him in

[iNsTuN nOoDoH]

I don't care if they're pocket or scrambler, but if you see you're about to get sacked, get rid of the ball. We need a black quarterback haha