Harrington landed in right situation to revive career

Joey Harrington has thrown more interceptions (77) than touchdowns (72) in his career, but he's hoping to reverse that trend in Atlanta. Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

Michael Vick Pleads Guilty • Vick formally enters guilty plea to dogfighting • Text of Vick's post-hearing apology • McCANN: What sentence will Vick get? • Monumental day in store for Falcons • NFL suspends Vick after he files plea • DOHRMANN: What exactly did Vick admit? • McCann: Judge still plays key role in Vick case • CNN: Grim future for most fighting dogs • NAACP thinks Vick should be able to return • KING: Hard to imagine upcoming season • BANKS: NFL personnel gurus on Vick's future • Athletes prosecuted by federal government

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Joey Harrington has only limited experience with the idea of being in the right place at the right time in his career, so he doesn't necessarily see it as karmic payback or a favor from the football gods that Michael Vick's demise in Atlanta has led to the re-emergence of his NFL fortunes.

Harrington doesn't feel lucky. He feels ready: Ready to seize an opportunity few saw coming. Ready to write a new chapter to a career that most felt was already a long way toward being defined. Ready to shed the failures of the past and prove to the doubters that he can handle this unexpected turn of events.

"I've spent the last two years trying to get my confidence back as a quarterback,'' Harrington told me earlier this month at Falcons training camp. "So much of what a quarterback does is about confidence. That's what I lost in Detroit. But I'm much more of a quarterback today than what I was with the Lions, or even last year in Miami. Now it's time to show that.''

It is unquestionably Harrington's time. With Vick now definitively out of the picture in Atlanta after announcing his intent to plead guilty in a dogfighting ring, the Falcons, for the foreseeable future, are Harrington's team. Now we get to find out if it's a match born out of anything but desperation.

"I couldn't have asked for a better opportunity,'' Harrington said. "This is the most talented team that I've played on. And more than that, this is a team that works extremely hard, and I know it's going to pay off.''

When he signed with the Falcons this offseason, Harrington said he did so realizing another starting job may never come his way. Matt Schaub had started two games in his three seasons as Vick's backup, and then been dealt to Houston. The story this season in Atlanta would be how Vick adapted to new head coach Bobby Petrino's offense. Harrington, and any hopes he had of a career resurrection, would be a footnote at best.

"I realized I could spend the next six years as a backup and never have the chance to play another game,'' said the sixth-year veteran, who was the third overall pick by Detroit in 2002. "But I was determined I'd be ready if the chance did come.

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