Empty the Bench

Boy, the Atlanta Falcons sure are filling up their bench with a number of titillating options behind Michael Vick, aren’t they? After recently signing lead-footed Chris Redman, the Falcons inked the third overall pick of the 2002 draft, Joey Harrington, to a two-year deal. He’ll compete with Redman and last year’s seventh-round pick, D.J. Shockley, for the honor of taking over for Vick should he fall to injury. Matt Schaub, these three are most definitely not.

Harrington finished out the season with the Miami Dolphins last year, but was eventually benched for someone named Cleo Lemon, then cut after his mostly underwhelming performance. During the last two games he started, Harrington went a combined 12-32 for 62 yards, 2 interceptions, no touchdowns, and a fumble. He finished the December 17 contest against the Buffalo Bills with a QB rating of—you guessed it—zero.

This is very likely Joey’s last chance to prove he is a capable NFL quarterback; if he blows it, expect to see him either call it a day or land in the CFL with the Toronto Argonauts. Harrington is a hallmark member of Matt Millen’s Draft Day Blunders Club; he’ll be joined by new inductees shortly after April’s draft.