AJC > Sports > Falcons > Blog > Archives > 2007 > September > 19
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Harrington not threatened by Leftwich
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Falcons quarterback Joey Harrington said he disagrees with coach Bobby Petrino’s assessment that he is playing conservatively. He also said he does not view the team’s acquisition of former Jacksonville quarterback Byron Leftwich as a threat.
“No, I don’t. That’s okay,” Harrington said as to whether he agreed with Petrino’s analysis of him playing conservatively. “I feel like I’ve made the throws when they’re there. That’s a part of being a human is disagreeing. but that’s not the sticking point. I’ll try and get better. That’s my response.
“I’m here to do what he wants me to do for this team and that’s what I’ve said from Day 1. My job here is to help this team get better and do what I can do to help this team. If that’s what he would like me to do then I will try and do that.”
As to him possibly feeling threatened by Leftwich, Harrington said, “I don’t worry about things that are out of my control. The thing that I control is how I prepare and how I go out and play. There are times in my career when I may have let something like that distract me, worry about what it means or worry about what could happen.
“Byron is the type of player who can help this team. That’s what the National football League is about, getting wins and bringing in players that can help this team win. It’s not something that distracts me from what I’m supposed to do. We have to win games.”
Leftwich, who was awarded jersey No. 4 - he wore No. 7 in college (Marshall) and during his four-year NFL career - went through his first practice with the team Wednesday and worked as the third quarterback behind Harrington and Chris Redman. As the third quarterback, he worked with the scout team offense. He took extra work throwing the ball after practice to help compensate for the reps he did not get during the nearly two-hour workout, Petrino said.
Petrino said he would not ask Leftwich to learn the entire playbook at this juncture. Instead, Leftwich will be taught the game plan each week.
