Falcons rally around Joey Harrington (with video)

Source: AP

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. - At virtually the same time Michael Vick was pleading not guilty to federal dogfighting charges in Richmond, Va., on Thursday, the Falcons opened training camp in the Atlanta suburbs with all sorts of distractions.

Protesters out front. That plane flying overhead. And Joey Harrington at quarterback instead of No. 7.

The Falcons called it the first day of moving on without their most dynamic and visible player. They held a morning meeting to let everyone air their feelings about the ugly charges against Vick, any bitterness they might feel toward him for getting into this mess, and the very real possibility that he won't play for Atlanta this season, if ever again.

Then it was time to get down to business. There's just over six weeks to go until the Sept. 9 opener at Minnesota.

"I'm not trying to fill anyone's shoes,'' said Harrington, who signed with the Falcons expecting to be Vick's backup. "Mike is one of if not the most talented player ever to play this game. There's no getting around that. He's an athletic phenomenon. My job is not to try to fill his shoes. My job is to win games.''

Instead of having one of the league's most dynamic players at that crucial position, the Falcons are forced to go with Harrington, whose career has been a huge bust since he was taken third overall in the 2002 draft.

His career record as a starter is 23-43, and he's already lost the No. 1 job in both Detroit and Miami.

"We're going to rally behind Joey,'' linebacker Keith Brooking vowed. "We're going to give him our full support and let him know we're there for him.''

Joey is saying all the right things. This is his team, and I truly hope this is Joey's breakout year, so he can show all the naysayers that he really is a good quarterback.