Harrington Out, Leftwich Back In

Unlike Chicago, where Brian Griese will be replaced by Grossman since the latter’s game-winning performance, Atlanta doesn’t treat quarterbacks based on their latest performances. If they did, Bobby Petrino wouldn’t have proclaimed Byron Leftwich the team’s starter as soon as he’s healthy.

“We made the decision a while back that Byron is the starter and Joey is the backup,” said Petrino after practice. “Right now, it’s just a health issue.”

The move is surprising mainly because Joey Harrington is coming off two consecutive wins, including a week 10 performance in which he posted a 106.6 quarterback rating against the Carolina Panthers. It’s also surprising Petrino told the media before he alerted Harrington.

“I feel like I’ve done what they’ve asked me to do with the exception of maybe one game,” said a stunned Harrington after asked if he knew what the coach had said. “But, like I said a couple of weeks ago when this all started, this isn’t my first rodeo. I’ve been around it before, so I’m not surprised. But, like I’ve also said, I have a right to disagree with it.

“I do think I’ve earned [the starting job] as of late. Because of the way this team has played, yeah, I do think I deserve a chance to be out there.”

Of course, Harrington hasn’t been spectacular week in and out this season. In four games his rating has dipped below 70, bottoming out at 44.2 in a week 5 loss to the Titans. But he’s also had four games this season with a rating above 90, three of which peaked above 100.

And when you look at Byron Leftwich, you’re looking at a quarterback who couldn’t make it in Jacksonville because he was an injury liability. He didn’t once play a complete season in his 4 years with Jacksonville because, with limited mobility, Leftwich is a sitting duck behind offensive lines that struggle to protect the quarterback. Atlanta ranks 27th in the NFL, having allowed 28 sacks this season.

In his own words, Leftwich admits, almost in an attempt to defend his disappointing, injury-plagued career, that he hasn’t “been 100 percent since the first quarter of the Akron game” his senior year. “That was October, five or six years ago. I’m being honest. I have not been 100 percent in while.”

It’s doubtful Leftwich will return this weekend to play a critical game against the Buccaneers, a game that could cut Tampa Bay’s division lead to one game if Atlanta can win. And if they do find victory with Harrington, it’s really not fair if he still hasn’t earned the starting spot.