Memo to Falcons fans: I TOLD YOU SO

The news out of Atlanta yesterday regarding Joey Harrington's status as the Falcons' starting QB was something we in Detroit absolutely expected to hear.

Byron Leftwich is taking over under center for the Falcons, replacing Joey Blue Skies. You didn't need to be a psychic to see that coming. You just needed to be a Detroit Lions fan.

Joey Blue Skies being administered last rites by Pope Millen

Once again, I need to tell the Atlanta fans that ripped me for my claims that Joey was going to lead the Falcons nowhere, but to the bottom of the standings, one thing...

For the second time this season, I TOLD YOU SO!

Or to paraphrase the annoying as Hell Verizon guy, DO YOU BELIEVE ME NOW?

But nooooo, you Falcons followers didn't want to heed my warnings of Joey's suckitude. Despite Joey's awful track record, ignoring the anguished cries of disgusted fans in Detroit and Miami, you believed that Mr. Blue Skies would lead you to the promised land, that wonderfully happy place we in Detroit are told is known as "The NFL playoffs."

If there is one thing we Lions fans learned in watching Mr. Blue Skies over 4 long, ugly, losing seasons is that he is not a NFL quality QB. He's another in a long line of Jeff Tedford system QB's, who could do nothing in the NFL other than throw dump offs, miss wide open receivers, then deny it was their fault.

Still, some refuse to admit, or turn a blind eye, to Joey's failures.

From the AJC's Falcons' blog, The Bird Babe...

Joey is not great, but he makes good plays at times. He needs some help. He needs blockers and he needs the receivers to hang onto the ball. He needs to stick to the short throws. He can’t seem to make the long throws.

Stick to short throws? Hilarious! Joey loves "Short throws!" As we saw all too often in Detroit, his his go-to call on 3rd and long was the 3 yard check off.

I'm not sure you'll be better off with the immobile statue that is Byron Leftwich, but you sure as Hell won't be worse off.

That's 3 teams, and counting, whom benched Harrington midseason. The fact that Joey Blue Skies will be a backup on someone's roster next season is proof as to how desperately bad the quarterback position has become in the NFL.

The thought of Harrington being an injury to your team's starting QB away from starting should send shivers down your spine...

To all the Atlanta Falcons fans...

...Who 1 month ago ripped me, and defended Joey Harrington, will be singing a different tune. In fact, they now have to be grieving, as they have to come to grips with the realization that their season is going nowhere with Joey Blue Skies at the helm.

For the record, Harrington's stats against the Vikings today were as follows: 23-32-199-2, 6 sacks. Both picks were returned for TD's. Seems Joey took the "Wet toast" offense with him to Atlanta.

I know it's only one game, and it's a very long season, but Falcons fans...I TOLD YOU SO!

By the way, the Falcons message board that linked to my diatribe is down as of 4:15 today. I'm guessing their servers have been overwhelmed by Atlanta fans heading to the internet to bitch about Joey Blue Skies.

Atlanta, welcome to Joey's world.

Never trash talk a Lions fan

It seems my post raking Joey Harrington over the coals ruffled the feathers of some Atlanta Falcons fans. Someone posted my diatribe on a Falcons message board. A "Brian" even left a comment ripping me, Detroit, and the Lions as new one.

Hey "Big Al", FACT: The Detroit Lions SUCK, not Joey Harrington. Worst team in the league past 10 years. FACT: Joey Harrington punked you guys throwing 3 TDs on Thanksgiving 2006. MVP of the game. Remember that Big Al?? Hahaha. FACT: Joey Harrington has a 6-Mil contract from the Atlanta Falcons, and you sniveling turds in Loser Town still blame him for the fact your TEAM sucks!! Them are the FACTs Big Al!! The truth hurts, right? :)

There's one problem with the opposition fans trash talking the Lions. It doesn't bother us because...We AGREE! Wholeheartedly! Without question!

You aren't saying anything that we Lions fans haven't already said about the Lions numerous times. Hell, we've ripped them most every Sunday of the season for decades. You are taking about a fanbase that looks back fondly on the Wayne Fontes years, for chrissakes!

We know the Lions suck, that they have always sucked, and will continue to suck! We know Matt Millen's a blooming idiot. We know they are a joke of a franchise. We know they are an embarrassment. We know the Falcons, and damn near every other team in the NFL, are better than the Lions.

In regard to last Thanksgiving, to be honest, we actually took a perverse pleasure in Harrington's 3 TD performance. I'm sure you are wondering, "Why?" Because we hope against hope that a fiasco like the Joey Blue Skies' nationally televised win will get the Lions doddering, richer than God, know nothing, octogenarian of an owner to clean house. Again...

Obviously, some, including the upset commenter, thought my bashing was just sour grapes. Since Joey Blue Skies failed here in the D, I don't want to see him succeed anywhere. To let you all know the truth, I could give a shit about Harrington and the Falcons. I'm just happy I don't have to watch him flail about the pocket aimlessly anymore.

I prefer to think of that post as more of a warning to Falcons fans to not get their hopes up, as Joey Harrington is an absolutely awful QB. At his best, he's below average. Jon Kitna is 10X the QB, and he does nothing more than put up empty stats.

I'm telling you now, and most Lions and Dolphins fans will agree. As long as Harrington is the Falcons QB, they aren't winning anything.

Detroit fans (Such as The Battleship, one of the writers at the excellent blog "Check out My HEMI," who defended my post) who aren't blinded by their passion for the Lions, that don't drink the Kool-aid or eat the cornbread, know that Harrington wasn't the only reason the Lions blew, but he was a big reason. Why else would every head coach during his tenure want to replace Joey Blue Skies?

Marty Moronwheg had a massive crush on Mike McMahon. Mooch, slick as a used car salesman, and about as sincere, lusted for Jeff Garcia. Marinelli and Martz signed 2 free agent QB's who had started in the NFL, Kitna and Josh McCown. About the only person who continually had faith in Harrington was Matt Millen. 'Nuff said...

Atlanta fans, remember who you are pinning you hopes upon. We are talking about the 3rd overall pick in of the 2002 draft. Someone taken that high should be a franchise QB, especially going into his 6th season. But Harrington has been unceremoniously benched, and then let go, by his last 2 employers.

We watched Harrington in Detroit for 4 seasons, and we never saw a playoff caliber QB. Unfortunately for Atlanta fans, you won't either...