Harrington ‘incredibly happy’ back home

On Sports

By kerry eggers

The Portland Tribune, Oct 29, 2009, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (8 Reader comments)

HARRINGTON

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Once upon a time, there was an NFL player whose career may have ended before its time.

When the Turk came a knockin’ and asked for his playbook, the player didn’t cry and fret and wonder what he was going to do the rest of his life.

Heck, maybe it was just the beginning of the rest of his life.

It’s not a fairy tale. It’s Joey Harrington’s story.

After being released by New Orleans in the final wave of cuts in early September, the former Central Catholic and University of Oregon standout returned to Portland and his Pearl District condo.

“I’m happier than I’ve been in a long time,” Harrington says, and he presents a convincing argument.

There are his parents and extended family members, who have made Portland their home for generations. There are his wife of 2 1/2 years, Emily, and their 6-month-old son, Jack, who is getting some loving attention from a father who expected to be on the gridiron this fall.

“I’m incredibly happy right now,” Harrington says. “I’m having a great time watching Jack grow up. I have the luxury of being able to be home with my wife and son and experience part of my child’s life that a lot of people who work from 9 to 5 don’t have the ability to do.”

Don’t think Harrington doesn’t miss football. There’s a part of him that would love to be going to war on Sundays, throwing passes and scheming and trying to beat the best defenses in the NFL.

But Harrington hasn’t lost his identity as he transitions away from a playing career.

“Football is what I do,” Harrington will say several times during a 45-minute interview, “it’s not who I am.”

Harrington – who turned 31 last week – is a father and a husband, a loyal Duck and a Portlander through and through. He’s a broadcaster, working as a Fox Sports radio analyst for college football and the NFL on weekends.

He’s a philanthropist who suddenly finds himself with more time to devote to such causes as the Harrington Family Foundation, the SMART reading program, the Blanchet House, Boys & Girls Clubs and the Shriners Hospital for Children.

“It’s given me a chance to dive into the stuff I was able to only touch on through our foundation because I was gone most of the year,” he says. “Now that I’m back in town, maybe this is a chance to get things off the ground. Maybe we can get something going on a really major level.”

Being released by the Saints has allowed Harrington some time for introspection. On that subject, as in many, he is eloquent.

“I was caught completely off guard,” Harrington says. “The day before, they were saying essentially, ‘You’re fine, you’re making the team.’ When it happened, I was absolutely hurt and upset. But once I got by the shock, the biggest thing for me was to realize I don’t define myself by football.

“For a lot of these guys who only have football in their lives, when something like this happens, it’s devastating. They have nothing to fall back on. They have no support system. They’re lost. That’s why guys go off the deep end. I have so many good things in my life, and a great family that exposed me to great things when I was growing up. When something like this does happen to me, it’s hurtful, but there’s a big difference between being upset and dealing with it and having your world collapse.

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