ALLEN PARK, MICHIGAN - The hard-hitting Atlanta Falcons defense doesn't scare Joey Harrington.<br>
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Eastern Michigan, on the other hand, made him a nervous wreck.<br>
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While many of his Detroit Lions teammates spent the bye weekend at home with their families, Harrington stayed in town to see his brother play college football.<br>
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Michael Harrington's Idaho Vandals beat Eastern Michigan's Eagles Saturday in Ypsilanti, but his older brother didn't enjoy the game.<br>
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``Now I understand what my dad goes through three times a weekend Friday with my youngest brother's high-school game, Saturday with Michael and Sunday with me,'' he said Monday. ``It was really nerve-racking to watch him. Doing that once a year is more than enough with me.''<br>
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Harrington spent part of Sunday watching the undefeated Falcons, Detroit's next opponent, beat Carolina, but he didn't pay close attention.<br>
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``When I watch football at home, I'm watching for enjoyment, not to study,'' he said. ``I'll study them this week on film, but I didn't get any impressions from Sunday.''<br>
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Lions coach Steve Mariucci didn't pay much attention to Sunday's football either, because he was on a flight back from California.<br>
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``On Friday, I went to a high-school football game with my son and his friends, and on Saturday, I went to a college game at Cal-San Luis Obispo,'' he said. ``That's where my older son plays, but he's hurt right now. I saw a little bit of the morning games yesterday and the end of the late games, but that was it.''<br>
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One player didn't get to enjoy the time off at all. Pro Bowl cornerback Dre' Bly had planned a trip to Miami, but had to cancel it because of a knee injury. Bly has been out since spraining his knee in the season-opening win over Chicago.<br>
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``My weekend was spent here getting treatment,'' he said. ``Hopefully, with a couple more days, it will come around. I want to be able to practice Friday with no major pain, and if it keeps improving like it has, I look to be out there on Sunday.''<br>
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NOTES: New Falcons coach Jim Mora Jr. coached for Mariucci in San Francisco. ``He would have been a heck of a defensive coordinator here, but he was under contract and trying for the head job out there, so the timing was not right to bring him with me,'' Mariucci said. ``He's a great coach, and I'm proud of what he's doing.'' ... RB Kevin Jones (ankle) did not practice Monday and is expected to be listed as doubtful on Wednesday's injury report. Jones said that he's not sure if he will be ready for Atlanta or the Oct. 17 game against Green Bay. ... DE Robert Porcher (flu) went home before practice.
