Quarterback Joey Harrington has been released by the Atlanta Falcons.

A first-round pick by the Detroit Lions in the 2002 draft, Harrington - a distant cousin of Open champion golfer Padraig Harrington - joined the Falcons as a free agent last April.

He played 12 games last season, completing 215 of 348 passes for 2,215 yards, seven touchdowns and eight interceptions.

In a six-year career which has included four seasons with Detroit and the 2006 campaign with the Miami Dolphins, Harrington has registered more than 14,500 passing yards and 79 touchdown passes in 76 starts at quarterback.

His Irish cousin Padraig, the world's number 10 golfer, won his first major title in last year's Open at Carnoustie.

Joey's side of the family left Ireland three generations ago to settle eventually in Oregon.

Reuters