FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Familiarity breeds contempt.
But Joey Harrington would have the same unquenchable thirst for victory this weekend even if he wasn't facing a team he's seen seven times in five seasons.
Yes, Sunday's season opener brings back memories good and bad, passes incomplete and complete, but Minnesota isn't the same team Harrington threw seven touchdowns against as a Lion.
It's not even the same team he threw for 254 yards against as a member of the Miami Dolphins last season.
Things have changed for Harrington, too. New team. New offense. New city.
"With the nature of this league I don't know how familiar the opponent is going to be," Harrington said. "Team turnover, there seems to be a lot of it over the years. However, yeah, I have played a few games up in the Metrodome. I've heard that Viking horn and seen the fireworks when they score. So, I know a little bit about that place. I know what to expect; I know it's going to be loud. It is truly one of the loudest stadiums in this league and you have to be prepared for it."
It's a little easier in the fact Harrington is familiar with a few purple jerseys.
The Vikings return a defensive backfield that includes cornerback Antoine Winfield and safety Darren Sharper. The duo finished third and fourth on the team in tackles respectively and three of Sharper's 50 career interceptions have come off Harrington.
Sharper said his team focused on improving pass defense this season. That motivation comes, in part, because of performances like Harrington's in 2006. The quarterback completed 26 passes in a 24-20 Dolphins victory. The offense rested squarely on his shoulders, as Miami ran the ball just 13 times for 7 yards.
"He will always carry that third-pick-in-the-draft label with him so you know he has talent," Sharper said via conference call Wednesday. "I've seen Joey have good games. I played against him when he's had good games against me when I was in Green Bay and also when I was in Minnesota last year. Last year was a prime example when he was in Miami and they beat us. He had a very solid game against us that day.
"I know what Joey is capable of. Hopefully we'll be able to do some different things and try to confuse him."
"I think (Head Coach Bobby Petrino's) offense really suites him well," added Vikings head coach Brad Childress. "Obviously he has a background and a pedigree in the throwing game coming from a place like Oregon. It looks like he's got talented wide receivers in the guys they put on the field there."
Good players draw on previous experience when preparing for an opponent, so Harrington will surely call up mental game film in preparing for Sharper. That said, the Vikings defense presents new and old tests in 2007.
"We threw it around a little bit on them but they did a very good job shutting down our run game," Harrington said. "The two Williams (Pat and Kevin) inside did a great job. They are very good players and you always have to take care of them."
The Falcons offense presents Harrington with a new set of weapons, including a Pro Bowlers Warrick Dunn and Alge Crumpler. No member of the Dolphins offense made the league all-star game last season.
Harrington pulled together a 92.5 passer rating in limited preseason work and looks forward to working with the first team offense Sunday, especially Dunn and Crumpler who fought through injuries in the exhibition season.
"I've been in this offense for a couple months now and, inevitably, some things are going to go well and some things are going to go poorly," Harrington said. "That's the nature of this game. What I like about this offense is, more often than not, it give us a chance to put ourselves in a position to be successful.
"Every team is kind of feeling themselves out in the offseason -- this first regular-season game is going to be a chance to finally play a full game and see how your teammates react. I think we're all looking forward to it."
