Lions' Harrington must step up Published July 3, 2005
Detroit took Joey Harrington with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2002 draft, but he hasn't lived up to billing.
Through his first three seasons, Harrington has made 44 starts, thrown for 8,221 yards, completed 54.2 percent of his passes and has 48 touchdown passes and 50 interceptions. Those aren't exactly world-beating numbers, and they're a prime reason the Lions are 14-34 in his three seasons.
Harrington, who turns 27 in October, has some primo skill-position talent to work with. The Lions took former USC wide receiver Mike Williams with their No. 1 pick this year, the third year in a row they nabbed a receiver with their first selection. Detroit took Texas' Roy Williams with its first pick in 2004 and Michigan State's Charles Rogers with its top choice in 2003.
In addition, the Lions took Virginia Tech running back Kevin Jones with their second first-rounder in 2004 and signed tight end Marcus Pollard away from Indianapolis as a free agent this offseason.
There looks to be a solid line in front of Harrington, too. Left tackle Jeff Backus was a first-rounder in 2001 and has All-Pro potential. Center Dominic Raiola and guards Damien Woody and Rick DeMulling (also signed away from the Colts) are solid performers, meaning only right tackle is a concern.
All that talent around him means it's time for Harrington to produce.
This will be the third season for Coach Steve Mariucci, who has the complete backing of the front office. Mariucci wanted the Lions to bring in Jeff Garcia -- his former quarterback with the 49ers -- as the backup to Harrington, and the front office obliged.
Garcia, 35, is saying all the right things in his role as the veteran backup.
"It's Joey Harrington's job to lose," he told the Gilroy (Calif.) Dispatch last weekend when he was in his hometown for a charity golf tournament. "But I'm going to be right there nipping on his heels."
What if he gets a chance at the starting job?
"I don't plan on giving it back," he said.
Trust us: Mariucci won't hesitate to go to Garcia if Harrington struggles early. And if that happens, Harrington won't be with the Lions next season.
Sticking with it
Oakland's defense was -- in a word -- horrendous last season.
The Raiders were 30th in total defense (371.0 yards per game), 30th in pass defense (245.2 ypg), 22nd in rush defense (125.8 ypg) and 31st in scoring defense (27.6 points per game).
But second-year Coach Norv Turner said he has seen significant progress this offseason.
"Last year we were asking guys to play a new system," Turner told the San Francisco Chronicle. "Now we're in Year 2, and that comfort level is higher right now than at any time last year."
The Raiders used a 3-4 set last season because that was coordinator Rob Ryan's preference, but Turner said his team might move back to the more conventional 4-3 scheme.
"We want to play both," he told the Chronicle. "We want to be multiple and play both at a high level."
The Raiders deserve high marks for their offseason moves on offense, most notably adding wide receiver Randy Moss and running back LaMont Jordan. But they didn't do much on defense, with end Derrick Burgess the only notable acquisition.
The linebackers look egregiously bad, with Sam Williams, Danny Clark and Travian Smith the projected starters.
The upshot is that the revamped offense better score a ton of points, because despite Turner's hopes, that defense is going to be shredded. Again.
Super music
Did you enjoy Paul McCartney's halftime appearance at the Super Bowl in February? Well, you're in luck: contactmusic.com said the NFL is releasing a documentary called Paul McCartney Backstage -- Super Bowl XXXIX.
The NFL filmed McCartney arriving in Jacksonville and preparing for his halftime show, and now officials are releasing the footage as part of a hourlong documentary.
The Web site said the footage shows McCartney talking about how impressed he was with the logistics of setting up his stage, then taking it down. "It is like a finely tuned jewelry heist," he said.
Quick slants
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Atlanta QB Michael Vick had magnetic resonance imaging last week to give the team's new medical staff a chance to get an update on his shoulder. A recent Sports Illustrated article said Vick had lingering soreness. Obviously, a less-than-100-percent Vick means the Falcons have a no-percent chance to make the playoffs.
Rookie WR Braylon Edwards, taken No. 3 by Cleveland in the draft, whined last week to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel about being "lied to" by Miami. He claimed the Dolphins told him and other teams they were interested in Edwards to try to get trade offers for the No. 2 pick, which Miami eventually used to take Auburn RB Ronnie Brown. Our response: So what? Hey, Braylon, worry about something important, like how many times you're going to get the ball with Trent Dilfer as your quarterback.
Minnesota Coach Mike Tice was fined $100,000 by the NFL for scalping Super Bowl tickets, and his troubles might not be over. The Minneapolis Star Tribune pointed out that if Tice didn't report the income from the ticket sales in his tax returns, the IRS could become interested.
If you're a Dolphins fan who enjoyed analyst Jim Mandich on the team's radio broadcasts, prepare to be disappointed. The team has a new radio deal, and it appears Jimmy Cefalo will be the new play-by-play guy and Joe Rose the new analyst. Both are former Dolphins.
A Final Thought: We're 34 days away from the first preseason game.ƒp
Sentinel NFL writer Chris Harry is taking a break. This week's report was compiled by Mike Huguenin from staff and wire reports.
Man... Theres a reason detroit got Garcia... it's a reunion... old QB and Coach gett'n back together cuz their comfortable with each other... Harrington has very little chance of starting more than 8 games this season.
Don't matter where you are.... YOU'RE IN REDSKINS COUNTRY!
Harrington shouldn't be the starter at all there, but if they think Garcia's a better option ... well, I guess that explains why they only draft WRs in the first round anymore.
I got your number. I steal your thunder. I got your mother's maiden name tattooed on my arm.
General Failure wrote:Harrington shouldn't be the starter at all there, but if they think Garcia's a better option ... well, I guess that explains why they only draft WRs in the first round anymore.
What are you talkin about, "he shouldn't be the starter at all." He can play the piano.
General Failure wrote:So let him be the team pianist. He can sit in the lobby with a baby grand and a tip jar.
Harrington on the baby grand, I can see it now:
I've had team-mates But they have slipped away I've had playing time But it doesn't stay I've made fortunes Spent them fast enough As for coaches They don't last with just one man But my baby grand Will stand by me
They say that no one's gonna play me on game day They said my chances were dead and gone But only songs like these Played in minor keys Keep those memories holding on
What a horrible qb class: Harrington, Ramsey, Carr. All underachievers on pathetic, woeful, teams.
And to top it off they keep getting chance after chance. If it weren't for the salary cap all 3 of them would be selling roses or wiping windshields on the street corner.
***Poster of the Year*** Hail to the Redskins. Everything else is inferior. Guess who's not a HOMER on this site.
Rookie WR Braylon Edwards, taken No. 3 by Cleveland in the draft, whined last week to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel about being "lied to" by Miami. He claimed the Dolphins told him and other teams they were interested in Edwards to try to get trade offers for the No. 2 pick, which Miami eventually used to take Auburn RB Ronnie Brown.
All he needs now are army fatigues and a motorcycle, and we have the second coming of KW2. Good thing we passed on this guy (Braylon).
SKINZ_DOMIN8 wrote:What a horrible qb class: Harrington, Ramsey, Carr. All underachievers on pathetic, woeful, teams.
And to top it off they keep getting chance after chance. If it weren't for the salary cap all 3 of them would be selling roses or wiping windshields on the street corner.
Hey! Carr is doing better, and Ramsey is posed for a good year.
Harrington...well I really can't speak on Harrington.
REDEEMEDSKIN wrote:All he needs now are army fatigues and a motorcycle, and we have the second coming of KW2. Good thing we passed on this guy (Braylon).
How did we "pass" on him when he went #3?
joebagadonuts on IsaneBoost's signature:
-- "I laughed. I cried. Better than Cats"
probably meant that we passed on him cuz we were in a perfect posistion to trade up to the #2 spot, but did not.
as for the QB class... i agree with CP, Carr can cut it... Ramsey is in his year... had he been start'n the last three years, things would have been different... harrington sux
Don't matter where you are.... YOU'RE IN REDSKINS COUNTRY!
Punu wrote:probably meant that we passed on him cuz we were in a perfect posistion to trade up to the #2 spot, but did not.
as for the QB class... i agree with CP, Carr can cut it... Ramsey is in his year... had he been start'n the last three years, things would have been different... harrington sux
........and if I had the goose that laid the golden egg I'd be a millionaire.
More Ramsey excuses.
***Poster of the Year*** Hail to the Redskins. Everything else is inferior. Guess who's not a HOMER on this site.
oh and that's hardly an excuse. Had he got the oppurtunity to start for 3 years... things would have been different 110%, we would not be having a QB problem right now... either he'd be our guy for the long term or he wouldnt, but my money would be on that he would be our guy.
Do me a favor, go to opening day... feel the presense at FedEx and get your pride back...
Don't matter where you are.... YOU'RE IN REDSKINS COUNTRY!
Punu wrote:oh and that's hardly an excuse. Had he got the oppurtunity to start for 3 years... things would have been different 110%, we would not be having a QB problem right now... either he'd be our guy for the long term or he wouldnt, but my money would be on that he would be our guy. Do me a favor, go to opening day... feel the presense at FedEx and get your pride back...
You are right things would be a lot different. I think he could be an excellent qb in the league but then again he could be just another Kyle Boller. I guess we will find out this year which way he is heading.
