J Harrington about to be released
 

The article below kinda puts it all in perspective. Seems like the same argument going on in this forum -- does AB have the intangibles to win the game or do we cut our losses now.

"Harrington
Wednesday, January 12, 2005
By Tom Kowalski
ALLEN PARK -- Quarterback Joey Harrington's career in Detroit might be over.
According to sources close to the situation, the Detroit Lions are considering releasing Harrington in late February, prior to paying him a scheduled $3 million roster bonus.
In addition to the bonus, Harrington will make nearly $5 million in salary for the 2005 season -- there has been heated debate within the Lions organization about whether to make the additional financial investment in Harrington.

According to several sources, Lions president Matt Millen wants to bring Harrington back but the team's offensive coaching staff wants to go in another direction. After Sherm Lewis was forced out of his offensive coordinator job one day after the regular season ended on Jan. 2, he wrote letters to Millen, team owner William Clay Ford and vice chairman Bill Ford Jr., stating that the Lions would never win with Harrington playing quarterback.
Lewis, who officially "retired" following the season, said Harrington didn't have the intangibles to be a winning quarterback in the NFL. Lewis' letter did not come as a surprise to anyone in the organization because he was never in Harrington's corner. Still, it shows the level of disagreement between the different factions. "

J Harrington about to be released
 

So you mean they would be willing to part with a guy they picked 3rd in the draft? And we are arguing about a guy who was traded for a 3rd round pick? How satisfied with mediocrity are we? Jeez.

J Harrington about to be released
 

EXACTLY!!!


Hey - the Lions will be looking for a QB. 08? Trade Rumors? Dump Brooks for a 2nd maybe? Harrington, and Kitna could be signed for Brooks\' salary. Maybe make a play for Volek? Let the two we bring in plus Bouman battle it out... draft a QB? hehehe... Where\'s 08?

J Harrington about to be released
 

I really don\'t think they will let him go just yet...

and..I found this...

http://www.detroitlions.com/document...ment_id=399541



[Edited on 12/1/2005 by shadowdrinker]

J Harrington about to be released
 

Good find shadow.

J Harrington about to be released
 

Thats odd. I thought he was progressing OK. Not at a Ben Rothlisburger pace but he\'s no Ryan Leaf either.

He has good upside. So he\'s a bit over-paid.

I\'d take a flyer on him. He\'d be an upgrade over Boumann

J Harrington about to be released
 

Dude..THEY\"RE NOT GETTING RID OF HIM...and..there is no roster bonus owed to him...as stated previously...none of this is true...

J Harrington about to be released
 

Sorry -- it was a legitimate article in a newspaper -- I was not trying to deceive anyone. Also -- How many times has something leaked out to the news and then the owner, coaches etc said it was absolutely not true -- 3 weeks later it was. But that was a good find shadow and I really didn\'t put the article out there for deception

J Harrington about to be released
 

Don\'t misunderstand..you were doing what good fans do..finding stories..and posting them..

Tom Kowalski is doing his job..creating specualtion, by making up stories...

I just didn\'t want to see a 5 page long thread about trade possibilities between us and the Lions...when nothing is going to happen..kinda like what\'s happeneing right now with Howard trade talks..and the fact is..Howard is an UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT..he\'s not even a Saint anymore...in truth..And..The Team isn\'t going to sign him..pay him a huge bonus..then trade him away for a draft pick...But, It doesn\'t seem to slow trade talks...

J Harrington about to be released
 

They just talked about the Harrington thing on PTI on ESPN so you scooped them 4saints. IT was still an interesting find and NOONE knows if it\'s true or untrue except the Lions. Why would they say it\'s true and downgrade a qb they may have to try and trade? If my o-ccordinator resigned and said that about a player generally perceived to have talent in the league, I would scream BS as well. That hurts trade value.

J Harrington about to be released
 

I\'d rather take a shot with their #2, Mike McMahon. The guy\'s athletic and gutsy. I think he\'d be a project worth pursuing.

J Harrington about to be released
 

i dont think he is goin anywhere

J Harrington about to be released
 

Dude, THEY JUST SAID ON ESPN THEY MIGHT BE GETTING RID OF HIM... (8:00pm...ESPN Sports) ...There\'s 2 camps on Harrington. Some lions staff say he ain\'t worth it, some say he is.
Hmmm, Dude, for being NOTHING TO IT, ESPN sure thinks there\'s something to it.

J Harrington about to be released
 

I think we should make this into a 5 page article about a trade.... LOL.

I\'d take a flyer on him too Danno, for much less than he\'s being paid now.

J Harrington about to be released
 

Call me crazy here but I bet in the right situation the Saints could get a first round pick for Brooks. Maybe a second and another pick but definitely more than a second.

J Harrington about to be released
 

Ugh...The beat goes on...

J Harrington about to be released
 

Dude, THEY JUST SAID ON ESPN THEY MIGHT BE GETTING RID OF HIM... (8:00pm...ESPN Sports) ...There\'s 2 camps on Harrington. Some lions staff say he ain\'t worth it, some say he is.
Hmmm, Dude, for being NOTHING TO IT, ESPN sure thinks there\'s something to it. [/quot


I saw that too..what they said was..that there were reports of harrington possibly getting released..and the Lions staff quickly replied..and squashed it...all in the same segment..so..it was nothing really..ESPN offered no views on it at all..just stating the facts of it..it was a stupid rumor....nothing more...

J Harrington about to be released
 

I agree.. I think McMahon should\'ve been given the chance before Harrington was implanted as #1... and he\'s got \"it\"...

J Harrington about to be released
 

I\'m not sure which McMahon you are watching..I have cable..not the NFL Direct package..so..I am forced to watch other teams play most of the time, if I\'m to watch football at all..And I have seen plenty of Lions games..in Pre season..and Regular season..and I have seen McMahon..and he isn\'t anything spectacular...to call him gutsy is a laugh..every player who steps out on the field is gutsy...There\'s a reason he is riding the pine most of the time..Harrington is just plain better...And..He for sure wouldn\'t be better than Brooks...even if we picked him up somehow..he would ride the pine here too..You guys trip me out with all the babble about imaginary trades that will never happen...\'\'yeah..we could trade him and a 4th rounder for the other guy and two 3rd round picks and if I clap my hands..and roll three times...and eat 5 eggs in two minutes..it could happen..for real\'\'.... yeah..ok

J Harrington about to be released
 

..out of curiosity, where you a part of the \"eternal clipboard holder\" crowd?

J Harrington about to be released
 

Tobias, I think it\'s the \"noone has Brooks\' *cough* talent*cough* that is available\" crowd. lol

J Harrington about to be released
 

This whole Lions-Harrington situation is laughable. I\'m shocked at what Harrington is due to be paid, but he was a high 1st round pick after all. Is it Harrington\'s fault that he had to endure a couple of years under Marty Morningweg\'s tenure? So, he\'s a couple years behind in development because of the Matt and Marty show that didn\'t win a road game in like 3 years. There\'s no way they can give up on a guy that has been starting for them all season. It\'s not like he\'s a Jonathan Sullivan or something that needs to be dumped immediately.

So, in looking at the Lions I can only think that maybe if they\'d act a little like the Saints and at least in public be 100% behind Harrington like the Saints org is behind Brooks, he might get better. There\'s nothing like half of your coaches saying you suck (and who knows what some of them might do to prove it) to undermine your confidence.

I\'d take Harrington in a heartbeat - even at his current salary. The problems with the Lions are not just QB deep.

btw, McMahon is a joke. He\'s had chances to start and was beaten out by Harrington. Don\'t apply so much to him because of his lineage.

J Harrington about to be released
 

Just think, Brooks makes MORE. LOL :)

J Harrington about to be released
 

Did Harrington actually beat out McMahon, or was it since he was the 3rd pick in the draft, this is the guy we have to go with? I wonder.

And how good is a team if the coaches are behind a player the other players aren\'t? Doesn\'t seem like an atmosphere that would foster success.

J Harrington about to be released
 

Hhmm... off the top of my head.... I\'d bet they could make it to about 8-8 for 4 years in a row! LMAO.

J Harrington about to be released
 

Wrong Who, you have to throw in a 7-9. LMAO!!

J Harrington about to be released
 

AND a 9-7. ;)

J Harrington about to be released
 

And no playoffs. :poke: ;)

J Harrington about to be released
 

They should let Harrington go or turn him into an expensive 2nd stringer. The Saints should do the same, sign a good QB in free agency and let Brooks fight it out for the starting job and release Boumann he\'s not a backup, maybe a 3rd.

J Harrington about to be released
 

I agree with that 100%. Let him earn the right to keep starting, don\'t just give it to him.

J Harrington about to be released
 

I would support that! i think it would help him. Last time he had a decent backup behind him was in 02...played great till the shoulder injury