Harrington's days likely numbered in Detroit

DETROIT -- Joey Harrington might have a future in the NFL. It probably won't be in Detroit.

The Lions invested the third overall draft pick and requisite millions in Harrington, hoping he would be the franchise quarterback they've lacked for decades. Three-plus years and 49 starts later, the Harrington era seems over in the Motor City.

The Lions benched Harrington last week in a move delayed only because Jeff Garcia was injured during the preseason finale. Garcia ran for a touchdown and made some crafty plays in Detroit's 13-10 win at Cleveland on Sunday.

Unless the 35-year-old quarterback is injured again, Harrington will probably not take another significant snap in Detroit this season -- maybe beyond. The Lions could decide in the offseason to release a once-promising player to whom they gave a $36 million, six-year contract in 2002.

Harrington's teammates look and sound like they are ready for a change.

Tight end Marcus Pollard threw his head back and hands out when Harrington made poor throws, while receiver Roy Williams publicly complained about a lack of chemistry with him. When Harrington was knocked down, he often had to pick himself up off the ground. When he made a rare play, he usually had to celebrate alone. Cornerback Dre' Bly even said defensive players might as well suit up and play offense.

The Lions appeared to give up on Harrington long after the fans, who booed him during a practice in August and relentlessly in games at Ford Field. Harrington's short passes to running backs on third-and-long rubbed this blue-collar town wrong. So did his rosy demeanor almost from the start.

Harrington also had history working against him the moment he was drafted by a long-floundering franchise.

Detroit hasn't had a quarterback play in the Pro Bowl since Greg Landry after the 1971 season and has lacked long-term stability at the position since Bobby Layne started from 1951 until the Lions won the NFL title in 1957.

Since then, the Lions have won only one playoff game as they've searched for a star quarterback.

Harrington's flop puts him on a long list including Charlie Batch, Scott Mitchell, Andre Ware, Rodney Peete, Chuck Long, Eric Hipple and Gary Danielson.

Harrington's supporters -- a quiet minority -- would say he didn't succeed because of an awful offensive line, lackluster receivers and an inconsistent running game. The Lions could have been bad enough to lose the 34 games they did the past three seasons with or without Harrington, they would add.

But when Harrington did have chances to make plays or lead teammates, he was spotty at best, especially this season. He completed 53.1 percent of his passes for an average of 159.6 yards with just four TDs and eight interceptions in five games. In his career, he has thrown 52 TDs and 58 INTs.

Harrington's status as the No. 1 QB fell into jeopardy in March when Detroit signed a veteran backup to push him for the first time. Some predicted Harrington would be out by Week 3, but he had security temporarily when Garcia broke his left leg and badly sprained his left ankle in the preseason.

The beginning of the end for Harrington came in the second game, when he threw a career-high five interceptions in a 38-6 loss at Chicago. In the next three games, he had one TD and three interceptions, and he was jeered unmercifully in two home games.

As soon as Garcia was healthy enough to take snaps with the No. 1 offense, Lions coach Steve Mariucci demoted Harrington after 37 straight starts.

"I thought Joey really handled it professionally," Mariucci said. "When we had our conversation, there wasn't much of a discussion."

Garcia had one poor season with the Browns in 2004, but Mariucci remembers him as a three-time Pro Bowler he coached in San Francisco. With first place at stake in the NFC North, Garcia will lead the Lions (3-3) against the Bears (3-3) in his first home start Sunday.

Harrington has insisted his attitude won't change with a demotion.

"I'm not the kind of guy who is going to say one thing and do another," he said. "This is who I am."

And, for now, he's played his way out of the starting lineup.

"He may end up on the field again for whatever reason, and we have to have his mind right," Mariucci said. "We have to have him ready to win for us."