Where should Joey Harrington QB next season

[BigJohn&TheLions]

Here's to hoping that Detroit moves on. I think it would be best for the team, and for Harrington. It is clear that Mooch is not thrilled with him, and Harrington hasn't done anything to show that he is going to develop in Detroit. Time to move on.

Since he'll probably be benched after the loss against the Colts unless he shows something against the tissue paper defense the Colts have, it's time to think about the future. What would be the best situation, of the teams that may be looking for a QB? Or should he get yet another year?

[Balldog]

Where is unemployed at on the poll?

[korme]

Maybe Washington?

[JeffNights]

Yeah, wheres the "CFL" option???

[Blackadar]

I think whoever gets him will get a very good QB.

[Philliesfan980]

Before you get rid of Harrington, you really have to think: "Who's going to step in and replace him." Currently the NFL has a few great QB's in the league, and the rest is filled with mediocrity. Are you going to sign a stud to a long term contract? Who's available after this year, as trades don't happen that often in the NFL.

The other option is to draft a QB and watch him mature. I'm not so sure thats the best option for this team. With a potentially great young RB (lets see what he can do with a full season), and a nice core of receivers, along with an above avg defense, this team isn't that far away from making the playoff's in the average NFC.

Personally, I say spend the money on upgrading the line, and hope that Harrington is good enough to get them over the top. I don't ever see him being a top 5 QB in the league, but surround him with the right players, might have enough to get the job done.

[cthomer5000]

I'm with Phillies. You have to give him one more year, if only because of the situation of the team. You should have the offensive firepower to win now, and there is no capable replacement (I'm a Rutgers alumni, and I can say with near certainty that McMahon will never be more than a guy who looks good throwing the ball).

Unless you want to dump some cash in Drew Brees' lap in the off-season, Harrington has to be your guy. Tommy Maddox and Kurt Warner may be available as well.

[BigJohn&TheLions]

I'd sign Griese and draft a young guy to develop.

edit: Brees might be the answer too...

I don't think it's a coincidence that Harrington's receivers are always hurt. His accuracy isn't very good. He seems to throw the ball behind the receiver half of the time, and too many times I have seen the receiver put himself in a position to absolutely get killed by the defender just to make the catch. It seems that every catch Roy Williams makes is a highlight reel grab. Could it be because the throw was bad?

Look at the list of injured Harrington receivers:

Williams
Rogers
Streets
Hakim
Schlesinger

That's just this season... basically, if you want a list of Lions receivers over the past few seasons, all you have to do is look at the list of Lions receivers and they are all hurt...

His easy going attitude might actually work in San Fran. Maybe a change will wake him up. Threatening his job in Detroit sure didn't do it.

[cthomer5000]

Brad Johnson will probably be available. I think the Bucs will hold on to Griese since he's looked so good.

[Cringer]

Yeah, wheres the "CFL" option???


Thats not bad, but I was going to say NFLEurope

[duckman]

You're wanting to dump a QB with an 80.5 rating and 2 to 1 TD to interception ratio? I would give him AT LEAST another season before I would even consider letting him go.

[Bubba Wheels]

He gets the second half of the season to step it up, just heard it all on 1270 radio. Chris Mortonsen was interviewed, he seems to think Harrington doesn't get enough practice time with the receivers, cause they don't practice (Mooch being too careful?)
Interesting comment by Mortonsen "If Payton Manning couldn't practice with his receiver's, he'd be going ballistic." We'll see alot tomorrow.

Also looking to see local boy Drew Henson doing good in his first start.

[Desnudo]

He gets the second half of the season to step it up, just heard it all on 1270 radio. Chris Mortonsen was interviewed, he seems to think Harrington doesn't get enough practice time with the receivers, cause they don't practice (Mooch being too careful?)
Interesting comment by Mortonsen "If Payton Manning couldn't practice with his receiver's, he'd be going ballistic." We'll see alot tomorrow.

Also looking to see local boy Drew Henson doing good in his first start.

How do they get ready for games then? That seems like an odd strategy.

[Bubba Wheels]

How do they get ready for games then? That seems like an odd strategy.

Mooch may be being too careful with his banged-up receivers. Last year Mooch lost Charles Rogers in a practice and then he lost RB James Jones on the last play of the last exhibition game. Mooch may be having flashbacks.

[Desnudo]

Mooch may be being too careful with his banged-up receivers. Last year Mooch lost Charles Rogers in a practice and then he lost RB James Jones on the last play of the last exhibition game. Mooch may be having flashbacks.

So Mooch doesn't let the QB throw to his WRs in practice? Mooch is crazy. Most top flight QBs practice with their WRs in the off-season, never mind during the season. I wonder what Mooch has to say about Mooch's nutty idea.

[Philliesfan980]

I've always thought that Mooch was one of the most overrated coaches in the NFL. He inherited a great team and instead of keeping the tradition, basically ran the program in the ground. Granted he had alot of veterans on the 49ers when he started, but he gave them no plan.

[Desnudo]

BTW, when did people start calling him Mooch?

[cthomer5000]

I think he never got enough credit. 4 playoff appearances in 6 years, and he was fired after back-to-back playoff appearances.

[Franklinnoble]

Do any of these cities have arena league teams? That would help my decision a bit...

[Abe Sargent]

Before you get rid of Harrington, you really have to think: "Who's going to step in and replace him." Currently the NFL has a few great QB's in the league, and the rest is filled with mediocrity. Are you going to sign a stud to a long term contract? Who's available after this year, as trades don't happen that often in the NFL.
.

Drew Brees will probably be available. David Garrard can be had for a draft pick.

I think that used to be the case, but we have a great crop of young proven QBs-

Culpepper
P. Manning
McNabb
Brady
Brees
Pennington
Vick


We have a stable of reliable veterans:

Favre
Hasselbeck
McNair
Green

We have a cadre of solid/occasional pro-bowl QBs who may fail eventally but have shown something:

Bulger
Delhomme
Garcia
Plummer


And we have QBs who have exhibited signs of greatness, we just don't have enough evidence yet:

Leftwich
Carr
Roethlisburger
Brees


Finally, we have QBs who may very well turn out to be full time starters, we just need to see:

Rivers
E Manning
Palmer
Boller
Ramsey
Henson


In addition, there are probably three or four QBs currently out there that will prove themselves great (probably pick from Feeley, Harrington, Losman, Garrard, Kitna, Maddox, Wright, Collins, Griese and maybe another QB or two).


In fact, it appears that the QB position is in a much better condition than it was five years ago. Good QBs appear to be easier to find these days (San Diego may have two right now, Brady was a 6th pick, Brooks was traded for nothing, Delhomme, Green and Collins were found on the scrap heap, etc.)

I think replacing Harrington is not a problem. But the best best is to pursue Brees. Most teams have their QB of the Future all picked out. Every AFC team appears set. Arizona, maybe SF, Chicago, maybe Washington, maybe New Orleans, maybe Tampa Bay, that's your list. Many of those maybes might stick with what they've got. Detroit will compete with few suitors if they move Harrington. Moving Harrington will scratch one of those teams off, Jax wants to move Garrard, but I suspect he'll go to a maybe team that keeps their current QB and brings Garrard in for competition. I hardly think Garrard will be annointed the king without competition.

That makes the competition for Brees pretty small. Then you add in the draftees and many teams may not make a move. Additionally, players like Maddox, Batch, Brooks (if moved by NO), and B. Johnson might be had for a relative pittance. (Although I'd find it funny if Detroit traded for Batch...)

If you can get a first round pick for Harrington, even a low first, I'd pull the trigger. You can find any QB to play as unevenly as he has if you look. But. you might find more.


-Anxiety

[Havok]

Maybe Washington?


i'd be happy with that... i've always liked Harrington. Watching him in college was a blast.

He's got a 2 to 1 Td/int ratio which is great. He just needs to get the ball down the field more from what i can tell. His top weapon is also a 'rookie' WR so that isn't helping much. Not that i don't think Roy is gonna be good, he's just still a rookie. I bet if Charles Rogers would stop breaking his collar bone every season his stats would be alot better.

Then again, i don't get to watch alot of Detroit games since i live in florida and they arn't actually on national T.V. very much.

[cincyreds]

Why not da Boys?

[duckman]

Why not da Boys?
Depends on the Henson situation. If he shows signs that could be a very good QB, the Cowboys will use their cap dollars on their two first rounders and possible free agents.

[Adamski47]

Was anyone knocking the door down to get Brees last year? I think not. The Lions will not be getting rid of Joey Harrington in 2005. The earliest would be before the 2006 season (June 1st) because of his contract.

Harrington has done nothing to warrant a replacement. His rating went up from his 1st year to his second year (with a worse team) and has gone up 20 pts this season from last year. Harrington knows his WRs are hurt and he's throwing to beaters (Scotty Vines/Reggie Swinton anyone?) so he's trying to be too fine. Once he takes a bit of the edge off he'll be terrific. If not here in Detroit (where the backup QB is ALWAYS the most popular player/solution in the world) it WILL be somewhere else. Either way, with the way the fans and media have treated him in Detroit (accusing him of being gay etc) he wont resign in Detroit regardless.

Harrington is very close to having it all come together. He makes the right reads. The reason he's throwing those dumps on 3rd down is because NO ONE is getting open downfield (look at the film/replays it's not a myth) and he knows it's much better to cut your losses and punt (field position) than to throw an INT.

Either way, the NFL QB is an overrated position. You don't need Peyton Manning to win a Superbowl (although it helps). Football games are won with field position, clock management and holding on to the ball. Harrington is well aware of all of this and once he works out his short yardage/goaline kinks (which are very common in the WCO) he'll be great.

Quit dogging Harrington. I'll stick up for him until the day he retires. This kid is going to be very good.

[gi]

With the performance yesterday, the blame can be spread around to most everyone. Joey did make some mistakes like missing open receivers, (maybe the surprise of seeing an open receiver caused this) but it appeared to me that the entire team gave up. Mooch should be taking some heat for this.

[ice4277]

Mariucci has made some VERY questionable playcalling decisions over the last 3 or 4 weeks. He has to shoulder a very large portion of the blame for what has happened over the last month. The receivers aren't helping, plenty of dropped balls for everybody, especially Williams over the last couple weeks. The whole team needs an attitude adjustment but I don't see one forthcoming. My view of the future of this franchise has never been more bleak than it currently is, and that is saying something considering how consistently shitty this team performs, year in year out.