Oh, Happy Day!!!

[M GO BLUE!!!]

:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

Updated: March 16, 2006, 3:06 PM ET

Lions ink free agent QB McCownBy Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com


In a move that likely augurs the imminent departure of starting quarterback Joey Harrington after four disappointing seasons, ESPN.com has learned that the Detroit Lions on Thursday signed unrestricted free agent Josh McCown, who had played his entire career with the Arizona Cardinals.

McCown, 26, signed a two-year contract worth $6 million, a deal that will pay him $4 million in 2006 between his signing bonus and base salary. The addition of McCown comes just two days after Detroit signed former Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Jon Kitna to a four-year, $11.5 million contract that has a signing bonus of $3.5 million.

League sources said that the acquisitions of Kitna and McCown will result in the release or trade of Harrington, who was the third overall player selected in the 2002 draft. Harrington is due a roster bonus of $4 million on June 15 and is scheduled to have a 2006 base salary of $4.5 million.

Releasing or trading Harrington, who has compiled an 18-37 record as a starter, will save the Lions about $5.4 million in 2006 cap space.

First-year head coach Rod Marinelli and offensive coordinator Mike Martz both suggested in recent days that they viewed Harrington as the starter. The public support aside, team and league sources acknowledged that the new coaching staff did not regard Harrington as much as they claimed and that the Lions were actively seeking out alternatives.

The plan now is to allow Kitna and McCown to compete for the starting job.

In McCown, whose résumé includes 22 starts, Martz is getting a young, talented quarterback that he might be able to mold in much the same manner he did past protégés like Trent Green, Kurt Warner and Marc Bulger. McCown has appeared in 33 games and completed 498 of 862 passes for 5,431 yards, with 25 touchdown passes, 29 interceptions and a 72.1 efficiency rating.

The strategy of McCown's agent, Mike McCartney, was to sign his client to a short-term deal and with a team where he could legitimately compete for the starting job, and then get back to the bargaining table for a bigger contract. The plan is the same blueprint McCartney and his associates at Priority Sports used with Jake Delhomme three years ago.

"Josh is ecstatic. We were looking for a spot where he could compete for a job," McCartney said. "The word is that the best man wins. He's excited. It's the right offense for him."

The Lions invested a lot of time and money in Harrington, a former Oregon star, but apparently have decided that, with a new coaching staff, his shelf-life in Detroit has expired. Harrington, 26, started in 55 of 58 appearances and completed 986 of 1,802 passes for 10,242 yards, with 60 touchdown passes, 62 interception and a 68.1 passer rating.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report

[rkmsuf]

:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

Updated: March 16, 2006, 3:06 PM ET

Lions ink free agent QB McCownBy Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com


In a move that likely augurs the imminent departure of starting quarterback Joey Harrington after four disappointing seasons, ESPN.com has learned that the Detroit Lions on Thursday signed unrestricted free agent Josh McCown, who had played his entire career with the Arizona Cardinals.

McCown, 26, signed a two-year contract worth $6 million, a deal that will pay him $4 million in 2006 between his signing bonus and base salary. The addition of McCown comes just two days after Detroit signed former Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Jon Kitna to a four-year, $11.5 million contract that has a signing bonus of $3.5 million.

League sources said that the acquisitions of Kitna and McCown will result in the release or trade of Harrington, who was the third overall player selected in the 2002 draft. Harrington is due a roster bonus of $4 million on June 15 and is scheduled to have a 2006 base salary of $4.5 million.

Releasing or trading Harrington, who has compiled an 18-37 record as a starter, will save the Lions about $5.4 million in 2006 cap space.

First-year head coach Rod Marinelli and offensive coordinator Mike Martz both suggested in recent days that they viewed Harrington as the starter. The public support aside, team and league sources acknowledged that the new coaching staff did not regard Harrington as much as they claimed and that the Lions were actively seeking out alternatives.

The plan now is to allow Kitna and McCown to compete for the starting job.

In McCown, whose résumé includes 22 starts, Martz is getting a young, talented quarterback that he might be able to mold in much the same manner he did past protégés like Trent Green, Kurt Warner and Marc Bulger. McCown has appeared in 33 games and completed 498 of 862 passes for 5,431 yards, with 25 touchdown passes, 29 interceptions and a 72.1 efficiency rating.

The strategy of McCown's agent, Mike McCartney, was to sign his client to a short-term deal and with a team where he could legitimately compete for the starting job, and then get back to the bargaining table for a bigger contract. The plan is the same blueprint McCartney and his associates at Priority Sports used with Jake Delhomme three years ago.

"Josh is ecstatic. We were looking for a spot where he could compete for a job," McCartney said. "The word is that the best man wins. He's excited. It's the right offense for him."

The Lions invested a lot of time and money in Harrington, a former Oregon star, but apparently have decided that, with a new coaching staff, his shelf-life in Detroit has expired. Harrington, 26, started in 55 of 58 appearances and completed 986 of 1,802 passes for 10,242 yards, with 60 touchdown passes, 62 interception and a 68.1 passer rating.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report


que JeeberD

[bbor]

This is a step up?

[st.cronin]

Now they need to add T.O. and they'll really be onto something.

[mooreadamc]

Who do you think starts? Kitna or McCown?

[cartman]

Now they need to add T.O. and they'll really be onto something.

What? Did they trade their first round pick for this season? Why would they go into free agency to get a WR when they have a first rounder to use to get one?

:D

[Ragone]

With their first pick.. the Detroit lions select... Santonio Holmes.. wr.. Ohio State

[Honolulu_Blue]

This is a step up?

No. This is a bold step sideways. Harrington had to be moved. He made it clear that he no longer wanted to be a part of the Lions organization. He wanted out badly. I can't really blame him. He has had three different head coaches, none of which believed in him, fans have booed him, the team doesn't believe in him, he has played behind an incredibly mediocre offensive line, his WRs are a bunch of over-hyped divas, and his running game has been sporadic at best. He really never had a chance to succeed here. That said, he hasn't played well either. He certainly has issues.

The Lions have known Harrington has wanted out for a few days now, ever since Martz's QB school a few weeks ago. Instead of trying to make a run at Brees or Culpepper (this would have been unlikely since Minnesota probably would not have traded Culpepper within the division), the Lions went the Kitna/McCown route. I guess they were scared of Brees' shoulder and Culpepper's knee, but I have no idea.

McCown has shown flashes of talent, but then again so has Harrington. MCown has also been benched in favor of the likes of Shaun King, Kurt Warner (the old version), and John Freakin' Navarre. He seems like Joey 2.0. Kitna is a solid, but not spectacular back-up.

So now the Lions have two starting QBs, which means they really have none. There will be a QB controversy in Detroit, which is pretty much par for the course here. It will go one Jon vs. Josh with a small group calling for Orlovsky.

A change had to be made, but this is a step sideways. The Lions now have 3 WRs drafted in the first round and two 2 career backups at QB. A solid plan.

As for who will start, I foresee McCown as the eventual starter, but given the inevitable struggles of the Lions offense, both will start at various times over the course of next season.

[mooreadamc]

Kitna began strong when Palmer went down in the Pittsburgh game. I still think the guy can play.

Think the Lions can get anyone good for Harrington? Or just a middle round draft pick?

[Celeval]

I'd not be surprised to see Harrington to Oakland.

[Thomkal]

Well as a Cards fan, I'll miss McCown, though I'm not sure he was the answer there. I would have rather the Cards kept him instead of Warner though. I think however that Martz + McCown=match made in heaven. McCown had some big games with the Cards and if Detroit can get their WR's to play to their talent, it could be a very sweet time in the Motor City. A big if though.

Who needs a QB now? Jets? Oakland? I guess Harrington could end up there. Maybe even San Diego as insurance if Rivers bombs.

[Honolulu_Blue]

The Lions are seeking out trade possibilities. There are a few snags. One, everyone knows they are going to cut him. That lowers his value considerable. Two, Harrington's current contract calls for a $4 million roster bonus on June 15. I think any team trading for him will have to swallow that. I think they'd rather save a pick and take their chances on the free agent market. The Lions are working with Harrington to re-structure his deal to make a trade a little easier to swallow.

I think the best the Lions could hope for would be a second day pick. A 4th rounder would be lovely, but I think a 5th or lower is more realistic.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Kitna began strong when Palmer went down in the Pittsburgh game. I still think the guy can play.

Think the Lions can get anyone good for Harrington? Or just a middle round draft pick?

Yeah, Kitna did begin strong. He did not end strong. I think his value on the free agent market took a serious nose dive during the second half of that game.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Well as a Cards fan, I'll miss McCown, though I'm not sure he was the answer there. I would have rather the Cards kept him instead of Warner though. I think however that Martz + McCown=match made in heaven. McCown had some big games with the Cards and if Detroit can get their WR's to play to their talent, it could be a very sweet time in the Motor City. A big if though.

Who needs a QB now? Jets? Oakland? I guess Harrington could end up there. Maybe even San Diego as insurance if Rivers bombs.

There are a lot of "ifs" there, but that is what all Lions fans are hoping. They want Martz to come in and install an innovative, exciting offense. What we had here the last few years was a pathetic, vanilla version of the West Coast offense. It was shameful.

The next step would be for Martz to work with McCown (and Kitna) and really help get their game up a notch. Arguably McCown could be the most talented QB Martz has been given to work with. If that works out well, McCown could make great strides.

The Three Divas (Rogers, Williams, and Williams) are the next step. Hopefully between Martz and Marinelli, they can whip these guys into shape and actually get them to get serious about playing football and become more dedicated to the game. Roy Williams isn't that big of an issue. He's just injury prone. Though I am sure he could work harder. Charles Rogers and Mike Williams have shown to lack a serious work ethic and just sort of coast and think they can rely on their natural talent. This was allowed the last few years. I don't have the impression Martz/Marinelli will allow this go on any further. If they react well to this sort of treatment, things could be really exciting. If they don't. . . well, there's always Santonio Holmes! ;)

[Butter]

Kitna will end up the starter.

[Eaglesfan27]

Kitna will end up the starter.


I think so too. I think some people are forgetting how good he played in the season before Palmer became the starter. I wouldn't condemn him on one less than stellar performance, but would likely make him the starter based on a very good full season of work in Cincinatti not that many years ago. I don't think he is that old that he has lost much yet, I guess practice might reveal otherwise.

[mooreadamc]

Yeah, Kitna did begin strong. He did not end strong. I think his value on the free agent market took a serious nose dive during the second half of that game.

Oh ya! I took the Bengals in that game so I went from unhappy when Palmer went down to pumped up when Kitna was doing so well. I then proceeded to brag about how much the Bengals were better to all the Steelers fans and was then finally humiliated when he disappeared in the 2nd half.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Kitna will end up the starter.

If I had to pick a starting QB for the first game of the season, I'd agree. In all likelihood Kitna will begin as the starter. I think he will eventually be replaced sometime during the season. I really hope he doesn't (because it'd mean he's playing well and the Lions are winning), but based on the fact this is the Lions we're talking about that seems about as likely as Grandma's Boy picking up an Oscar.

It's early to say. Who knows what Martz will do/think or anything at all about Marinelli. As the ancient Chinese proverb goes... May we live in interesting times.

[Franklinnoble]

I could actually see Harrington ending up in Minnesota.