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.

 

 

"That decision hasn't been made yet," said a Lions source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. "We're looking at all the options."

 

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.

 

Millen was in San Francisco for a scouting trip on Tuesday and was unavailable for comment.

 

Members of the Lions front office, coaching staff and scouting department are expected to meet several times over the next five weeks to discuss whether Harrington will return. While money will be an issue, it won't be the deal-breaker in either situation (whether they keep or cut him).

 

By cutting Harrington now, the Lions would face an immediate salary cap hit of $5.5 million, but it wouldn't affect their ability to re-sign their own free agents and pursue other unrestricted free agents.

wow....would have never expected something like this.

i really dont care but the lions need a new qb anyways, i see them drafting an alex smith or cambell in the draft

Not too suprising. IMO he is one of the worst starting QB's in the league and Mooch does not like him. He has made that fairly clear since he got there.

I don't think it's his fault. Harrington's going to pull a Drew Brees once he gets a few players around him.

I don't think it's his fault.  Harrington's going to pull a Drew Brees once he gets a few players around him.

 

 

not his fault, in football its always the quarterbacks, exept for when the team has the lack of a running game, receivers be uable to catch the ball, and or the ref's blows some bogus call. but most of the time its the qb's fault for the loss. especially with joey, nothing seemed to go right for the guy when he was in the game. he overthrough receivers fumbled handoffs, i dont know if the lions drop harrington the worst seems to be behind them

I don't see them cutting him. If they did that's crazy.

i think they might, he hasnt done much and i think he has some good talent around him but they keep getting hurt

QUOTE(greasywheels121 @ Jan 12, 2005 -> 09:56 PM)

I don't think it's his fault.  Harrington's going to pull a Drew Brees once he gets a few players around him.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

A few players around him? Are you kidding? How is this always going to be his excuse? Roy WIlliams, Az-Hakim, Kevin Jones, pretty good offensive line, more than any of the Bears QBs had to work with. Give me a break once he gets something to work with.

 

Brees has Tomlinson and Gates, besides that he has nothing. Brees has a worse offensive line, and worse overall WRs.

 

Harrington is and never was in Brees' category talent wise. Harrington is a piece of s***!

A few players around him? Are you kidding? How is this always going to be his excuse? Roy WIlliams, Az-Hakim, Kevin Jones, pretty good offensive line, more than any of the Bears QBs had to work with. Give me a break once he gets something to work with.

 

Brees has Tomlinson and Gates, besides that he has nothing. Brees has a worse offensive line, and worse overall WRs.

 

Harrington is and never was in Brees' category talent wise. Harrington is a piece of s***!

How ironic if Harrington goes to another team like Dallas, suddenly "gets" it, and Drew Brees does the opposite. Could very well happen.

I was wondering when these reports would start to surface.

 

Harrington has shown his college game has not translated into professional football. He's had time to prove himself and has failed. If I were the Lions, I would draft the QB of the future this year (great QB class, better than 04's in my opinion) allow Harrington to QB the team for one more year in 2005, groom the youngster, and drop Harrington in 2005.

 

Hell, if they draft the QB of the future this season, they will set up a potential Brees situation of 04. Its a win, win.

 

Whatever you do, do NOT throw another rookie on the field and risk ruining him, like you did Harrington.

The Lions put out a retort today saying that they weren't going to release Harrington, they don't owe him a roster bonus, the coach wasn't forced out, FWIW.