Joey Harrington a Phin

[dan4vols]

wire reports

DETROIT (May 12, 2006) -- The Miami Dolphins acquired quarterback Joey Harrington from Detroit for an undisclosed conditional draft pick, giving the Dolphins a fallback position if new starter Daunte Culpepper isn't ready for the season's first snap.

"We're pleased to have Joey Harrington join the Dolphins," head coach Nick Saban said in a statement. "We will work with him to get him acclimated to our system as quickly as possible."

The Dolphins had been searching for a backup to Culpepper and targeted Harrington, the former No. 3 overall pick who didn't live up to expectations in four years as the Lions' starter. Harrington had expressed his desire to play with the Dolphins.

The Lions released a statement announcing the move.

Culpepper, acquired from Minnesota this offseason, is recovering from a serious knee injury and may not be ready for the Dolphins' first regular-season game -- at Pittsburgh on Sept. 7.

The other two quarterbacks on the Miami roster, Brock Berlin and Cleo Lemon, are young and untested.

Harrington went 18-37 as a starter with the Lions. He threw 60 touchdown passes and 62 interceptions, and his career passer rating is a modest 68.1.

Detroit had been expected to cut ties with Harrington before June 15, when he was due a lucrative roster bonus. He'll likely be replaced by Jon Kitna or Josh McCown, both former starters for other teams who agreed to terms with Detroit this offseason.


AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service

[volmanjr]

I'm sorry dan.

[dan4vols]

Dang I was hopin he was a good QB on a crap team...I choose to believe he'll shine under a new roof. You may be right, but I hope not.

[volmanjr]

Maybe but I wouldn't hold my breath and pray that DC heals quick.

[milohimself]

Originally Posted by (dan4vols @ May 12, 2006 6:01 PM)

Dang I was hopin he was a good QB on a crap team...I choose to believe he'll shine under a new roof. You may be right, but I hope not.

Don't worry. I believe Harrington could still shine. I know he has the talent. His problem was that he was stuck with the Detroit Lions. I know Harrington has a share of blame for his failure in Detroit, but at the same time I believe it to be fully impossible for ANY quarterback to look good there. Anybody. Manning, Brees, Brady, Delhomme, Hasslebeck. They would all be equally as terrible in Detroit.

IMO, in a sense, the Dolphins just picked up a guy barely past the rookie level. Not in a bad way, just that he's still unmolded. Get Joey some good coaching, and he can be the superstar a 3rd overall pick should be.

[tidwell]

Now with Martz in Detroit, the QBs will more than likely look good, making it look even worse for Joey Heisman.

[milohimself]

Did Harrington have Martz in Detroit?

[tidwell]

It'll seem convenient to the average fan that doesn't keep up with the coordinators that the Detroit QBs prosper.

[milohimself]

Then I'd be quick to correct them. Plus if their offense steps up, then the average fan will know Martz is at Detroit, and had nothing to do with the system Harrington was in.

[tidwell]

Be honest, you're only making a case for him and against Detroit because he went to school in the Northwest. :D

[milohimself]

That and Detroit blows. As much as I liked Emmitt Smith, I liked Barry Sanders a lot too and I'm still pissed that he was forced into early retirement because his team blew

[OWB]

Originally Posted by (milohimself @ May 12, 2006 11:14 PM)

Don't worry. I believe Harrington could still shine.

But of course you do PacMan.

[tidwell]

Originally Posted by (milohimself @ May 12, 2006 10:25 PM)

That and Detroit blows. As much as I liked Emmitt Smith, I liked Barry Sanders a lot too and I'm still pissed that he was forced into early retirement because his team blew

Thank you. :D

[dan4vols]

nothing is so refreshing as an honest homer, if your gonna be a bear be a grizzly!