Joey Harrington

John Joseph "Joey" Harrington Jr. (born October 21, 1978 in Portland, Oregon) is the starting quarterback for the Detroit Lions. He is a graduate of the University of Oregon, and was a 3-year starter on the Oregon Ducks football team.

Professional Career

As the third overall pick in the 2002 NFL Draft, Harrington replaced former starting quarterback Mike McMahon in what was at the time a controversy. Harrington finished the season with a 59.9 passer rating and a 50.1 completion percentage with 12 touchdowns and 16 interceptions, as the Lions finished the season with a 3-13 record.

Related Topics:
NFL Draft - Mike McMahon - Touchdowns - Interceptions

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Harrington's career statistics to date are not sparkling, with 51 touchdowns passes and 55 interceptions in only 47 career starts. His career passer's rating is currently 66.6.

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Joey's NFL Stats Page

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In the free agency for 2005, the Lions signed 3 time Pro Bowl quarterback Jeff Garcia who is listed on the 2005 roster as the second string quarterback and has become a veteran spokes person for the team, barring injury to Harrington or a long, ineffective or inconsistent performance the Lions have made it explicitly clear that Jeff Garcia will not make a start in 2005. The Lions also used their first round pick on a wide receiver, Mike Williams, for the third consecutive season.

Related Topics:
2005 - Pro Bowl - Jeff Garcia - Mike Williams

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Harrington is a subject of much controversy amongst Lions fans. Some of which claim dropped passes and poor play calling to be the cause of his statistical failures. Others believe he does not have the accuracy or the quick decision making to be a successful quarterback in a West Coast Offense. Regardless of the controversy the expectations for Harrington are high despite lackluster efforts seen on offense in the 2005 pre-season. If at a point in the season losses become solely his fault due to inaccurate passes and poor decision making he may lose his starting job to either Jeff Garcia or Dan Orvlosky.

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Harrington has been known to be inconsistent with his footwork which greatly effects a quarterbacks accuracy and often misses many open receivers as a result of what has appeared to be a inability to effectively perceive the circumstances generating on the feild during play. At times, Harrington has been a hesitant passer who misses pass oppurtunities by being too late on his reads. In other occasions, due to the result of his hesitant passing, he will begin throwing more aggressively which in turn has resulted in many errent passes and interceptions caused by poorly timed and over-excited throws. He has shown little resentment to a receiving corps that in his second season led the league in dropped passes. Harrington has yet to be publicly known to criticize his receivers and his teams efforts or show the type of tough leadership that is more often seen with top quarterbacks like Peyton Manning or Brett Favre.

Related Topics:
Peyton Manning - Brett Favre

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