Harrington needs more time

[Gunzlingr]

ALLEN PARK--You thought it. I thought it. The Lions thought it. Joey Harrington probably thought it himself.

This guy was special. Different.

As always in the NFL, the reality dawns. Harrington eventually might be special, maybe quite special, but he's not different. He needs the same elements any young quarterback needs, whether he was drafted with the third pick out of Oregon, or in the fifth round out of Rutgers.

He needs, in order of importance:

1. Time.

2. Receivers.

3. Coaching.

4. Time.

5. Protection.

6. Time.

Not unlimited time, of course. We would like to see more out of Harrington, starting with the second exhibition game against Cincinnati on Saturday, when receivers Charles Rogers and Az-Zahir Hakim are expected to return from injury.

more

[Cntrygal]

Harrington content to progress at his own speed

Detroit Lions quarterback Joey Harrington sounds unsure about when he believes he will make it as a franchise quarterback.

Harrington, drafted third overall from Oregon last year, noted that some quarterbacks, like the Indianapolis Colts' Peyton Manning and the Falcons' Michael Vick, have progressed quickly, while others, like the Oakland Raiders' Rich Gannon, have taken longer.

"I'm just trying to find my own speed, my own little niche," he said.


more...