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Joey Harrington On His Time With The Lions 'By The Time I Left, I Was A Shell Of The Player I Once Was'

By: Evan Jankens
@kingofthekc
Back in 2002, Matt Millen thought he had drafted the Detroit Lions' franchise QB in Orgeon QB Joey Harrington.

But it turned out that during his time in Detroit, more people wanted to talk about him playing the piano and enjoying chocolate-covered strawberries than his play on the field.

Monday afternoon, Sports Illustrated published, "Despite What You May Think, My NFL Career Was A Success" by Joe Harrington himself.

Hey, is this something we can all do? Accountants could write an article titled "Despite what you may think, I didn't lose all that money," and lawyers could write, "Despite what you may think, I didn't actually lose that case." Who are you going to believe, me or your own eyes?

Here are some of the more, I would say shocking excerpts from the article.

I remember walking into the office of then head coach Steve Mariucci and telling him, "I need you to give me permission to throw the ball down the field." I'd never felt so down. At that point, I was just searching — grasping — for some kind of support.

That was at the very end, when things had all but collapsed around me.

This wasn't football. This wasn't team. This wasn't fun.

I'm sometimes asked if I was put in an unfair position in Detroit. My answer is always immediate and the same: No. Saying so implies I was the only one in that kind of a position. Welcome to the NFL.

After Matt, I spoke with the new head coach, Rod Marinelli.

"Look, Rod," I said. "If you want me to be here, I will be here, because I respect you, and I respect Matt. But with the exception of one or two guys in that locker room … the rest of them can go to hell."

After that, I told Matt I was going to Miami. I still talk to Matt Millen to this day. He's a fantastic, wonderful guy. But it was time for both sides to part ways.

If you ever really wanted an inside look into the Lions organization this is it.

Harrington played four seasons for the Detroit Lions before going to the Miami Dolphins, Atlanta Falcons and the New Orleans Saints.

In his time with the Lions, he threw for 10,242 yards, 60 touchdowns and 62 interceptions.

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