End of the line in Detroit

On March 20th, Detroit’s rookie Head Coach Rod Marinelli announced that the team has decided to move in a different direction at the quarterback position, sealing Joey’s fate and ending his 4 year run with the Lions. Since that time, the great debate has begun, is Joey Harrington, #3 pick out of Oregon and perceived savior of the Lions organization a failure, or another just another statistic in the graveyard of success that this franchise has become. It is not possible to argue that this team has been a success with Harrington on the roster. Since 2002, the team is a dismal 19-45. The Lions have failed to finish .500, let alone reach the post season since he joined the franchise. For a player of his ability, with the success he had in the college ranks, it is easy to see why many Lion fans label Joey a failed experiment and a setback for the organization.

With Joey and the Lions soon to be parting ways, as a (former) Oregon resident, Duck fan, and Joey supporter, I would like to take a moment to apologize for his failures as a Lion. Since his 4 tumultuous years in the city may have clouded your memories of glory days past, I’ve devoted the following pages to help remind you what the great organization was like pre-Joey...

• 1 Playoff victory since 1970;
• 11 Winning seasons since 1970;
• 13 Head Coaches since 1970;
• Greatest Running Back to ever play and now Hall of Famer hung his cleats in Detroit... until a midnight flight out of the country and out of the organization.