The Harrington Family Foundation

A) The season hasn't been as successful as we had hoped. It's just going to take a little more time but we'll turn it around. I want to thank you and everyone else who has written in words of encouragement to me. Even though I don't have time to answer them individually, I do read them all and really appreciate the support.

A) As I have said all year, I went through this a lot during Michigan week, I don't make any predictions on games involving teams I have strong feelings toward. It's a superstition thing for me. However, I had a chance to watch OSU play when I was in San Francisco and they have a terrific ground game. Jackson is a great back and has shown all year that he's tough to slow down. However Oregon has done a good job of slowing down big backs in big games so If the Ducks can keep all the emotions surrounding the week in check I think they will do well.

A) It means a lot to me to have my friends and family attend my games. I really appreciated all the fans from Oregon and the Northwest who came to cheer on the Lions....win or lose. I wish that I could have thanked them all personally for their support.

A) Thank you very much. It feels very good to hear someone say that our efforts are appreciated because it honestly gets tough sometimes to hear over and over how often we have come short of people's expectations. However, regardless of our record I have been having a great time playing football in Detroit. Yes there have been some times when it has been very tough, but I believe it will just make it that much sweeter when we turn things around. There is no doubt in my mind that it makes it easier to play when your own fans don't boo you but I have come to realize that the atmosphere in the NFL is different. In college I believe fans are more forgiving because the players are still just college kids. When you get to the NFL you are now a professional and people expect you to play accordingly. I think what people fail to realize is that I guarantee every loss I have suffered here has hurt me more that anyone. But like I said earlier, I know we will get this turned around and when we do I also know this city will be waiting there to support us. Thank you for your words of encouragement. It is truly appreciated.

A) Thanks, Billy. Playing with Blues Traveler and Jason Mraz was awesome.

A) Actually our foundation is not a charity. The best way to describe it is that it's a small business that raises money and gives all the profits to people in need. We simply assist charities. My mom, dad and I started the foundation after I was drafted as a way to give back. My family has been very blessed and we thought this would be a good way to help other people, kids more specifically, get the assistance they might not otherwise receive. Since the start of the foundation a year and a half ago we have helped Central Catholic High School in Portland with their project to put in a new football and soccer field. We sent the soccer balls to Uganda (see the "in the news"section for the details). We also held a benefit concert this summer featuring Jason Mraz and Blues Traveler to raise money for the Shriners Hospital for Children. We were able to raise over $30,000 for the hospital. As I spend more time in Detroit I am building more connections and finding out which groups I would like to work with. In the meantime we are doing what we can by providing kids from the Detroit Catholic Youth Organization with tickets to Lions home games. We are also building a connection with a local childrens hospital with the hope it will turn out to be a charity we would like to work with. I hope this gives a little better description of what we do. Our main goal, as said in our mission statement, is to help children. And we have found that there are many different ways to do that. Thanks, too, for the encouragement about the season. I know it will get better as well. Thanks

A) It's a thrill to get the chance to play on Thanksgiving because you know that everyone in the country is watching. If you want to watch football on Thanksgiving you watch the Lions in the morning and the Cowboys in the afternoon. However it does come at a price. Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday with my family and it's tough knowing they are all getting together to share a meal and I can't be there.

A) Thanks a lot. I have to be honest. I had no idea the impact a few soccer balls would have on children in another country. It was truly a reminder of how something so small to us can mean the world to someone else.

A) The favorite birthday cake in my family is angel food with orange peel frosting and vanilla ice cream. Thanks to you and all the others who have written in with birthday greetings!

A) I actually just got on a kick and started making my own pesto. I love olive oil and fresh garlic and so I tend to get in a little bit of a rut. If you have any suggestions feel free to send them to me.