The Harrington Family Foundation

Instead, he just kept cracking smiles and snapping off completions.

The booing?

"I've expected that every time I walk out on Ford Field," Harrington said.

Some locals had wished him well, even against the Lions. That touched him. Still, the large majority preferred to bury him.

And so, how very sweet.

How sweet that, by the third quarter, the reigning chant was "Fire Millen," in honor of the beleaguered Lions general manager Matt Millen.

How sweet when, late in the game, he could suspend use of the silent snap count.

"That was the ultimate sign that we had taken the crowd out of the game," Harrington said.

How sweet that when he looked over at the other sideline and in the stands and saw familiar sights -- heads dropping, fans heading home -- he could remember that feeling rather than relive it.

How sweet that he could jog off with 3:50 left, to be replaced by a guy named Lemon, as the few remaining fans had to suck on them.

How sweet to win not only Phil Simms' Iron award, but also some fresh blackberry cobbler, which sat on a storage trunk in the Dolphins' locker room, sliced with two knives like Harrington had sliced through the Lions all day.

"Good stuff," Harrington said.

How sweet that Rex Hadnot led the Dolphins in dousing him with cold water.

Well, sort of.

"That was a bit over the top," Harrington said. "It was a little embarrassing."

And yet, better water ... "than egg," Harrington said, nodding.

The best part?

"As unnecessary and over the top as that was, there was a sign there," Harrington said. "They knew it was important to me, and I played for them."

They played for him, too.

"It made me feel good," Harrington said.

Appreciated. Proud.

How sweet to be a Dolphin on this Thanksgiving day in Detroit.