The Harrington Family Foundation

By Lynn Henning / The Detroit News

DETROIT -- So where were they? The radio call-in vipers who two weeks ago wanted Joey Harrington dispatched to the sidelines and Mike McMahon inserted as Lions starter?

Uh, well, they had other business Sunday.

No kidding. Four touchdown passes by Harrington and a tidy 17 for 30, good for 195 yards, ensured that the call-in crowd will today be turning to other prey.

"I felt good, I felt really good," Harrington said, freshly showered, and wearing a blue dress shirt as he answered questions in the interview room after Detroit's 42-24 victory over Arizona at Ford Field.

"I think the biggest thing is that I felt comfortable. I didn't feel rushed, I didn't feel pressured, and that goes back to how great the offensive line was.

"I stood back there at times and threw to four different receivers," Harrington continued. "I hit my fourth and fifth receivers sometimes, and that's the kind of time you'd like to have as a quarterback."

Time not only to throw, but to develop as an NFL player. Sheesh, the locals were edgy with Harrington after a couple exhibitions.

Sometimes it was easy to forget he was scarcely a year out of college, still 24 years old, attacking the prevailing wisdom that it takes five years to build a solid NFL quarterback.

Steve Mariucci, whose enthusiasm for taking over the Lions was, in part, due to Harrington's presence, said of his quarterback Sunday: "I liked his decision-making. No sacks, no turnovers.

"I don't remember him forcing the ball into coverage. When he was on the sideline he was telling me what he saw. He has to see things like that and then pull the trigger. He did a good job with that."

Harrington played it safe analyzing Sunday's game. But then he always does. If you're looking for introspection, don't knock at Harrington's door. He treats questions the way Dominik Hasek treats hockey pucks.

His most revealing remarks had to do with his boss, Mariucci.

"He's always prepared," Harrington began. "He's always got something in his back pocket, and always has every situation covered.

"It goes back to him being so detail-oriented," Harrington continued, ensuring with each hosanna that there would be no trips to Mariucci's office today to explain his post-game remarks. "He has every single base covered, so that when you get into a certain situation, it seems like he's thinking ahead, because he's already got it done."

It's called a happy workplace. The coach clearly loves his quarterback. The quarterback gushes over his coach.

As for the call-in squawkers, they're happy, for today, with Mariucci and with Harrington.

Next week? Stay tuned. There's a trip to Green Bay scheduled for Sunday, and when you haven't won a road game in three years, odds are against Motown being swathed in such serenity next Monday.

You can reach Lynn Henning at (313) 222-2472 or lhenning@detnews.com.