The Harrington Family Foundation

BY CURT SYLVESTER

Joey Harrington's easygoing, ever-positive approach might bother some Lions fans and sports talk radio hosts, but coach Steve Mariucci said he is not offended.

"That's Joey," Mariucci said Monday. "Joey happens to be a very positive kind of guy, and I fail to see the negative.

"I think he's a guy who's up, stays up. He believes in himself and his teammates. He thinks he can, thinks he can and thinks he will. And I tend to believe that's a good quality.

"As he earns his stripes and as he progresses and produces for us, he'll command more of that leadership role and that respect from his teammates. But he's still a young quarterback, trying to develop his skills and his efficiency."

Harrington's approach -- finding benefits in even the worst performance by the Lions -- has been the focus of increasing public comment and, in some cases, criticism.

It has earned him unflattering nicknames on sports talk radio shows, and some fans -- as well as critics in the media -- equate his approach to a lack of intensity, toughness and leadership.

For those who think a quarterback has to breathe fire and berate teammates on a botched play, Harrington obviously doesn't measure up.

And chances are he won't, because he doesn't plan on changing.

"Question all you want," Harrington said. "People can think whatever they want to think. This is me. I've given you me from the start, from the day I showed up and told 'em it was 'Orygun' " -- his pronunciation of his home state of Oregon.

"That's me, that's what I do and I'm not going to change just because people are questioning my tactics and my leadership qualities, or how I go about it."

Harrington, 24, projects the image of a squeaky-clean athlete. Although teammates say he has occasional bursts of fire on the field, he has never been heard to utter a profanity, a criticism or a discouraging word publicly.

Combined with subpar performances in the past two games -- both losses -- Harrington now is receiving a smattering of boos from the generally supportive crowds at Ford Field.

Harrington said he understood quickly that the booing and criticism are part of being a high-profile professional athlete.

"Doesn't matter," he said. "I've learned it's how this league is. The fans want to win just as much as we do. Do I agree with it? No, but I know it's going to come, no matter where you are.

"Donovan McNabb's getting booed. A Pro Bowl quarterback is starting slow, he gets booed. So what? It's nothing."

Harrington admittedly had problems in 12 starts as a rookie last year, but the expectations -- by fans and Harrington himself -- were higher for his second season.

When he threw four touchdown passes without an interception in the season opener against Arizona, it seemed the transformation from inexperienced rookie to veteran marksman might be under way.

But Harrington struggled at Green Bay and had more problems Sunday against Minnesota. He threw six interceptions without a touchdown pass in those games, and his passer rating has slipped from 116 in Week 1 to 58.9.

For the season, Harrington has completed 67 of 127 passes (52.8 percent) for 671 yards. And without the help of a credible running game to take the pressure off, the struggles might continue.

Mariucci said he has not even thought or talked about making a change at quarterback, however.

And Harrington said he will not change his positive approach, even on the tough days when he throws three interceptions.

"It's over, it's done with," he said. "You can get upset about it and let it bother you or you can move on and make it better. Any situation, any job, any part of life you're in, you've got two options: You can dwell on it, or you can make it better."