The Harrington Family Foundation

By Mekeisha Madden
Lions quarterback Joey Harrington showed Monday night that he is a talented pianist. And that's not just because his competition, Marcellus Wiley, a defensive lineman for the San Diego Chargers, raps like a rhythm-less MC Hammer. Seriously, Harrington really tickles the ivory well.

The two NFL players competed in a new "Monday Night Football" feature called "Monday Night at the Mic," where football stars get to flex their musical muscles off the field. The latest in a string of ploys to get young viewers under 35 to tune in, "Monday Night at the Mic" is an "American Idol" style competition in which viewers can vote online for their favorite pro football star / MTV wannabes. Commentator Al Michaels shouldn't try to be Carson Daly and if viewers are lucky, they'll never hear him say "Let's go clubbin' " ever again.

The first installment featured Harrington, who took up the piano when he was 4, and Wiley, a professional D.J., making music happen in different places. Darryl "DMC" McDaniels, of Run-DMC fame, did a "collabo" with Wiley in a recording studio. The duo performer a song called "Now, Now." Though Wiley is a better rapper than the Lakers' Shaquille O'Neal, he should definitely keep his day job. Sadly, before he started torturing audiences with his Dr. Seuss-style lyrics, Wiley said he wanted to sound intelligent. Well, at least it rhymed. All of this was music to the ears of Lions fans because Wiley's bad rapping made Harrington sound even better than he probably is.

Harrington joined John Popper and Chan Kinchla of the group, Blues Traveler, on a song called "Felicia." Even Popper was impressed and said Harrington played much better than he'd expected. Harrington's performance was taped during a fund-raising concert in Portland, Oregon, during the off season. He got extra points because proceeds from his performance went to a children's hospital in Portland.

Could this guy be any more perfect? Obviously, viewers agreed -- 87 percent of viewers voted for Harrington and he will go on to compete against other players in a future "Monday Night at the Mic" competition.