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Mariucci: Garcia is No. 1 quarterback
Coach doesn't want a controversy, but he might have to use Harrington against the Cowboys.
By Mike O'Hara / The Detroit
After Joey Harrington's performance against the Cardinals, should he be the starter even when Jeff Garcia is healthy?
ALLEN PARK -- Joey Harrington could remain the Lions' starting quarterback by default instead of for his best performance of the season.
Jeff Garcia has not lost his status as the No. 1 quarterback and will start Sunday's game at Dallas if his injured left leg is healthy enough, coach Steve Mariucci said.
Harrington's three-touchdown effort and passer rating of 120.7 in Sunday's 29-21 win over Arizona didn't vault him over Garcia on the depth chart, but any decision by Mariucci could be academic.
Garcia did not sound hopeful Monday about being healthy enough to play Sunday.
However, Mariucci's comments at his weekly news conference were another example of his lack of faith in Harrington.
"We named Jeff the starter a few weeks ago -- the week of the Cleveland game," Mariucci said.
"Since then, I haven't changed my statement. Joey has played when Jeff got hurt.
"Joey, by the way, played a good game, his most productive game and efficient game of the year. He's been practicing pretty darn well since we made that announcement that Jeff was our starter for the Cleveland game.
"We haven't had Jeff healthy since the Chicago Bears game. Had things stayed healthy with Jeff ... that (Garcia starting) was going to continue. What changed it is his ill health.
"If we have to name a starter today, I can't tell you who it's going to be. I need to go through this week again."
Harrington completed 22 of 32 passes for 231 yards without an interception Sunday. His three TD passes were to Roy Williams.
That earned faint praise from Mariucci.
"Yeah, he played a good game," Mariucci said. "I give him that. No question about it. I'm happy to see him play like that."
Garcia practiced sparingly last week while Harrington took most of the snaps with the No. 1 offense. Garcia was designated the backup for the Arizona game, a role filled the previous week by rookie Dan Orlovsky.
He asked Garcia two hours before the game if he was able to be the backup for Arizona, Mariucci said.
Garcia started two games in place of Harrington -- a win over Cleveland and an overtime loss to Chicago. Chicago scored the winning touchdown on an interception return.
After that game, Garcia admitted that he felt the effects of a broken left fibula and sprained left ankle sustained in the last exhibition game.
"I'm about 70 percent, it feels like right now," Garcia said. "It's gotten a little bit better -- a little bit. Not where I feel it needs to be.
"I really haven't seen myself make the progress that I'd like to see. I'll just feel it out, day by day."
Harrington didn't feel slighted by Mariucci's statement concerning his status and concedes that Garcia ranks as the starter.
"My status hasn't changed, and my position hasn't changed," Harrington said. "If Coach tells me Jeff's going to start, I'm prepared to back him up. If Coach tells me I'm going to start, then I'm going to be prepared to play. It doesn't change anything I do during my week of prep.
"My job is to fill in for Jeff, who's the starting quarterback right now."The quarterback drama hasn't made an impact on the rest of the team.
"We've been through this before here, just my short time being here," said tight end Marcus Pollard. "I'm of the mindset, whoever's in at quarterback, I've got a job to do. Go out and execute."
Linebacker injuries
Middle linebacker Earl Holmes, whose third season as a Lion has been his best, will miss at least one game because of a strained medial collateral ligament in his left knee. Wali Rainer took his place in the second half Sunday.
Strong-side linebacker Boss Bailey left the game in the fourth quarter because of a sprained right ankle.
Running time
Mariucci's use of his tailbacks has been questioned.
Starter Kevin Jones had 14 carries for 81 yards Sunday. Jones carried only twice in the fourth quarter as Shawn Bryson and Artose Pinner divided time. Jones was not in the game on the Lions' last possession -- two runs by Pinner and one by Bryson that netted one yard.
Bryson plays in the nickel offense, which uses one back. He gained 44 yards on seven carries and caught two passes for 17 yards Sunday. Pinner had seven carries for 19 yards.
Mariucci is committed to using multiple tailbacks.
"Kevin will get his carries," Mariucci said. "He's certainly a good back. He'd love the ball 30 times a game, like any good back would.
"Shawn Bryson is worth his weight in gold."
You can reach Mike O'Hara at (313) 982-3810, (313) 222-1488 or mike.ohara@detnews.com.
Mariucci: Garcia is No. 1 quarterback
Coach doesn't want a controversy, but he might have to use Harrington against the Cowboys.
By Mike O'Hara / The Detroit
After Joey Harrington's performance against the Cardinals, should he be the starter even when Jeff Garcia is healthy?
ALLEN PARK -- Joey Harrington could remain the Lions' starting quarterback by default instead of for his best performance of the season.
Jeff Garcia has not lost his status as the No. 1 quarterback and will start Sunday's game at Dallas if his injured left leg is healthy enough, coach Steve Mariucci said.
Harrington's three-touchdown effort and passer rating of 120.7 in Sunday's 29-21 win over Arizona didn't vault him over Garcia on the depth chart, but any decision by Mariucci could be academic.
Garcia did not sound hopeful Monday about being healthy enough to play Sunday.
However, Mariucci's comments at his weekly news conference were another example of his lack of faith in Harrington.
"We named Jeff the starter a few weeks ago -- the week of the Cleveland game," Mariucci said.
"Since then, I haven't changed my statement. Joey has played when Jeff got hurt.
"Joey, by the way, played a good game, his most productive game and efficient game of the year. He's been practicing pretty darn well since we made that announcement that Jeff was our starter for the Cleveland game.
"We haven't had Jeff healthy since the Chicago Bears game. Had things stayed healthy with Jeff ... that (Garcia starting) was going to continue. What changed it is his ill health.
"If we have to name a starter today, I can't tell you who it's going to be. I need to go through this week again."
Harrington completed 22 of 32 passes for 231 yards without an interception Sunday. His three TD passes were to Roy Williams.
That earned faint praise from Mariucci.
"Yeah, he played a good game," Mariucci said. "I give him that. No question about it. I'm happy to see him play like that."
Garcia practiced sparingly last week while Harrington took most of the snaps with the No. 1 offense. Garcia was designated the backup for the Arizona game, a role filled the previous week by rookie Dan Orlovsky.
He asked Garcia two hours before the game if he was able to be the backup for Arizona, Mariucci said.
Garcia started two games in place of Harrington -- a win over Cleveland and an overtime loss to Chicago. Chicago scored the winning touchdown on an interception return.
After that game, Garcia admitted that he felt the effects of a broken left fibula and sprained left ankle sustained in the last exhibition game.
"I'm about 70 percent, it feels like right now," Garcia said. "It's gotten a little bit better -- a little bit. Not where I feel it needs to be.
"I really haven't seen myself make the progress that I'd like to see. I'll just feel it out, day by day."
Harrington didn't feel slighted by Mariucci's statement concerning his status and concedes that Garcia ranks as the starter.
"My status hasn't changed, and my position hasn't changed," Harrington said. "If Coach tells me Jeff's going to start, I'm prepared to back him up. If Coach tells me I'm going to start, then I'm going to be prepared to play. It doesn't change anything I do during my week of prep.
"My job is to fill in for Jeff, who's the starting quarterback right now."The quarterback drama hasn't made an impact on the rest of the team.
"We've been through this before here, just my short time being here," said tight end Marcus Pollard. "I'm of the mindset, whoever's in at quarterback, I've got a job to do. Go out and execute."
Linebacker injuries
Middle linebacker Earl Holmes, whose third season as a Lion has been his best, will miss at least one game because of a strained medial collateral ligament in his left knee. Wali Rainer took his place in the second half Sunday.
Strong-side linebacker Boss Bailey left the game in the fourth quarter because of a sprained right ankle.
Running time
Mariucci's use of his tailbacks has been questioned.
Starter Kevin Jones had 14 carries for 81 yards Sunday. Jones carried only twice in the fourth quarter as Shawn Bryson and Artose Pinner divided time. Jones was not in the game on the Lions' last possession -- two runs by Pinner and one by Bryson that netted one yard.
Bryson plays in the nickel offense, which uses one back. He gained 44 yards on seven carries and caught two passes for 17 yards Sunday. Pinner had seven carries for 19 yards.
Mariucci is committed to using multiple tailbacks.
"Kevin will get his carries," Mariucci said. "He's certainly a good back. He'd love the ball 30 times a game, like any good back would.
"Shawn Bryson is worth his weight in gold."
You can reach Mike O'Hara at (313) 982-3810, (313) 222-1488 or mike.ohara@detnews.com.
