Homecoming week for Harrington

Thursday, Nov. 13, 2003 | 10:12 a.m.

SUN WIRE REPORTS

As a kid growing up in Oregon, Detroit Lions quarterback Joey Harrington always had a Steve Largent poster hanging on his bedroom wall.

"He was jumping over a guy. He had that ugly old face mask on," Harrington said during a conference call Wednesday.

Harrington gets a chance to try to beat the Seahawks (6-3) this weekend when the Lions (3-6) visit, seeking a third straight win.

Harrington followed the Seahawks and Largent, their Hall of Fame receiver, because their games were on Portland television stations every Sunday. Other options usually included the San Francisco 49ers, Oakland Raiders or Denver Broncos.

"Those were the games we got to watch," he said. "Honestly, I never felt a connection to any of those teams because of my city. But I still followed them."

Harrington expects to have a big following in the crowd at Seahawks Stadium. His mother has organized a group of about 500 fans who will board buses to make the 165-mile drive to cheer for the Lions.

"And I've heard numbers in the thousands," he said. "Not the big thousands, but maybe 1,000 or 2,000 people coming up. This is as close as the Lions come to playing in Portland, and it's been on people's calendars for a couple of years now."

The routine is a carry-over from his college days as Oregon's quarterback, when his mother organized bus trips from Portland to Eugene. As was done back then, the family arranged tickets for anyone who joined them.

"What they've done is gotten more buses," Harrington said.

There won't be time to visit relatives. He plans to return for that after the Thanksgiving Day game against Green Bay.

"This is a business trip," Harrington said. "We'll go in early on Friday, so there will be a little time to relax and maybe see a friend of two. For the most part, I'm there to play a football game."

Harrington is in his second NFL season after the Lions selected him with the third overall pick of the 2002 draft. He went 25-3 as Oregon's starter, cementing a place as one of the state's most successful and popular homegrown athletes.

One of his biggest fans will be working the opposing sideline.

"I really like Joey Harrington," Seattle coach Mike Holmgren said. "He got off to a tough start this year. The normal stuff happens, but I think he has a chance to be a very, very fine quarterback in this league if he can stay healthy."

Oakland placed him on injured reserve on Wednesday.

Gannon, 37, attempted to throw Tuesday for the first time since getting knocked out of Oakland's 17-10 loss to Kansas City on Oct. 20. He was able to raise his arm to throw, but couldn't release the ball, coach Bill Callahan said.

Gannon, a 16-year veteran, flew home to Minnesota on Wednesday to be examined by the same doctor who performed his shoulder surgery after his 1993 season with Washington. He missed all of the 1994 season and then was released by the Redskins.

Callahan wouldn't go as far as saying this is a career-ending injury.

"It's extremely tough to lose a player of this caliber," said Callahan, who hadn't yet told his team. "What he provides this team not only with his play, but his leadership and preparation, to have the MVP of the league miss almost half the season is disappointing. He feels bad. If there's anybody who wants to get back on the field, it's Rich Gannon."

Gannon was hurt in the first half against the Chiefs following two sacks by linebacker Shawn Barber and several other hard hits.

With backup Marques Tuiasosopo also out for the year with a knee injury, Rick Mirer will be the starter for the last seven games.

Johnson, who has led the Browns in receiving since 1999, will join a team looking for answers at the receiver spot all season. To make room, Jacksonville cut J.J. Stokes, who was once viewed as a possible answer, but was a disappointment with only 13 catches.

Clemons practiced lightly Wednesday and said he would try to go Sunday. If he can't, coach Dom Capers said he will turn Foley.