Detroit Lions QB Joey Harrington Pens Essay For ‘Sports Illustrated’

Former Detroit Lions quarterback Joey Harrington wrote a first-person essay about his career for Sports Illustrated entitled “Despite what you may think, my NFL career was a success.” Harrington was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2002 NFL draft.

“In 2002, the Detroit Lions selected me at No. 3 overall,” Harrington wrote. “The four years I spent there absolutely crushed me. By the time I left, I was a shell of the player I once was. …”

He also claims that growing up, his biggest dream was to play in the Rose Bowl rather than in the NFL.

“Through the gentle nudging of general manager Matt Millen — who was, in my opinion, one of the only stand-up guys in that organization — I spent a lot of time with a sports psychologist, trying to figure out how to get my confidence back. In the NFL (and especially at the quarterback position), if you don’t have confidence, you’re done. …”

Harrington started out playing four seasons with the Lions, then went on to play for the Miami Dolphins, Atlanta Falcons, and New Orleans Saints. The Lions (5-9) defeated the Saints at the Superdome in New Orleans on Monday night.

Caption: Miami Dolphins quarterback Joey Harrington looks to the scoreboard late in the game against the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, New York on December 17, 2006. Buffalo won the game 21-0. (Photo by Mark Konezny/NFLPhotoLibrary)