Although the release/trade hasn't been consummated, it was reported by Clayton/ESPN last night that Harrington and his agent were holding all the cards and that they intended to go to Miami.
What Clayton didn't consider in his story is that the Lions don't have to release him until mid-June which would effectively bar him from being ready to start on opening day...this obviously gives the Lions enough leverage to stall things.
It still looks like all parties are prepared to make this happen, but if the original post was misleading, please direct your comments to John Clayton.
More information today from Mike Florio:
LIONS, DUNN PLAYING CHICKEN
We're hearing that Wednesday's statement from quarterback Joey Harrington regarding his interest in joining the Dolphins was triggered by the news that the Broncos had picked up extra picks in exchange for the No. 22 overall selection in the April 29-30 draft.
We're told that Harrington and his agent, David Dunn, concluded that the move might be a precursor to a trade of Harrington to Denver. So Dunn and Harrington opted to put out the word that the former No. 3 overall pick wants to play for the Dolphins.
Dunn believes that he holds all of the cards on this one, since he can block a trade by refusing on Harrington's behalf to restructure a contract that presently calls for a $4 million roster bonus on June 15. But if the Lions decide to hold firm and not release Joey until June 14, it will be too late for Harrington to get ready to be the opening-day starter for the Dolphins, if Daunte Culpepper isn't sufficiently recovered from his torn ligament trifecta. Indeed, it's likely that the Dolphins will look elsewhere for a backup quarterback if they can't get Harrington under contract soon.
We're also hearing that the Dolphins are willing to bump their current offer from a seventh-round pick to a sixth-round selection. The only problem in this regard is that the Fins currently don't have a sixth-rounder, so they'd have to swing a trade with someone else to get the six.
The Lions, we're told, still want at least a fourth-round pick. There's talk that the Lions might reduce their demands to a fifth-rounder.
The Dolphins used their fifth-round pick last summer in the supplemental draft, when they selected USC defensive tackle Manuel Wright.
The Fins reportedly are offering a sixth-round pick in 2007, since they likewise don't have a sixth-rounder in this year's draft, either.
It's unlikely he's headed to Denver -- particularly given he's already publicly stated his preference for Miami and therefore substantially undermined that option.
The way I read it, if Saban acquires a 6th rounder soon to consummate things, it means he needs Joey to be the opening day starter (otherwise he'd simply wait for Joey to be released and give up nothing)...which of course would validate the theory that
Saban is doing this because of lingering concerns to Culpepper's health.
Is Saban acting wisely? absolutely. Is all of this good for the Fins? Way too early to tell.