Mike Martz hearts Joey Blue Skies

Yeah, I know, more Lions. But...This may have been the most encouraging thing I've read about the Lions all offseason. Mike Martz wants to exorcise Joey Harrington's bad karma and start from scratch.

Mike Martz: "We don't audible, not at all. I just want him (Joey) to focus on playing quarterback and not worry about audibles and not worry about protections or where the receivers are. That'll all get resolved, that's my job. I just want him to focus on taking the talent that he has and detailing everything, making sure he understands exactly what to do on every play.".

"He has more talent that I remember him having."

"We're going to strip it down and start all over, from his stance under center. The whole thing,"

If this vote of confidence from Martz is more than just gilding the lilly, could Joey turn things around? We are all aware of Martz's track record, as he's not afraid to remind us... As much as I'd like to see the Lions make a run at Drew Brees, and being 9 million under the cap, they can, the idea of taking that cap space and significantly improving 2-3 other positions is a much sounder way of building a winner.

Right now we are still in the honeymoon phase with Martz. He's saying all the right things, words we fans have been dying to hear, those being, "Joey is good." But is he saying what he truly believes? Is Martz, and Marinelli, for that matter, just slinging the positive BS, just in case their QB search comes up craps? Or do they truly think Harrington is salvagable?

You would think that Martz would love to work his offensive alchemy with a proven man under center, say, a Drew Brees? Is this ongoing Joey lovefest a sign of the typical Martz hubris, thinking he can take any sow's ear and make a silk purse? I can picture Martz telling Matt Millen, "Warner was nothing, absolutely nothing, till I molded him into my perfect QB! Who ever heard of Marc Bulger till I laid my hands upon him! I can do the same with Harrington!" That's a definite possibility, and a big concern.

Considering his track record though, if Martz sees something, anything, in Joey, you want, if not have to, believe him.

I've ragged on Harrington endlessly in this blog. Earlier this week, I called him "The thing that wouldn't leave." And I meant every word of it. But there are so many mitigating factors when it comes to Mr. Blue Skies right now, I'm biting my lip, holding my tounge, and saying that the Lions should keep Joey under center. One more damn year.

Of course another QB is needed. Desperately. That other QB would be Drew Brees in a perfect world that is all happiness and light. Pats and Steelers fans live in that wonderful place, but we don't live in that world. This is the Lions. In the real world, I'd love to see Josh McCown.


But for the time being, Joey is my man. May I live to NOT regret those words...