By John R. Balazs - administrator of footballhistorian.com

August, 10, 2002 - Exhibition Season Review:

The third selection in this year's NFL draft, Joe Harrington, is looking good as he battles talented Mike McMahon for playing time in the up-and-coming 2002 season.

Picked third in the draft by the Detroit Lions, Joey Harrington is the highest quarterback ever chosen by any team in the NFC Central - now the North Division.

Quarterback Jim McMahon, picked by the Chicago Bears in 1982, was the previous highest picked quarterback and is the only one ever drafted in this division to win a Super Bowl... Note: Green Bay's Brett Favre was drafted by Atlanta.

Nicknamed the 'Black and Blue Division' the North Division -NFC Central - usually ignores quarterbacks during the first round.

Previous first round picks:

The Detroit Lions grabbed quarterback Greg Landry 11th in 1968, Chuck Long 12th in 1986 and then Andre Ware 7th in 1990.

The Green Bay Packers took quarterback Rich Campbell 6th in 1981 and the Minnesota Vikings selected Daunte Culpepper 11th in '99.

The Lions surprised everyone by making Harrington their Number 1 pick because coach Marty Mornhinweg is enthusiastic about last year's sixth-round pick - quarterback Mike McMahon - even as Detroit won just two games in 2001.

Lions' president Matt Millen, a former linebacker, seemed Desperate to improve a defense ranked 26th after being hit with a rash of injuries last year. And, five of the Lions' defensive starters are no longer in the league.

Harrington, from Oregon, was high on every scouts' list and Detroit simply couldn't afford top pass up a quarterback with Harrington's talent. He's being compared with ex-quarterback, Joe Montana. Harrington is said to have Montana's to move along in the pocket and throw with bulls-eye accuracy.

Coach Mornhinweg now has a quandary on his hands... Does he start Harrington over McMahon???

'Much will depend on how well Mike's (McMahon) playing and how well Joey's (Harrington) progressing,' Mornhinweg said.

Accuracy is Harrington's nickname and athletic ability is certainly McMahon forte.

After a practice last week, Millen said he told McMahon: - 'If you play like that, we won't lose many games.'

'He was unbelievable,' Millen cheerfully declared. 'He made some throws you just don't make. Mike's a gamer.

So, Good Luck to the Lions' newest quarterbacks.

Only time will tell the outcome.