ORLANDO - Nick Saban left the NFL annual meetings Tuesday so he could return to South Florida and meet with Detroit Lions quarterback Joey Harrington as the Dolphins continue their offseason focus on the quarterback position.

 

Harrington was scheduled to arrive in South Florida on Tuesday evening, and his visit was to extend through today. The Lions are trying to trade Harrington and have given the player permission to speak with several clubs.

 

The Dolphins sought, and were granted, permission for the visit earlier this week, according to an NFL source. Harrington is scheduled to visit Cincinnati next.

 

Oakland, Kansas City, Baltimore and Seattle also have shown interest in adding Harrington as a backup, but no visits have been scheduled. It is unclear what price the Lions have set for trading Harrington, but it likely will be a low-round pick.

 

Saban on Tuesday said Miami is looking for a backup quarterback who might be able to start -- especially early in the season when starter Daunte Culpepper might not be ready to play.

 

''If a guy's had some starts in this league, that probably enhances our interest a little bit,'' Saban said. ``That's No. 1. So experience has some influence on it.

 

``Number two, if we feel the guy has the potential to be a starter [in the future], that enhances our interest because that means if Daunte isn't ready, if there's some circumstance where this guy has to play for an extended period of time, that we still have an opportunity as a team to be competitive.''

 

Saban did not discuss Harrington specifically, nor did he address the fact the Dolphins also have studied and showed interest in former Oakland quarterback Kerry Collins and former Pittsburgh quarterback Tommy Maddox.

 

''I wouldn't, at this time, be able to eliminate anybody based on their age or the state of their career or anything,'' Saban said.

 

STILL ON THE MEND

 

The Dolphins have made the backup spot a high priority because Culpepper still is rehabilitating from reconstructive knee surgery that repaired three torn ligaments. Culpepper joined Miami's offseason program Monday.

 

''He did some straight-line running [Monday],'' Saban said of Culpepper. ``He threw the ball some. He took some easy drops. So it's not like this guy is not at a point where he can't start doing some things.

 

``Now, I didn't [witness] all that. I'm just going on what the trainer and the people doing the rehab with him said. But he was there early and stayed late and worked hard. We were pleased with what he did.''

 

During a morning breakfast session with the media, Saban was asked a handful of times about Culpepper's timetable for being ready to play. Each time the coach said he was hopeful Culpepper would be ready by the Sept. 7 season opener versus Pittsburgh but could not guarantee that would happen.

 

The Dolphins know that even if Culpepper is able to play in 2006, players typically suffer setbacks as they recover from such injuries and sometimes need to sit out games intermittently to relieve swelling or other maladies related to the injury.

 

TIME TO MOVE ON

 

That is where Harrington, 27, would fit Miami's needs. The third player selected in the 2002 draft, Harrington has had a disappointing career in Detroit.

 

He has 60 career touchdown passes and 62 interceptions. His best season came in 2004, when he had 19 TD passes and 12 interceptions.

 

''I have talked to quite a few teams that have shown interest in me and I am narrowing my list of teams to a few and then probably will visit them in the next week,'' Harrington said on his family foundation's website.

 

Saban has set next Monday as an unofficial deadline for adding the backup quarterback because that's when Miami's simulated on-field training sessions begin and, simply, the team needs more fresh arms on the field.

 

It is unclear if that timetable fits with Harrington coming on board because the Lions are trying to hold out for the highest possible draft pick in return for the player.

 

And Detroit has until June 15 before a trade becomes critical to them because that is when they are due to give Harrington a $4 million guaranteed bonus -- which they do not intend to pay.

 

Any team that trades for Harrington won't need his approval but will need his agreement because the trade would require a new contract. Harrington's old contract calls for him to earn $4.45 million in base salary in 2006 and 2007, the remaining years on his original six-year deal.

 

 

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sport...ns/14211283.htm

Harrington's almost a must for this team given Culpepper's situation.

 

Rather have someone who can hold fort for a few weeks over rushing Dante.

I think Pepper will be ready for the opener...But having a solid backup just in case he reinjures his knee is always a good thing.

all depends on what it costs to get Harrington...he is still under contract with the Lions and Saban wants to move forward by Monday...so time will tell for sure...cause im sure detroit wants to pick from one of the many suitors that are after Harrington

You don't want to break the bank on Joey. I've been reading various reports that Joey does not want to leave Miami without a contract. Do you really blame him?

Harrington flew from Miami to Cincinnati on Wednesday for a meeting with Bengals coaches, and the Bengals have a chance to get him before the end of the weekend, reports ESPN.com's John Clayton.

 

The Dolphins might be willing to go as high as $2.5 million a year to acquire him, but they aren't likely to make a trade because they've already giving up two 2006 draft choices for Daunte Culpepper and Cleo Lemon. If the meeting goes well with Harrington, the Bengals might be willing to send a draft choice to the Lions and give Harrington a one-year contract at around $3 million.

I'll be alright with either Harrington or Collins.

I'll take Joey Heisman in a second as a backup.