Harrington deal finally done with Miami

[faba]

Source: Deal is reached for QB

A source said the Dolphins and Lions agreed to a deal that will send Joey Harrington to Miami. Meanwhile, Ricky Williams may get permission to talk to the CFL.

BY JASON COLE

jcole@MiamiHerald.com

AP PHOTO

Joey Harrington could soon get his wish to join the Dolphins. Miami and Detroit have reached a deal for the QB, a source said.

Quarterback Joey Harrington apparently is headed south, and suspended running back Ricky Williams appears closer to heading north.

A source close to Harrington said Thursday night the Dolphins and Detroit Lions have worked out a deal to send the former No. 3 overall draft pick to Miami. Harrington was scheduled to participate in a charity event next week but had to cancel because he will have to be in Miami to take part in the opening of organized training activity.

That activity essentially is team practices that lead to a three-day minicamp for all players June 9-11. The Dolphins want to have Harrington with the team now so he can learn the offense.

Meanwhile, Toronto Argonauts assistant general manager Greg Mohns indicated that talks between the Dolphins and the Canadian Football League team were ``progressing.''

''Something may get done here pretty soon,'' Mohns said Thursday. Dolphins spokesman Harvey Greene said the team had no comment on the matter.

As for Harrington, terms of the deal were unavailable. The Dolphins had been offering a sixth-round pick in the 2007 draft. But that was before the NFL Draft in April. Lions president Matt Millen had irritated coach Nick Saban by mistakenly accusing the Dolphins of breaking salary cap rules by working out a deal with Harrington earlier in April.

However, talks on a deal continued last weekend, with two sources indicating the Dolphins hoped to have Harrington by Monday.

Harrington, who is due a $4 million roster bonus June 15, has agreed to forgo that bonus to sign with the Dolphins. He essentially ruined any leverage for Detroit by declaring in April that he wouldn't agree to restructure his contract with any other team besides the Dolphins.

Harrington, who has thrown 60 touchdown passes and 62 interceptions in his four-year career, followed through on that declaration when he declined to go to the Cleveland Browns on the second day of the draft, prompting Millen's accusation.

On the Williams front, the Dolphins initially didn't like the idea of the running back playing in Canada, but they backed off after agent Leigh Steinberg pointed out the financial burden facing Williams, who was suspended by the NFL for a minimum of one year.

One source said of Williams heading to Canada: 'Unless it blows up, the Dolphins are not going to stand in [Williams'] way of playing.''

Last Friday, Saban indicated he wasn't particularly enamored of the idea of Williams risking injury by playing in Canada. However, Saban never completely shut the door on the idea.

Steinberg, who could not be reached Thursday, has countered that by saying Williams needs to make money at some point. Williams is supporting three children by three women. In addition, he and longtime girlfriend Kristen Barnes are expecting their second child. Williams is obligated to pay $50,400 annually in child support for one of the three children. The other child support arrangements are not known.

Once Toronto gets formal permission, Williams and Steinberg are expected to fly there to discuss a contract. Argonauts GM Adam Rita indicated this week that Williams could earn approximately $300,000 Canadian (about $272,000 U.S.) in base pay and incentives.

A deal could be done fairly quickly. The Argonauts open training camp May 21 and open the regular season June 16. Williams is expected to go through regular drug tests during his year away from

[Sperm Edwards]

I understand where Millen is coming from, but it's his own fault. It seems that he allowed dialogue between Harrington & Miami to see if they could come to an agreement - then they'd work out a trade. But what he didn't predict (and seems to be what happened) is that Miami said to Joey "Hey this is our team - and it'll be your team soon, too. So why should we give up a draft pick when they're just going to release you anyway? We'll offer them nothing & you'll still come here after they release you." And Millen was foolishly surprised by this and hence filed tampering charges. He invited the other team to talk with Harrington & then cried foul when the discussions led to this. Hey - you don't want them to have these types of discussions, then don't give them permission to talk to each other. Millen thinks everyone is as dumb as he is.