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Lions coach says Kitna would start if season started today
Associated Press
National Football League News Wire
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Jon Kitna has about six months to hold onto his position as starting quarterback for the Detroit Lions.
"If we were out there today, he would take the first snap," Lions coach Rod Marinelli said Wednesday morning at the NFL meetings.
The Lions signed free-agent quarterbacks Kitna and Josh McCown, both with starting experience, this offseason to replace Joey Harrington.
"They both a great, great passion for football," Marinelli said. "They'll come in the morning and stay all day."
Marinelli said McCown is tentatively his No. 2 quarterback, followed by second-year pro Dan Orlovsky and Shaun King, who has six years of NFL experience, though he said the pecking order could change before the season begins.
The first-year coach also said he doesn't anticipate the Lions drafting a quarterback in April.
Earlier this month, Marinelli said the team was moving in a different direction without Harrington as quarterback.
The Lions have allowed Harrington and his agent to seek a trade -- before June 15, when he's due a $4 million roster bonus -- because they would like to get something in return for the third pick overall from 2002.
Harrington has met with the Miami Dolphins and was scheduled to travel to Cincinnati on Wednesday night to visit with the Bengals. Seattle, Kansas City and Oakland also have expressed interest in Harrington, whose contract calls for his salary to be $4.45 million next season.
Any team that gives Detroit compensation, likely a late-draft pick, for Harrington would want to restructure his contract.
How fast does Marinelli want the Harrington situation to be finalized?
"Quickly, that would be nice," said Marinelli, who did his best to avoid the topic.
Lions president Matt Millen said he's not in a rush to move Harrington.
"We'll let it run its course with him taking his trips," Millen said. "Then we have the conversations with the clubs. It's a look-see for them, also.
"We'll be as aggressive as we can be."