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As Detroit Free Press sports writer Nicholas J. Cotsonika first reported it, "Joey Harrington isn't just staying with the Lions. He's penciled in as their No. 1 quarterback."

President Matt Millen and head coach Rod Marinelli made that clear Tuesday, in the Lions' strongest statement about Harrington since Millen hired Marinelli last month.

"I think we have our starter, wouldn't you say?" Millen said, turning to Marinelli in front of a group of local reporters at team headquarters.

"I'd agree," Marinelli said. "We like him."

According to Oakland Press staffer Steve Pate, new offensive coordinator Mike Martz is also on board.

In fact, after having studied about half of last season's game film of Harrington, Pate reports that Martz stepped into Marinelli's office Tuesday and said words to this effect: "I'm even more surprised how good he is."

"[Martz] sees a lot of really good positive things from [Harrington], a lot of skill, a lot of the things that we like," Marinelli said. "So we're just moving right down the road with him right now, and we're going to coach this guy real hard. ...

"As of right now, there's a very good feeling about him."

That's a sentiment Harrington seems to share.

Martz spoke to his latest quarterback on Tuesday for the first time since joining the Lions last week. Harrington described the call as "incredibly positive" in an interview with The Oregonian.

"One of the first things he said is, 'I believe in you,'" Harrington told the paper by telephone from Newport Beach, Calif., where he is working out. "From what he said, he thinks I'm a good player. It's nice to have the support of a coach again."

Millen said the Lions wanted to acquire the best quarterback they could this off-season -- but they were looking for a backup. Jeff Garcia, who battled with Harrington last season, is not expected to return.

The backup will compete with Harrington, Marinelli said he wanted to see Harrington on the field, and Millen emphasized the coaches would ultimately decide who would start. But at this point, it's Joey's job to lose.

"We're going to approach it that Harrington's our starter," Millen said. "We move forward on that, and we coach the heck out of him, and we get him into the system, and we start the process."

Harrington was benched by two different coaches in 2005 -- once by coach Steve Mariucci, once by interim coach Dick Jauron. He took heat from fans, media and teammates. Afterward, he said more than anything he wanted to feel wanted.

Now the Lions have taken the first steps toward making him feel that way. Harrington told The Oregonian that Martz had asked him to return to Detroit early to get a jump on mini-camp.

"From all the indications I've gotten from them, they've made it very clear," Harrington told the paper. "They want me here."

Needless to say, many wondered about Harrington's status after the 2005 season, including Harrington himself, because of his performance and his contract. He is 18-37 as a starter. He is scheduled to receive a $4-million bonus if he is on the roster June 15 and a base salary of $4.45 million this year and next.

But according to Cotsonika, the Lions have three reasons to keep Harrington:

First, they have invested a lot in him since drafting him third overall in 2002 and would like to see a return.

Second, they face a dilemma: They can't afford the quarterbacks that would be a clear upgrade; the quarterbacks they can afford wouldn't be a clear upgrade.

And finally, they think he has talent, and they think their new coaching staff can get something out of it.

Millen acknowledged the Lions still might want to renegotiate Harrington's contract. But asked if that would be an attempt to clear salary-cap room -- not a factor in whether Harrington stayed or went -- Millen said: "Right. Yeah, that's fair."

Harrington told The Oregonian he expected his agent, David Dunn, to speak with Lions officials this week at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis. He wasn't sure or wouldn't say what would be discussed.

"I've never done this before," he noted.

But he also said: "Money has never driven my decisions. Money has never driven how I've acted. There's nothing more important to me than a person's loyalty."

Marinelli said Harrington had "tremendous upside" and reminded reporters that Martz did a "tremendous job" of finding certain things players did well to fit his system. Martz has developed quarterbacks such as Trent Green, Kurt Warner and Marc Bulger.

Marinelli also said he didn't care what others thought about Harrington.

"I don't worry about other people," Marinelli said. "I worry about what we do."

That doesn't mean others aren't willing to share their opinions.

In an article published Saturday, Booth Newspapers beat man Tom Kowalski reported on conversations he had with league insiders at the NFL scouting combine regarding Harrington.

According to Kowalski, more than 15 people were interviewed -- from Harrington's former coaches to people who have coached against him, from scouts and to NFL personnel officials. They all spoke on the condition of anonymity and here's a sampling of those comments (in no particular order):

"He was solid coming out of Oregon, but he was put in the worst possible situation. He has a GM (in Millen) who doesn't have a clue about how to build a team around him -- and still doesn't."

"He's smart and tough. He's getting the [stuffing] beat out of him. That (offensive) line couldn't pick up a blitz to save its life."

"He's just a guy. There's nothing special about him."

"There are some quarterbacks who don't do anything particularly great but when you put it all together, they're pretty effective. Harrington's just the opposite. He's not really bad at anything, but when you add it all up, he doesn't get anything done."

"He's not a leader, he can't relate. Tony Siragusa was right."

(Kowalski reminded readers that Siragusa, a Fox television sideline reporter and former NFL player, once said this about Harrington on the air: "He's the kind of guy that's on the other side of the club than I am. He's over there with the champagne and caviar. And also the strawberries and chocolate, you know?")

"Martz is going to help him. He's going to prove to him that he isn't as good as he thinks he is, but he's not as bad as other people think he is, either."

"I never liked him in that (West Coast) offense. He still should've been more consistent than he was, but I don't think that scheme brings out the best in him."

"I like him. I thought he'd be better by now, but they're smart not to give up on him. Some guys just take a little longer."

"If you put a great defense around him -- with a strong running game -- he could be successful. That's the only way."

"His days of being pampered are over. If Martz can't turn him around, nobody can."

"He's an easy target. That's a team of underachievers and it's easier to point fingers than to look at yourself."

"When you look at him -- and just him -- and forget the (offensive) line and the offense, there's a lot to like. I like the way he sets up and delivers the ball. The kid's a good quarterback. I have no idea why he's struggled so much."

"There comes a point when you have to stand back and say `We missed this one' and move on. I think (the Lions) are at that point."

And, finally, Kowalski believes this comment summed up the situation better than any:

"I think a lot of people are eager to see what Martz is going to do with him. Some people think he could go to the Pro Bowl. Other people think it's hopeless. ..."

On other item of interest out of Detroit this week. ... Millen also told reporters that Charles Rogers will be back.

Rogers has been a huge disappointment since the Lions drafted him second overall in 2003. He has played only 15 games because of injuries, a suspension and benchings.

The Lions are trying to recoup $10.184 million of his $14.4-million signing bonus because they say the drug suspension he served last season put him in default of his contract.

But as Cotsonika pointed out, Rogers is relatively cheap to bring back. His lack of playing time kept him from triggering escalator clauses in his contract, and his base salary is $757,917 for 2006.

Rogers still has a lot of upside, and the new coaches say they will demand more of Rogers and fellow receivers Roy Williams and Mike Williams.

"I've got to believe they're going to be liking it -- getting down the field, stretching the field," said Marinelli, who met with Rogers last week. "But within that is the work ethic that's going to come with it. ..."

Other Fantasy-specific news and notes of interest from around the NFL this week. ...

In Atlanta. ... Michael Vick has bailed out the Falcons before -- and he could be on the verge of doing it again.

According to NFL Network insider Adam Schefter, the Falcons and Vick have been engaged in talks to restructure the quarterback's contract to provide Atlanta with more of the salary-cap space it needs.

Of course, both sides are waiting to see what happens with the Collective Bargaining Agreement first, before signing off on anything. But Schefter reports that Vick is ready and waiting to do what it takes to help the Falcons get back to the top of the NFC South.

The Falcons also are trying to restructure the contract of running back Warrick Dunn. Those two players could provide the room Atlanta needs to come up with a pair of safeties and a defensive right end.

Meanwhile, Atlanta Journal-Constitution staffer Steve Wyche reports that offensive coordinator Greg Knapp said he and Vick have a solid relationship and the quarterback's concerns about last season's offensive inconsistency were an offshoot of system-wide breakdowns.

"I don't think we need to sit down and talk about it," Knapp said Thursday in reference to the offensive philosophy Vick questioned in an interview with the Journal-Constitution earlier this month. "It's already understood that we will always try to create situations for Mike to succeed.

In that interview, Vick claimed to be "a little lost" in the Falcons' version of the West Coast offense. "We're not dinning and dunking the way it's supposed to be done" he said. "It may be hurting me. It may be hurting the offense."

"Given the fact that we had two young receivers last year that Michael didn't really work much in the offseason with because Peerless Price and Dez White were the starters, we went through some growing pains. We still made improvements, but from a Michael Vick standpoint, everything comes down on him. That's what makes it frustrating for him."

Vick said in Thursday's USA Today that Knapp "needs to know exactly what type of talent he's working with. ... You've got to be creative. There's no reason I should be passing for only 2,300 yards for the season. My passing attempts per game are not even that high. I hope it's not that they don't believe in me, because I believe in me."

Knapp said he read the remarks but attributed them to Vick constantly being asked about his production and the team's offensive struggles late in the 8-8, non-playoff season.

Knapp added that he does not feel Vick is driven by stats or passer ratings, which he said would always be skewed because Vick runs the ball so much and is asked to make a lot of plays while rolling out.

As for the quarterback's recent tendency to publicly question his coaches?

"I think it's a good thing Mike's got this edge," Knapp told Wyche in a telephone interview from Indianapolis, where he's attending the NFL scouting combine. "It shows he wants to improve as an offense and he wants to improve as a player. I'm not worried about the numbers. We're going to base what we do on wins and losses. It's not just our quarterback. We had some growing pains that we've got to fight through. That so much comes down on Mike is the nature of the beast of playing quarterback.

"Sometimes we get too much credit, sometimes we get too much blame."

And apparently, we sometimes run our mouths too much in the offseason. ... It'll be interesting to see if head coach Jim Mora asks Vick to pipe down -- or at least tone it down -- at some point in the near future.

But if latest rumors -- Profootballtalk.com editor Mike Florio advised readers on Friday the perception in some circles is that Vick "hates" Mora -- are true, that not might have much impact on the star signal caller, who clearly has no problem letting it be known he's not the problem in Atlanta. ...

Moving on to the latest Terrell Owens-related news and notes. ... While Dolphins like Randy McMichael, Jason Taylor and Vonnie Holliday have said wouldn't be thrilled about the prospect of the disgruntled former Eagles receiver joining their ranks, the person who would be most affected if the team added Owens said earlier this month that -- that contrary to a previously published report, he is not opposed to the idea.

"Whatever happens, happens," Chris Chambers said during the Pro Bowl weekend. "If we did make a move like that, I would support my teammate. I wouldn't go against somebody who was on my team. I would make it work some kind of way because that's the type of person I am."

The Miami Herald on Jan. 11 reported Chambers thought the addition of Owens would be a bad idea and hurt chemistry; it also quoted Chambers as saying, "If you have another star receiver, it would cause more controversy."

"I never said that," Chambers said. "Those words never came out of my mouth. For one thing, I don't know him, so I'm not going to judge him. And I don't really know nobody who knows him, to tell you the truth, but (Owens' agent) Drew Rosenhaus, and what he said to me was that [Owens] had a humbling experience last year and that he's going to be ready to go this year."

According to Palm Beach Post staff writer Greg A. Bedard, Chambers did say he probably would prefer to not change the chemistry the Dolphins developed during their six-game, season-ending winning streak.

"Of course you're going to be leery, just because you don't know the guy and you heard things about him and stuff like that," Chambers said.

Also according to Bedard, Chambers said he was "definitely disappointed" that Scott Linehan left to become head coach of the Rams after one season as Miami's offensive coordinator, but was put at ease when head coach Nick Saban said that the offense would not change.

"I was glad to hear that because once we learned the terminology and knew how the system worked, we knew how to make plays," Chambers said.

He has not talked with Linehan's replacement, former Bills coach Mike Mularkey.

But Chambers has heard good things from close friend and fellow University of Wisconsin product Lee Evans, who played receiver the past two years for Mularkey in Buffalo.

"Lee said [Mularkey's] going to give you the opportunity to make plays and we're definitely going to run the ball - I do know that much," Chambers said. "I have no problem with that, as long as we're putting up points."

Hard to argue with that contention. ...

Getting back to Owens. ... On Tuesday, Kansas City president and GM Carl Peterson reiterated that the Chiefs won't have an interest until after Owens is presumably cut in early March. He also said it might be a long shot that Owens and Rosenhaus would be willing to agree to a one-year, incentive-laden deal, which is what the Chiefs would be willing to give.

When asked whether Kansas City had closed the door on any possible Owens dealings, Peterson said, "You never say never in this league."

Chiefs quarterback Trent Green said Rosenhaus was at the Pro Bowl earlier this month "working everybody" to promote his client. Green, considered one of the team leaders, said he's willing to keep an open mind.

"I don't know if it will happen or not," Green said.

"What's the relationship going to be with T.O. and Herman Edwards? Or what is T.O.'s relationship with the rest of the locker room? How will that fit? I don't know. Until I meet him and talk to him and see what he's all about, I don't know him.

"I can make speculations based off the sound bites you see on TV, but I generally don't do that. ..."

Speaking of speculation. ... Fort Worth Star-Telegram staff writer Clarence E. Hill Jr. suggested on Saturday that when Cowboys coach Bill Parcells and Rosenhaus are seen dining together, it makes one wonder if something is afoot.

Hill added that neither had anything to say after their lunch meeting in Indianapolis on Friday.

Considering that Rosenhaus has a litany of clients, including top draft prospect Eric Winston, an offensive tackle out of Miami, the conversation could have been draft related.

Still, as Hill further suggested, it's hard to believe Rosenhaus' most notorious client -- Owens -- did not come up. But the Cowboys could certainly use some help at the position.

The big question is whether Parcells and the Cowboys would be a good fit for the controversial, but talented, wideout. ...

The Broncos, the only team to bring Owens in for a meeting after the Eagles gave Rosenhaus permission to seek a trade, are said to have concluded that they probably don't have the salary-cap space to make a trade offer for Owens.

But that won't keep them from negotiating with Rosenhaus once the star receiver is officially released.

And that will happen soon enough.

As Philadelphia Daily News staffer Les Bowen reminded readers this week, if Owens is on the Eagles' roster March 8, 5 days into the NFL year, the team will owe T.O. $7.5 million in bonus money, which they have no intention of paying.

And while there won't be an Owens-like receiver available this spring, either through free agency or in the draft, the Eagles are expected to try to upgrade at the position.

Antwaan Randle El seems to be their main target, as the free-agent wideout with the biggest upside, assuming the Pittsburgh Steelers, faced with 11 potential free agents, can't keep him. Randle El also would fill a need as an elite punt returner. An alternative might be Buffalo's Eric Moulds, a bigger and stronger receiver -- who also is significantly older at 32.

The 26-year old Randle El, like Donovan McNabb, grew up in the Chicago area, and he is represented by McNabb's agent, Fletcher Smith.

It's also worth noting that Randle El and McNabb are friends and Randle El has trained with McNabb in Arizona in the offseason. Sources close to the situation tell Bowen the Eagles and Randle El's hometown Chicago Bears could be the top contenders for his services.

Bowen added that other sources close to the situation indicate the Eagles are very interested in Randle El, not necessarily as a traditional No. 1 receiver, which he probably isn't, but as a catalyst in a wideout mix that would include a recovered Todd Pinkston and emerging 2005 rookie Reggie Brown, along with Greg Lewis, whom the Eagles think can be effective again in a more limited role.

Lewis seemed to wear down last season, when he was elevated by Pinkston's Achilles' tear and Owens' banishment from the team.

Of course, Moulds would be more of a traditional No. 1, with a bigger price tag -- he caught 81 passes last season for 816 yards, raising his 10-year totals to 675 catches for 9,096 yards. He is signed through 2007, but he has a $10.85-million cap figure this year and the Bills have made it plain he will need to restructure to stay in Buffalo.

Apparently, Moulds, who hasn't tasted the playoffs since 1999, would rather move on if he can land the right deal with a potential contender.

New Buffalo GM Marv Levy said this week that he has not been able to contact Moulds - which would seem to be a pretty good hint as to how Moulds might be thinking.

"I think Eric still has a lot left," Levy said. "We want to work something out in a contract restructuring with Eric. ..."

In Minnesota. ... Brad Childress didn't hand Mewelde Moore the starting running back job Friday. According to St. Paul Pioneer Press beat man Sean Jensen, the coach indicated that position would be addressed in the coming months.

Asked if he was comfortable with Moore handling the load at the position, Childress retracted his initial comment that the Vikings were "talent poor" at the position.

"Let me take that back," Childress said. "We don't have that many numbers. We just have two running backs there right now. [Adimchinobe] Echemandu is coming back; he's a little bit of an unknown. Mewelde did some good things.

"How many carries? We've done it a couple of different ways. We could split them up; if there is somebody that comes through that we think can handle 20-25 carries, that's a way to go as well."

Childress cannot speak to suspended running back Onterrio Smith until May and said he would not make a decision on him until they meet.

Michael Bennett's fate, on the other hand, has already been determined. Bennett said Monday his tenure with the Vikings is over.

"They told my agent they're going in another direction, so I won't be coming back," Bennett said in a Monday interview with the Pioneer Press. He has been working out diligently, "just in case I need to go audition somewhere."

His preferences are Green Bay, which is closer to his hometown of Milwaukee, and Arizona, which is coached by Dennis Green, who drafted Bennett for the Vikings.

Also according to Jensen, one player Childress did visit with recently was free-agent receiver Koren Robinson, who spent a day with him and other key team officials last week.

"It's hard not to like him," Childress said.

And Daunte Culpepper?

Childress did not rule out any possibility while discussing the future of Culpepper on Friday afternoon. The Vikings' new coach admitted he has received a couple of calls from other teams about the injured quarterback and refused to close the door on speculation Culpepper could be released.

"You don't ever say never at this time of year," Childress said. "Never and always are two long periods of time."

Childress, who spoke to reporters during a news conference at the NFL combine, fielded 28 questions, 13 of which were about Culpepper.

While Childress did not end talk of Culpepper's potential departure, he also acknowledged at this moment he's planning on having Brad Johnson and Culpepper as his quarterbacks when training camp opens.

Even more noteworthy, owner Zygi Wilf on Saturday told reporters he plans to pay Culpepper a $6 million roster bonus on March 17 and tried to defuse growing speculation that the organization is going to sever ties with the quarterback by trading or releasing him. ... We shall see. ...

In St. Louis. ... While still committed to Steven Jackson as his feature back, Linehan wants Marshall Faulk to have a slightly expanded role next season.

"I would think he would," Linehan said.

According to St. Louis Post-Dispatch staffer Jim Thomas, Linehan emerged from a meeting with Faulk last week with no definitive answer on the running back's plans for 2006. Privately, however, team officials fully expect Faulk back in '06 for his 13th NFL season overall and his eighth with the Rams.

Faulk, who turns 33 today, finished the '05 season with 65 carries for 292 yards, and 44 catches for 291 yards. Those are career-low totals for carries, catches, rushing yards and receiving yards.

"Up to the day he shuts it down, he's way too valuable a player to not have the ball in his hands," Linehan said. "For whatever reason, last year was not his best year statistically. But I would certainly like to utilize the abilities he still has, if he's willing to put a few more years in."

Linehan also stated emphatically Friday that he would like to see a contract extension for wide receiver Isaac Bruce.

This after SI.com insider Don Banks predicted that Linehan would come to the conclusion that cap resources could be more wisely utilized if they don't bring back the aging and costly veteran for another season.

The reasoning behind Banks' prediction: Kevin Curtis and Shaun McDonald are already on hand as a tandem replacement for the starting slot opposite of Torry Holt.

Linehan, however, was having none of that.

"I'd love to have him as long as we can keep him," the new coach said. "Some of those things are out of your control. In this case, I don't think that's the case. He's still got some life left in him. And we've had very good meetings with him."

Team officials were scheduled for talks with Bruce's agent this weekend in Indianapolis.

Bruce has one year left on his current contract and is scheduled to count for $10.04 million against the cap in 2006. A restructured deal could knock a few million dollars off that count.

Something should happen quickly, because Bruce is due a $1.5 million roster bonus by Friday. He's also due $6.5 million in base salary, plus a $100,000 workout bonus under the current contract. ...

And finally. ... According to Kansas City Star staff writer Elizabeth Merrill, Priest Holmes went to California to see his spine specialist, told a family member he was ‘fine,' then, in typical Holmes fashion, slipped into obscurity.

As of late Saturday, only one thing seemed certain regarding the ever-mysterious Chiefs running back: The mystery of his future will probably drag on for a while.

Edwards and Peterson said they hadn't talked to Holmes as of Saturday afternoon but that there was plenty of time to do so.

"It's not a big, important thing right now," Peterson said Saturday from the NFL Combine. "It's a much lower priority on the back burner to this point.

"We've got the whole offseason regarding Priest."

Holmes' career has been in limbo since a helmet-to-helmet collision in San Diego at midseason. After a battery of tests, Holmes was diagnosed with pressure on his spine. After a couple of months' rest, he was to meet again with physician Robert Watkins to determine whether he was neurologically sound to play.

Those tests were done Friday.

According to Merrill, all Holmes' mother, Norma Morris, would say is that she had talked to her son and he seemed OK.

"I just asked him how he was doing," she said. "And he said, 'I'm fine.' I didn't grill him. Whenever he's ready to talk, he'll talk."

Holmes' latest problems come at a time when he's 32 and a backup again. After Holmes went down in late October, Larry Johnson rushed for nine straight 100-yard games. In January, Edwards told Johnson he'd go into training camp as the starter.

But Edwards also said he wanted Holmes back.

"In the conversation I had with him, it seemed like he wanted to come back," Edwards said Saturday in reference to a January meeting. "Hopefully he's going to be cleared, and hopefully he wants to come back."

Stay tuned. ... More on Holmes, Owens, Culpepper -- and all the league's ongoing off-season sagas -- as developments warrant.