Joey Harrington and Marques Tuiasosopo will step onto the same field Sunday for the first time since September 2000.
Oh, how things have changed since then-No. 20 Oregon faced then-No. 6 Washington at Autzen Stadium.
Harrington, a junior at the time, threw for 119 yards and a touchdown while leading the Ducks to the 23-16 win. Tuiasosopo threw for 229 yards in their loss, which eventually cost the Huskies a shot at a national title.
While both quarterbacks will once again be leading teams in need of a win Sunday, similarities to the duo’s Pacific-10 Conference glory days begin and end there.
Three years removed from a collegiate contest of immense importance, the former Pac-10 Offensive Players of the Year are now in charge of disappointing NFL squads.
Harrington has struggled through his first two seasons in Detroit. After a 3-13 campaign last year, he is taking most of the blame for the Lions’ 1-6 start to the 2003 season. The third-overall pick in the 2002 draft, Harrington was thrown into the mix almost immediately, rather than being given time to observe from the sideline. Other than the Colts’ Peyton Manning, history has shown that young quarterbacks struggle when they are forced to play too soon.
Harrington was handed the starting job just three games into his rookie season, taking over for an ineffective Mike McMahon. He has thrown 20 touchdown passes and 28 interceptions in his brief career, while amassing a passer rating of 58.7.
Tuiasosopo was never subjected to the pressures of saving a franchise as a rookie. Selected by Oakland in the second round of the 2001 draft, Tuiasosopo was given the chance to learn from the 2002 NFL Most Valuable Player, Rich Gannon, for his first two years in the league.
Tuiasosopo finally got his chance Oct. 20 against Kansas City when Gannon went down with a shoulder injury. The former Husky passed for 224 yards in relief duty and led the Raiders to the Chiefs’ 1-yard line before time expired on his attempted fourth-quarter comeback.
The Raiders have put Tuiasosopo in a position to succeed. After soaking up information and getting a chance to throw to the likes of Jerry Rice and Tim Brown in practice, Tuiasosopo is light years ahead of where Harrington was when he got his first chance to start.
Being an older team and one in decline, the 2-5 Raiders should give Tuiasosopo the starting nod for the rest of the season. He’s had the chance to stand on the sideline and observe. Now, let him get some playing time under his belt, especially with the Raiders out of playoff contention.
It’s not that easy for Harrington. The only thing the Lions have done to help the Portland native is to draft former Michigan State wide receiver Charles Rogers, and even he hasn’t helped after an injury of his own. With a sub-par offensive line, receivers who can’t catch the ball and a city that is tired of waiting for something positive to happen to its football team, Harrington could be in an ugly situation for a long time to come.
With little but pride on the line Sunday, I don’t see the Lions making this much of a game. If the Raiders take the pressure off Tuiasosopo’s shoulders by establishing a running game, the Raiders should have an easy time with the hapless Lions.
Prediction: Oakland 35, Detroit 14.