So long Marvin...for now.

As sad as I am to say that Marvin Harrison will not be an Indianapolis Colt next year, I am ok with the decision. Marvelous Marvin was not interested in cutting his nine-million dollar salary for the 2009 season. Now Marv, I love you, and I mean that in the straightest way possible. You are a Philly native, you play for my favorite team and are quite possibly my favorite receiver in the history of the game, but last year you posted 60 catches, 636 yards, and 5 touchdowns. These totals are the lowest you have had in a season that you played more than 12 games. In these times of economic turmoil you have to be willing to take a pay cut sir. In actuality, the economy is just a ploy to say that you are, as sad as it is to say, getting old Mr. Harrison. I cannot imagine anyone signing you to a nine-million dollar deal that would last at most two years. So let’s see where the man could end up shall we?

Let’s start off with the one that most people think…Philadelphia. The idea sounds good, Donovan and Marvin teaming up again like they did as Orangemen, and the Eagles need a big name wide receiver. But with T.J. Houshmandzadeh still on the market, I can’t imagine the birds putting up the money for a receiver that may only be there for one year. If Donovan McNabb can get three or four years out of the possible deal in a new contract, Houshmandzadeh would make the better choice as a 31-year-old receiver. Harrison is on the other end of 30 and the knee injury he had in 2007 is enough to turn the Eagles off from picking him up. Sorry Roman Catholic fans, Marv won’t be seen in Eagles green.

So what about the Tennessee Titans? I mean he would get a chance to shove it in the Colts’ face twice next year that they didn’t re-sign him, and the Titans wide receivers are Chris Davis, Biern Ealy, Justin Gage, Lavelle Hawkins and Paul Williams…not exactly first ballot Hall of Famers. So what better man for the job of teaching than Marvin? Eh, I wouldn’t bet that he would go here because for starters Harrison wouldn’t be the type of guy to go to a rival because of a grudge against the Colts. He asked for a release and the Colts gave it to him. No bad blood, no Favre style drama, just a release and a thanks. Plus, Titans have bigger problems with Kerry Collins’ contract being up which leaves Vince Young at the helm right now, and also star defensive lineman Albert Haynseworth is potentially being offered a “monster” contract. So on to the next candidate.

How about daaaaa Bearsssss? I mean they are hurting at the position (Devin Hester is their number one receiver right now) and they finally got their quarterback situation under control last year. Kyle Orton, the Boilermaker, finally showed that he can command a team with a 9-7 record and a whole 2,972 passing yards…awesome. No wait, that’s actually not awesome in the least. Kyle you threw six more touchdowns than you did interceptions last year. I think the Bears should aim for a solid QB in either the draft or in the free agent pool, so this makes it pointless to get a wide receiver that might be good for maybe a year. Thanks for attending Chicago but we are going to have to keep moving.

So let’s travel ten miles north to Minneapolis. Hey it kind of rhymes with your old city? No? Not on board? Well how about this, you have some young to average experienced receivers that you could teach the way of the respectable wide out. Also, you have a bevy of potential quarterbacks that could be lofting you balls down-field in a dome atmosphere that you are used to. But the quarterback situation could be the biggest reason not to go there. Frerotte is in his fifteenth season and he has been on seven different teams. John David Booty is going to be entering his second year and doesn’t quite have a handle on the offense yet. And need I mention Tarvaris Jackson? The man should just switch to a wide receiver himself or at the very least a running back. He would service the team better there. Anyway, the trouble with not having a steady quarterback is problematic for Harrison because he works best when he has chemistry with whoever is throwing the ball. Peyton Manning entered the league in 1998 and Marvin Harrison (in 12 games) had 59 catches, 776 yards, and seven touchdowns. Let’s go to the next year where Harrison played 16 games and had 115 catches, 1,663 yards and 12 touchdowns. That’s quite an improvement after one year of getting to know his quarterback. So time is the Vikings biggest enemy when it comes to acquiring Harrison. They would only have them for maybe two years max, and they’re not even sure who is going to be their starting quarterback at the end of the season.

It seems as if Marvin is not going to fit in anywhere. I mean the previous four teams are hurting most at the receiver position but none of them are just right for Harrison. Well let’s try out one last one…the Atlanta Falcons. They don’t really have great receivers but they get by with Roddy White and Jerious Norwood, so the addition of Marvin Harrison could help all of their good receivers become great. Plus, Matt Ryan had a great rookie season last year with these mediocre receivers. Imagine what he could do in his sophomore season with the likes of Marvin Harrison. Harrison could help push the Falcons sixth ranked offense up in the statistical categories and make them an even bigger threat (remember the Falcons-Cardinals playoff game? What a shootout 30-24). And don’t forget Marvin…no one has number 88 there…just putting it out there.

I really think Harrison should go to the Falcons, and not only because it is a good fit for him but for the Falcons as well. Next season I think he will have better stats than this past year, but nothing like he was in his prime. Harrison will always be a Colt and who knows come training camp he may be one again… http://blogs.nfl.com/2009/02/24/colts-owner-irsay-plans-meeting-with-harrison/