QBs Carr and Harrington to visit Panthers

QBs Carr and Harrington to visit Panthers next week
PAT YASINSKAS
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PHOENIX --Stop yawning. After seemingly snoozing through the early stages of free agency, the Carolina Panthers will awaken and host their first significant visitors next week.

Sources close to David Carr and Joey Harrington said the quarterbacks are expected to visit with the Panthers, who have been searching for a backup to Jake Delhomme since releasing Chris Weinke this month. Coincidentally, Carr and Harrington were two players the Panthers scouted extensively before using the second overall pick in the 2002 draft to take All-Pro defensive end Julius Peppers.

The source close to Carr said the former Houston Texans quarterback will travel to Charlotte early next week. The Seattle Seahawks are believed to be the other team most interested in Carr.

Harrington's visit is still being scheduled. The Panthers informed the former Detroit and Miami quarterback of their interest in early March, but Harrington has been traveling in Africa on his honeymoon.

Panthers officials don't comment on visits by free agents. Coach John Fox would speak only in vague terms about plans for the position during the NFC coach's breakfast at the annual NFL meeting at the Arizona Biltmore.

"It's a definite need and something we're going to address," Fox said.

When asked if he preferred a young or old quarterback, Fox said he wanted a backup with NFL experience, but not a player on the downside of his career.

Carr, 27, and Harrington, 28, both fit that profile. Ironically, the reason the Panthers are interested in Carr and Harrington now might be the same reason they were not drafted by Carolina in 2002.

"Typically, a quarterback requires training and the best training is NFL training," Fox said.

In Fox's first draft, the Panthers were coming off a 1-15 season and felt Peppers could make a more immediate impact than a quarterback. They started veteran Rodney Peete that season and brought in Delhomme the following year.

Carr was chosen first overall by the Texans in that draft and Harrington went third to Detroit. Neither quarterback has prospered, but NFL personnel people believe both have untapped potential.

Playing on an expansion team in Houston, Carr frequently struggled behind bad offensive lines. But his career numbers are slightly better than Harrington's and some personnel people believe Carr could flourish with a better team around him.

Carr has completed 60 percent of his passes and has a 75.5 quarterback rating while starting 75 games in five seasons with the Texans. He's thrown for 59 touchdowns and 65 interceptions.

Harrington spent his first four seasons in Detroit and last season with Miami. His tenure with the Lions was rocky and he became a target of criticism by fans. Harrington has made 66 starts, completing 55.2-percent of his passes with a 68.1 rating. He's thrown 72 touchdowns and 77 interceptions.

 

If one of them, Carr please

 

Agreed, I would like to see what Carr could do with a better O.

Harrington, not no, but hell no!

 

Ditto, of the two Carr would be my choice.

 

I prefer Carr too but Harrington could not be any worse than Weinkie. This really illustrates that Peppers was the right guy!

 

Either would be an upgrade. Harrington is looking like a career back-up at this point, but Carr still has an upside. Mobile, accurate, smart. He just needs to get behind an NFL offensive line. He's also a guy who can keep Jake on his toes, and competition is always good thing.


C'mon, Marty! Suck someone's dick if you have to.

 

Carr = instant QB contraversy

 

good, only means Jake will have to limit stupid mistakes to keep it quiet.

 

I agree with bringing Carr in for a look, but realistically speaking there are at least three teams out there that will offer him the starting job outright, not a chance to compete for it. Also pretty sure all those teams have more cap room than us. With that in mind, why would he sign here?

I'd be fine with Harrington as a backup. I think he's better than he gets credit for. He definitely outplayed Culpepper in Miami last season.

 

ehh. That might be good, but it'll likely be more annoying than anything else.

Plus, I just don't think Carr's that damn good. Better than Harrington, but is defeated that much better an outlook than dejected?