By The Associated Press

ALLEN PARK, Mich. – The Detroit Lions parted ways with Joey Harrington on Monday after four turbulent seasons during which the quarterback went from franchise savior to franchise goat.

Coach Rod Marinelli declined to say whether Harrington was released.

“I’ve decided to move in a different direction with the quarterback,” he said.

Harrington, drafted No. 3 overall in 2002, was 18-37 as a starter with the Lions under three coaches: Marty Mornhinweg, Steve Mariucci and Dick Jauron, who took over when he Mariucci was fired during the 2005 season.

Harrington started 55 games, throwing for 10,242 yards with 60 touchdowns and 62 interceptions and a mediocre 68.1 passer rating.

He will be replaced by Jon Kitna or Josh McCown, both former starters who agreed to terms in the last week. The Lions already have under contract former Tampa Bay and Arizona starter Shaun King and second-year man Dan Orlovsky.

As recently as last month, Marinelli and team president Matt Millen indicated the Lions considered Harrington their top quarterback for 2006.

The decision to change course comes nearly four years after the Lions proclaimed that Harrington would bring long-term stability at quarterback for the first time in a half century.

Harrington, who would have received a $4 million bonus if on the roster June 15, now joins the list of once-promising quarterbacks who fizzled in Detroit. Among them: Charlie Batch, Scott Mitchell, Andre Ware and Rodney Peete.

Eagles release QBs McMahon, Hall

PHILADELPHIA – The Eagles released quarterbacks Mike McMahon and Andy Hall on Monday, three days after signing 36-year-old Jeff Garcia as Donovan McNabb’s backup.

McMahon played in nine games and went 2-5 as a starter in the final seven games for the Eagles last year after McNabb was sidelined with a sports hernia. McMahon completed 94 of 207 passes for 1,158 yards with five touchdowns and eight interceptions in nine games.

McMahon signed as a free agent with the Eagles before the start of last season after four years with Detroit.

Hall was drafted in the sixth round of the 2004 draft by the Eagles but spent most of his time on the practice squad or as the team’s emergency quarterback.

Dolphins sign Allen to four-year deal

DAVIE, Fla. – Cornerback Will Allen signed a $12 million, four-year contract with the Miami Dolphins on Monday after spending the last five seasons with the New York Giants.

The Dolphins also signed tight end Justin Peelle to a three-year deal, and added wide receiver Kelly Campbell and defensive tackle Josh Shaw.

Allen is expected to replace Sam Madison, a longtime Miami starter whom the Giants signed as a free agent this month. Allen started 71 of the 72 games he played with the Giants, who drafted him in the first round in 2001. He had eight interceptions with the Giants.

Peelle was San Diego’s fourth-round draft choice in 2002. He has 40 catches for 270 yards and four touchdowns in his career.

Campbell played for the Minnesota Vikings – and with their former quarterback Daunte Culpepper, whom the Dolphins acquired in a trade last week – from 2002 through 2004, catching 57 passes for 1,062 yards and eight touchdowns.

Shaw spent five games on the Dolphins’ 53-man roster last season, and was inactive in each of those matchups.

Seattle loses hearing, could lose Hutchinson

SEATTLE – The Seahawks must match the guarantee provision in the $49 million, seven-year deal offered to All-Pro guard Steve Hutchinson by the Minnesota Vikings if the NFC champions want to keep their transition player.

An attorney for the NFL’s players’ union confirmed Monday that a special master ruled against Seattle, saying a provision guaranteeing all of the $49 million in an offer sheet Hutchinson signed with Minnesota should he not be the team’s highest-paid offensive lineman is valid.

“The Seahawks lost,” NFL Players Association general counsel Richard Berthelsen said Monday.

League spokesman Michael Signora said Monday evening that the Seahawks had until midnight (EST) Monday EST to match the Vikings offer or lose Hutchinson to Minnesota.

Berthelsen attended a two-hour hearing Monday morning in Philadelphia on the matter.

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The Vikings’ seven-year offer, which Hutchinson signed on March 12, included $16 million guaranteed. It would be the richest deal ever given to a guard. And Monday’s ruling means it just got richer.