PONTIAC, Mich., March 5 -- The Detroit Lions added some more grit to the quarterback position Monday, signing veteran free agent Jim Harbaugh to a two-year contract.
Harbaugh played the last two seasons in San Diego, where he started 17 games for one of the worst teams in the NFL.
He passed for 2,761 yards in 1999 and 1,416 yards last season. A University of Michigan graduate, Harbaugh was expected to tutor Ryan Leaf in San Diego and could be looked at to do the same in Detroit, where Charlie Batch struggled as the starter in 2000.
Batch passed for 2,489 yards with 13 touchdowns and 15 interceptions in 15 games last season-his third in the NFL- and showed he can play in pain. But a rib injury was too much for Batch, who missed most of a season-ending 23-20 loss to Chicago, which kept Detroit out of the playoffs. Batch could be challenged for the starting job by Harbaugh, who also has developed a reputation for playing in pain and earned the nickname "Captain Comeback" in his days with Indianapolis.
Harbaugh has passed for 26,288 yards with 129 TDs and 117 interceptions in 14 seasons for Chicago, Indianapolis, Baltimore and San Diego. He had a career-high 3,121 passing yards with the Bears in 1991, but really established himself in Indianapolis, helping the Colts advance to the AFC Championship game and making the Pro Bowl after the 1995 season.
