Harrison Still Getting It Done
Special to Scout.com
By TSX


--Not even for a minute.

That was how Rodney Harrison responded when asked if he gave retirement any thought this offseason.

At age 35 and coming off an emotionally draining season, it would certainly have been understandable if Harrison wavered throughout his time off. His year started with the embarrassment of a four-game suspension that came as a result of his violation of the league's banned substances policy and the "Spygate" scandal that threatened the moral fiber of the team. It then progressed as the Patriots ran roughshod over the league for the better part of three months.

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 Is Rodney Too old to get the job done?

gr365 wrote: Until Meriweather or Sanders steps up in coverage, he's still the best option. We need to try to put the Tyree catch in SB 42 behind us! Tyree made one hell of a catch! I doubt we'll see that again anytime soon? I seem to recall Asante dropping a pick that would have saved the game, but oops, slipped thru his fingers....Was that because he's too old?

Age is but a number, while rodney may in the twilight of his career and may not have the speed he used to have--- he his by no means "done". When it comes time to hang em up Rodney will let us all  know but untill then I would rather have a slower  Rodney Harrison in my backfield than most safetys in the NFL, ----not because we are senitmental fools and want him to play past his effectivness,  it's that rodney brings the intangibiles to the field---He's tenancious,intense,hits like a mack truck,trash talks with the best of them, and above all has unquestioned  leadership abilities, and I will take that version any day.      Too old----I think not

gr365 wrote: What is this Tank is the new Rodney? This guy hasn't played a down yet and we're not even sure that he's no more than a specialty player! 3rd down MLB? 3rd down OLB? ST's? He'll be given the opportunity to contribute, but to say he's the man in the secondary is a little much, no? It takes time to learn this system, and year 2 is uaually when the big jump occurs for the defensive players... I'm looking to the kids like Sanders, Meriweather! Sanders stepped it up in his second year. I think Meriweather has all the tools, yeah, he dropped some INT's last year. So did Asante early! Once he knows the system completely, his reaction time will improve, less thinking more reacting...I see Tank more as Tebucky Jones. A guy who can play the LB position on third down, ST's and a back-up. We'll see as camp and pre-season progresses...I think the new "Rodney" will be a SS who isn't on the roster yet?

Rodney was so exhausted by the time a fresh Tyree lined up against him, he wound up so badly beaten he cushioned Tyrees fall for him. He was just too out of position to even knock the ball out.  Give Tyree a talented special teamer credit for one of the clutch plays of all TIME.

Sadly, we witness Rodney getting to the downside of his career. 

"Time, the Avenger"  ( The Pretenders ).

You're rght .................now watch this year when they slip, slide, and sink all the way to the Super Bowl again this year......As apposed to your Navy Bellicheck is the Captain of this ship.....not Kraft....and his policy is "the best man at the position will play !!!After setting a league record by going 18-0 last year I'm not concerned with this ship sinking as long as he is the Captain .......even if Rodney was eligible to collect his Social Security check this year !!!! We do appreciate your concern and if the young wipper-snappers on your team go 18-0 I know you'll feel the same way about a losers critisizm as I do about yours !!!

brknwing wrote:

Age is but a number,


while rodney may in the twilight of his career and may not have the speed he used to have--- he his by no means "done". When it comes time to hang em up Rodney will let us all  know but untill then I would rather have a slower  Rodney Harrison in my backfield than most safetys in the NFL, ----not because we are senitmental fools and want him to play past his effectivness,  it's that rodney brings the intangibiles to the field---He's tenancious,intense,hits like a mack truck,trash talks with the best of them, and above all has unquestioned  leadership abilities, and I will take that version any day.     


Too old----I think not

minimac wrote:

brknwing wrote:

Age is but a number,


while rodney may in the twilight of his career and may not have the speed he used to have--- he his by no means "done". When it comes time to hang em up Rodney will let us all  know but untill then I would rather have a slower  Rodney Harrison in my backfield than most safetys in the NFL, ----not because we are senitmental fools and want him to play past his effectivness,  it's that rodney brings the intangibiles to the field---He's tenancious,intense,hits like a mack truck,trash talks with the best of them, and above all has unquestioned  leadership abilities, and I will take that version any day.     


Too old----I think not

"Age is but a number",  but in sports,,, "the younger the better" is the bottom line.


Imo, Rodney has not fully recovered from his injury, and never will completely.
He should be ok starting the season, but will probably slow down dramatically as the season progresses.  


Im in agreement with your assessment of what Rodney has meant to this team,
perhaps Im just a bit more realistic than emotional when anticipating older athletes capabilities.

brknwing wrote:

minimac wrote:

brknwing wrote:

Age is but a number,


while rodney may in the twilight of his career and may not have the speed he used to have--- he his by no means "done". When it comes time to hang em up Rodney will let us all  know but untill then I would rather have a slower  Rodney Harrison in my backfield than most safetys in the NFL, ----not because we are senitmental fools and want him to play past his effectivness,  it's that rodney brings the intangibiles to the field---He's tenancious,intense,hits like a mack truck,trash talks with the best of them, and above all has unquestioned  leadership abilities, and I will take that version any day.     


Too old----I think not

"Age is but a number",  but in sports,,, "the younger the better" is the bottom line.


Imo, Rodney has not fully recovered from his injury, and never will completely.
He should be ok starting the season, but will probably slow down dramatically as the season progresses.  


Im in agreement with your assessment of what Rodney has meant to this team,
perhaps Im just a bit more realistic than emotional when anticipating older athletes capabilities.

I'm a realist also but with an emotional edge ---He certainly isn't the player of yesteryear but imo I think he has at least one more season left. It will be interesting to see the amount of play time he recieves or will he be playing situations. we will have to wait for the games to begin .. Then we will have a more honest assesement of his abilities.

NEPatsFan1950 wrote: I think a lot of people including Pats fans are going to be surprised at how Meriweather has stepped up in camp. At one point in camp Rodney had to tell him to calm down as he was shouting directions on plays. This kid will be starting, and Sanders will sub for Harrison to keep him fresh for the year.

You might be right 1950 but i think rodney, sanders and tank williams will see more action that meriweather.

don't get me wrong, i like the kid, but what the hell has he done?  it's camp.  I would like to see him use some of that energy during games and make some plays.

patsfan37 wrote:

 

You might be right 1950 but i think rodney, sanders and tank williams will see more action that meriweather.

don't get me wrong, i like the kid, but what the hell has he done?  it's camp.  I would like to see him use some of that energy during games and make some plays.