Rodney Harrison Retires

Discussion in 'National Football League' started by dwalsh, Jun 2, 2009.

  1. Hemi

    Hemi Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2007
    Messages:
    11,773
    Likes Received:
    537
    He apparently already signed with NBC. Do those clowns really need another guy as an analyst to join Bob Costas, Keith Olbermann, Peter King, Jerome Bettis Tiki Barber...ect. How many dudes do you need on one set? At least throw a chick on there.
     
  2. Learn To Swim

    Learn To Swim 2008 Nightowltom "Best Non-Jets Poster" Award Winn

    Joined:
    Sep 25, 2004
    Messages:
    5,596
    Likes Received:
    1
  3. rmagedon

    rmagedon Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 15, 2008
    Messages:
    5,896
    Likes Received:
    0
  4. JetsNation06

    JetsNation06 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 17, 2006
    Messages:
    7,346
    Likes Received:
    3,460

    :lol: :up:
     
  5. Royal Tee

    Royal Tee Girls juss wanna have fun
    Moderator

    Joined:
    Dec 31, 2002
    Messages:
    21,809
    Likes Received:
    4,336
    Patriots’ safety Harrison announces retirement
    By JIMMY GOLEN, AP Sports Writer
    43 minutes ago


    AP - Jun 2, 2:01 pm EDT 1 of 4 NFL Gallery FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP)—Two-time Pro Bowl safety Rodney Harrison(notes) announced his retirement on Wednesday, saying he is through hitting quarterbacks after a 15-year career for the New England Patriots and San Diego Chargers.

    “I am done, and I am very much so at peace with that,” he said in a conference call with reporters. “Football has been good to me. I’ve worked hard; I’ve played hard. I’ve done some things that I never dreamt I could do, and now it’s time to move forward to the next phase of my life.”

    Later Wednesday, NBC announced that Harrison will join its NFL studio show; he worked for the network during its Super Bowl coverage last year.

    Expect Harrison’s frank speaking to continue.

    “When I played I didn’t have many friends,” he said on the network’s conference call, “so I’m sure I’m not going to make friends now.”

    The 36-year-old Harrison holds the NFL record for defensive backs with 30 1/2 sacks; he also has 34 interceptions, making him the only player to have at least 30 of each. But the numbers only tell part of the story about a player who had a reputation as one of the hardest hitters in the league—and one of the dirtiest, too.

    “People have called me a dirty player. I’m a very passionate player,” Harrison said. “I also understand that this is not volleyball. This is a very violent, physical game, and if you hit someone in the mouth, you’re not going to be their friend. That’s what the game of football is.

    Although his passion was often misinterpreted as cheap shots, Harrison said it was part of his philosophy to “play every play like it’s my last play.”

    Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi(notes) called it “the Harrison formula.” New England linebacker Pierre Woods(notes) said Harrison was on a mission to keep the league from “getting soft.”

    If you can’t hit the quarterback,” Woods recalled Harrison saying, “what are you doing out there?

    Patriots coach Bill Belichick called Harrison one of the best players he’s ever coached, and cited his commitment to practicing hard as proof of his passion for the game.

    “In the biggest games, in any situation and on a weekly basis, his production was phenomenal,” Belichick said. “Rodney embodies all the attributes coaches seek and appreciate: toughness, competitiveness, leadership, selflessness, hard work, intensity, professionalism—and coming from Rodney, they are contagious.”

    Owner Robert Kraft said Harrison was one of his favorites.

    “For the past six years, Rodney was a leader in the locker room and a tenacious defender on the field,” Kraft said. “He gave the Patriots, and the game of football, everything he had on every play, which earned the respect of Patriots fans everywhere.”

    Harrison won two Super Bowls with the Patriots, but he missed the last 10 games in 2008 after tearing a muscle in his right thigh. Injuries, along with a four-game suspension in 2007 for using a banned substance, limited him to 31 games over the last four seasons.

    “I always wanted to prove to everyone that I could come back,” he said, “but I really didn’t have that fire anymore.”

    Although he was unapologetic about his multiple fines—more than $200,000 over his career, including lost pay from a one-game suspension in 2002 for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Jerry Rice(notes)—Harrison did call the drug suspension “a huge mistake.” He has admitted obtaining human growth hormone, saying it was to speed his recovery from an injury.


    “I had so much pride about trying to do things right,” he said. “I made such a huge mistake in that situation and disappointed so many people—more importantly, myself. It makes you realize that you’re human.”

    Harrison said that a few months ago his recovery was to the point where he considered playing again. Four or five teams expressed an interest, he said, but he realized he didn’t have the same desire.

    “I started realizing that there’s a point in time where you need to walk away and football was no longer the priority,” he said. “Golf was the priority and my family was the priority. I used to wake up and want to work out and I was hungry and always wanted to prove to everyone that I could come back, but I really didn’t have that fire anymore. It was definitely time for me to pursue other interests and it was time for me to move forward.”

    Harrison started out his call by joking that he had signed a two-year deal with the Patriots with the promise that he didn’t have to report until September.

    After a pause, he ‘fessed up, and he later added that there was no chance of a Brett Favre(notes)-like reversal.

    “I respect people in National Football League enough not to put them on this joyride the back and forth, the ups and downs of am ‘I coming back’ and ‘Will I not come back?” he said. “I am done and I am always going to be a fan of football.”


    Gratuitous Linky
     
    #25 Royal Tee, Jun 3, 2009
    Last edited: Jun 3, 2009
  6. kbgreen

    kbgreen Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2006
    Messages:
    1,659
    Likes Received:
    32
    good riddience!

    IMO Just another jerk added to a staff of stiffs. Costas and Bettis are OK but after that they are all asses.
     
  7. cassie96

    cassie96 Member

    Joined:
    Aug 9, 2008
    Messages:
    993
    Likes Received:
    12
  8. CJLang

    CJLang Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 1, 2007
    Messages:
    5,497
    Likes Received:
    549
    He would've been considered an all time great on this board if he wore the green and white.
     
  9. NDmick

    NDmick Revis Christ

    Joined:
    Apr 1, 2007
    Messages:
    22,432
    Likes Received:
    3
    shaun ellis doesn't get the credit he deserves for being a lifelong Jet, and then he still gets smashed for his weed bust.

    Harrison would get crucified on here even with the Green and White on, but we'd all agree he's apparently a nice guy. That would be the only positive, he's a nice man.
     
  10. Murrell2878

    Murrell2878 Lets go JETS!
    Moderator

    Joined:
    Feb 1, 2003
    Messages:
    24,478
    Likes Received:
    896
    I don't know. We always looked the other way with Mawae. But I hate Harrison and felt he earned his injuries.
     
  11. Pats4Ever

    Pats4Ever New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 3, 2008
    Messages:
    161
    Likes Received:
    0
    "Dirty players" - Mawae was hidden in the mass of humanity called the trenches otherwise he would have had as much ink as Harrison. Rodney was mano a mano fully exposed. Playing full throttle every play sometimes means a player gets hurt. Sometimes it's the hitter, sometimes its the hitee.

    It's not ping pong- it's football. Put away the crying towels.
     
  12. Murrell2878

    Murrell2878 Lets go JETS!
    Moderator

    Joined:
    Feb 1, 2003
    Messages:
    24,478
    Likes Received:
    896
    mano a mano? He was a head hunter and a dirty player. He earned his own injuries. And don't forget, he was voted league's dirtiest player by players around the league.
     
  13. kbgreen

    kbgreen Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2006
    Messages:
    1,659
    Likes Received:
    32
    I think your right he was an all out player on every play. I like that type of player. But since this is the Jets board and he was a patsy it is easy to dislike him. Also, I saw him on NBC during the playoffs and did not think he was cut out for the job.
     
  14. JetsNation06

    JetsNation06 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 17, 2006
    Messages:
    7,346
    Likes Received:
    3,460
    So would've Dan Marino and John Elway. Yet in the real world he didn't so he will always be on the all-time most hated list as a Jets fan.
     
  15. rmagedon

    rmagedon Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 15, 2008
    Messages:
    5,896
    Likes Received:
    0
    Green 'n White/Patriots Uni, it doesn't matter. Sure he was good, but the fans and players have considered him one of the dirtiest players around the league. U don't have to defend everything wrong with the Pats. Just be glad he was the dirtiest player on your side, that's all. If the roles were reversed I'm sure Pats fans would be making the same comments you found on this thread.

    Just learn to live with it and move on.
     
  16. CJLang

    CJLang Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 1, 2007
    Messages:
    5,497
    Likes Received:
    549
    Wow! You're a touchy little fella. I don't think there was any defending or excusing in my post... Just stating a fact. I also didn't say there was anything wrong with the opinions on this thread. Home fans always see the best in their players. Same everywhere.

    You read an awful lot into one sentence... and I thought it was just Patriots fans who were hyper-sensitive...:beer:
     
  17. rmagedon

    rmagedon Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 15, 2008
    Messages:
    5,896
    Likes Received:
    0
    I'm not as little as you think. I'm a 6'5", 235lb, wrecking machine that runs a sub 4.3. I work out everyday and run at least 25 miles a day. I can also throw a 97mph fastball (99 on a good day).

    I can get REAL touchy on your face if u ever decide to meet me at a nearby Applebee's. Harrison sucked. Got it?
     
  18. Murrell2878

    Murrell2878 Lets go JETS!
    Moderator

    Joined:
    Feb 1, 2003
    Messages:
    24,478
    Likes Received:
    896
    :rofl: :rofl:
     
  19. CJLang

    CJLang Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 1, 2007
    Messages:
    5,497
    Likes Received:
    549
    Sorry, I'm married. :shit:
     
    #39 CJLang, Jun 4, 2009
    Last edited: Jun 4, 2009
  20. Coach K

    Coach K New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 30, 2005
    Messages:
    6,214
    Likes Received:
    0
    i know this is a reference to RaiderJoe but i missed the post about him claiming he can chuck fastballs. what utter ignorance came out of his mouth?

    lol
     

Share This Page