8-18-08 Rodney Harrison, Patriots safety

We're down here to -- stadium and one of our Patriots Monday regulars his back when -- first time we've got a chance to visit this season. Rodney Harrison is in the house and welcome nice -- first time I was two of the last --

What -- you worked in music at the Steelers it was coming. They don't diet is only as good as the guys has gone on big and out ails you build up with them.

Just like on the field they tell me what you thought when you saw that that you were going to get a guy like John Lynch as a teammate junior senior defensive back field. Well Belichick came -- basically told me that with thinking about getting down lance and I got excited because anytime you can get a player of this caliber and all NFL experience that he has I mean as a tremendous help for this team. I -- can play free safety strong safety your players are multiple positions and the guy was great leadership skills. Now the irony areas. He's a guy we've talked about the past. Could -- and nine time pro bowler and Jordan not and and it's a lot of times -- up PR war between you two is it. I don't the good -- you don't always get the good that's that's.

Final me at all I don't really mind that I've gotten over the fact that most people NFL they don't like me and even want to have my best years they were able to me an assist somethin' is very subjective look for me east is going out there win in. You know -- respect my teammates mark Colts but coaches as well as you know Super Bowl rings. You know that's what's important.

Me you know it's fascinating to me Rodney when when junior stay out came on board. And -- Junior Seau and Tedy Bruschi in the same linebackers meetings I was a -- of a fly on the wall there here in these guys talking about line backing. Review and John Lynch I'd love to be a fly on the lot of you guys talking about safety play if you talk to him before. He became a Patriot and it is he is he a guy that you had dialogue with.

I've talked to John before. You know at the Pro Bowl and a couple of the places and actually got hurt he actually called over here. When her -- the few years ago. To actually check on me and I thought I was awfully nice -- him to do something like that but. It's still early in the process I haven't played I haven't practiced recently so. Therefore I've been a little removed from the team so. You know in the future will definitely have a lot of interaction out pick his brain because he's a very smart guy intelligent football player. And I'm sure he'll pick mine and will communicate and hopefully we can knock some helmets off.

Now for guys. Oh play your position I can understand why you would study tight ends I don't understand why you -- studies of people on offense do you study other guys at your position to see what they're --

Oh no question I mean you look at some great young safeties and as well as -- that -- run -- And you -- pick up something from anybody and you you know I've found myself watching John glanced up watched Troy Polamalu and some of that type of things that he reads on the on defense and and Bob Sanders and some of those young studs out there. As Wallace on the guys that are really well known out there so is just a matter watching film. Continue to. Give familiar with the formations. On the route adjustments all the different combinations going out there and just reacting and -- have a great instincts.

You've been around this business long time you you've seen teammates come and -- was weird seeing Eugene Wilson out there and at Tampa bay uniform last night. It was weird thing Eugene Wilson -- put on his back when Wes Welker. I. -- I'm not real figure but on his back sneaking whereas Hughes snuck up behind them but. They'll load different Eugene Eugene you know he's a tremendous football players just didn't work out here. You know he has all the talent in the world -- he's the you know to continue to focus then and work hard and hopefully you'll find his way in Tampa bay by guys extremely talented guy I've enjoyed plant where. And you know. --

Did you could you give us a sense of what your preparation is like in the offseason between Rodney Harrison ten years ago and Rodney Harrison. No actually work harder now -- you probably have to now well I just our stay in shape year round I. I'm pretty much -- one. Probably the same thing out I've done in the past just and it's a mix of things I'm now doing more core exercises a lot more flexible when I was back whilst we -- 22. Probably don't want more yoga type stuff and and religious eaten better and that's that's funny because as you get older you supposedly it wiser. And Tom I think I have football wise. And I'm just taking care my body not the knowledge that substances and like alcohol stuff like that it is making sure -- keep my body here. Who turned -- on a yoga me why why did you decide to go that route. Why have a trainer back in on the -- need to sit you know to help with you know you core stability as well as of flexibility and as you get older you really need to keep makes suited to muscles pliable and flexible and and that it definitely Edison new year's mark career because even when I came back from the knee injury I still felt my St. flexibility and I still felt pretty.

not a quote Allen Iverson it is pre season and we are talking about -- pressed not to gain -- You still you know want to get some things done in pre season games and am assuming everybody's little disappointed with how things have gone so far.

Well I mean we haven't played tactically well and you know include last night mentally. I don't know what happened but I mean it didn't look good but. Thank god we have a lot of film -- sit back and watch we have a lot of areas to improve on and is still a lot of positive things that you can really focus on so. We're not going to beat ourselves up but we will take this fail we will watch it and we will be better from how.

For you running and this is this is so hard the grass and and comprehend. You're talking about improvement -- you guys have to talk about improvement coming off the season in which you went eighteen and one. And that's across the board everyone says that's not good enough. I can see coming back from a seven and nine season nine and seven even twelve for eighteen and one and it is that a little. Strange to you to -- that we have to do something different. Following the year that we had.

does seem weird at all because last year was last year and now we've had a lot of success last year. And we should be probable we accomplished last year we played hard despite all the distractions and everything that we had to go through. But yet you still last season was last year now no one cares about what happened last year now it's about. You know plant Philippe finished -- with the Giants on the Giants in pre season move on the Kansas City and that's what's important. RI in our focuses on what's happening now not what -- not what's what went on last year and all those different my aspects of last year. On people are going to say this mad about that. Last year medals that disappointment but we accomplish something that no other team has ever accomplished and we play hard despite the distractions I'm very proud of his team this organization.

You know what I believe you on the last year's -- come and actually do but. I know there had to be some process. To get that that bitter taste of of David Tyree on a year out of your mouth and didn't hit that image out of your mind. How long did it take for that to happen and what did you do to make that happen.

I didn't do anything I just I -- that you obviously have Marc -- heartless and a player arm like. I played hard okay and you get a god it. You know they came in that really wasn't even all film that we had even prepare for the catches you know ball like that in the -- another touchdown I mean. You know sometimes you have guys that you know. I'm not going to say get lucky book come in and have the game at a life and and you give -- a ball up a hundred more times and he'll never catch that he knows just something that maybe they were destined to win but we play hard. We fought our butts off I don't have any regrets about that game -- I did everything I possibly Ku within myself the entire season to prepare for that one moment. And it didn't happen and house on other side when it did happen and pass as part via tape with the bat.

and we don't have any regrets. But there were there wasn't a moment where you -- me -- my arm there or he believed that happened I did everything I cock --

We do I mean that the -- in his -- if he had it won him I mean that would never happen again I just don't ever seen that happen again. Is -- you know. That reception would. From the Steelers with -- Freddy Garcia delivers on that it never happened again. And is this something that. You know you look at and he's kind of shake your head but she you know you're probably itself because you tried everything I was well prepared and dumped just move off from.

It's Patriots Monday Rodney Harrison is joining us brought to you by TD BankNorth banking that's faster easier and hassle free. You've been used to have a bullseye on your back all time even with the Patriots everybody shoots for the Patriots. But you almost find that it's even intensifying. You -- stand up pre season game in Tampa and the Buccaneers were all cranked up to play you guys.

question that's what we're going to get the entire season because every one. Feels that you know even -- the Giants beat us that we're still you know the elite team and that's what people. You know teams are going to gauge themselves against the Patriots and every time they get opportunity com there's going to be pumped up so that's why we have to understand it each week we have to play our very best because we're gonna get opposing teams very best. And they gonna come going to force an element they're going to gays themselves that they want to get to our quarterback. They want to score points and our defense that criticize announced they they say we can't do that we lost a step. I mean but you have that every single year so we does that give back to plan Patriot football and give better.

You you've been a guy who's kind of helped the younger players along in your time here even a guy that they've gone to and I'm always curious to get your assessment. Of where you think some of the younger and I know. In Rodney Harrison speak they haven't done anything yet but how are they progressing.

Your mind I mean I'm I'm not going to speak really arm. Their physical abilities but as far as mentally the guys -- working extremely hard. And in the film -- to learn and communicate and I think that's probably the biggest. Not -- young guys on their ability to communicate which you know you have to be very proud of Brandon meriwether. I'm coming in this year relief in a standup guy really communicate and you see is game is that often because it is communication analysis. Up -- the rest of the guys to really catch on and learn the game from a mental standpoint.

and wondered do you have any opinions on the defensive players. Being my stuff. And having the ability to hear from the coaches just like. Quarterbacks -- is that something that. You like to do from the safety position because that's one of the few positions where you could be conceivably be on the field. For the entire game for every snap whereas linebackers probably can do that.

Well just appeared to me whether it's me -- someone else that the coach may feel will be in the game the entire you know on the entire time. You know I think that's something that we definitely should have I think we shouldn't have to really look at the silent professional football player as we should have to look at the silent. And it signals I think that's come -- old and dated. So I think they have the ability to have that communication in your helmet to be able to relay that especially with that of the fan noise the crowd noise and and people screaming all the distractions to have that to be able communicate to your players I think I will be a good -- Well how do you think you -- as a detail. Probably couple months ago I set I this I'm guessing that offense would go down by three points a game. If defensive players at the same ability to communicate that -- up at the players do what do you think. You know I really haven't Tom taken much thought into that but I think you definitely would help the fence I think communication I think points are scored every single game because of bomb laps and communication. I think what you to have the ability to communicate and make sure everyone gets the call consistently over 67 he plays I think it would definitely help the defense. In result maybe who -- slowdown scored.

Bill Belichick has said it wasn't a high priority for him early on in training camp. He said you know we're probably going to signal plays in at least for awhile if you guys begun to use the helmet communications now at least in practice and get used to it.

To practice so I don't -- yeah I cannot that -- not that I heard of I don't think. You know I think it's still fashioned way communication on the silent which you know it's all good either way in the -- we get the call that we can play a 100%.

What aspect of your game are you trying Q. Improve this year and what what what they do you want to bring to the table that then maybe you felt like it in your self valuation that you have. Had in the last couple years.

I mean I can't I mean I can't sit here and just point one specific thing -- I think. You know just making sure that I'm a leader out there making sure that I'm very consistent. In my it's on the -- that improperly properly aligned you know make a -- good solid tackles and not trying to. Over pursuant allowed a run back to cut back in it just being consistent that's -- always promise self form. -- and that doesn't take one necessary thing to improve -- but I think make sure I'm really solidly converts planning a summit lead tied in while slot receivers in the league. As Wallace has been in a solid tackler it is consistently been the leader. Conventional wisdom is that the third pre season game as more important than the other three. Is that conventional wisdom correct and I don't know about all that was crap but. Additionally every game is important I think that you have to each game you hope that you wish to get better you wish you communication gets better and tackle and as well as. You know kitchen and thinner and a quarterback exchanges and everything just kind of flow of the lot better. And that's the goal each game you want to get better and hopefully you know this week we'll have a chance to do it. So you -- playing game three. Working dated data get better.

and I always -- back. I thank Bill Belichick after after a rare loss. Coach and play better on others it's true yeah it's. In any Olympics.

Yes I am you liken it on the enjoyment in watching USA basketball team. Women and men's as well as on the -- though he has -- and as an. To Mays I think basis probably the greatest accomplishment I've ever seen I mean they -- them. Actually put Tiger Woods among then 2000 aliens not even close I think as the greatest athletic achievement ever wise and close. It's not a mean guy won eight gold medals I mean seven in world records it's I mean come home like. You need to be fired even question.

I'm not out I don't I'm talking to you. And really there's nobody here here's. A lot of people didn't have an opportunity to win that many that it happened many events that's what -- that this and that if they had. You know ten events premiere events -- for -- I might have a gold medals. Maybe maybe not. Who knows you -- mark spitz and I did not old enough to the marks that yes -- and -- it was same color into. -- dominant right yeah agencies say in bull run on com and stopped running ten years from the finish line. Like NC is. While that's all it's 96. In. And it looked like if you could actually finish and ran a 100% -- guidelines. I'm definitely -- six foot five to begin. While he's an amazing. Specimen. Whom I guess my Ferrari and I have. -- it's always great visibility guys are Rodney Rodney Harrison joining us here on Sports Radio WEE.