8-25-08 Tedy Bruschi and Rodney Harrison

Accurate Gillette Stadium on a Patriots Monday Dale Arnold Michael Felger Michael and for Michael -- and joining us are two of our Patriots Monday irregulars safety Rodney Harrison. Linebacker Tedy Bruschi hello guys hello what's -- these guys don't. Bat against -- with a green dot talk. You finally had the chance to have the oh. Head phoning your ear in the green dot on your helmet what was the experience like I.

It was different it was different because you know usually defensively. A lot there a lot of guys that I look to the silent for a certain signals in certain. Certain personnel groupings and all that so. For everywhere just to focus on one person was it was a lot different and also. As a linebacker a lot of times them you know helmet to helmet sort of collisions and sometimes it gets loose or something like that so there was there was some times when it was -- as wasn't as clear as the beginning. But I think those are systems and -- they have to work out or you guys going to use -- I get the sense that. You may not even music -- it is no we we tried it out last week you know I think I think this week. We give it another go in that whether we want to move forward with it or the coaches have been asking us for feedback and we've we've let them know what I just told you there what way it happened out there so from the regular season you know we'll see so.

It was a UN Vrabel who has -- yeah okay so he could be on the field the same time. -- yet you yet they explain any real quick you know he'll again have to green dots at the same time so that we you guys on the field the same time and Mike just edited for Heilman are you at a different moment may have Braves had to helmet so you had to go to the sidelines and screw around with different helmets who's on who's up what are you wearing and that's. I guess part of the reason why you might not -- this just more trouble than it's worth at the end.

The other there was also time I don't they're during the game when. We -- We were going to go back to signaling and I had the other helmet now so I want in my other helmet because we have. Hell with that you work with -- we've all pre season it -- it's a little bit differently so. I wanted to switch so I ran out Don brochure our our head equipment guys premium leather helmet to switch so that was it that was it.

Rob what do masters give it to the safety well I was going to ask the safety Rodney which you'll find that dissipate. Other than slapping Teddy erratic which you'll find it disconcerting to hear that voice senior year of it if you had one of those helmets on. I mean it'd be something definitely -- really get used to. But Teddy does a good job you know communicated defense and calling out checks and so it really doesn't matter to me what happens I -- does a great job of communicating to us what he wants us to play do you guys think you need -- teams ever picked up your signals from the sidelines. Detected what you're calling have no idea. I mean you never got the sense that a team when your plane -- across the line sort of recognize it -- that you made or anything like that.

No I mean Darren during a game we can't really think about who's who sees something we just were worried about getting the signals over toward guys I mean but in terms of is it faster to do it to a verbally to your helmet rather than signaling signaling you know with arm gestures or something like that you know. Possibly or -- then again. A ruckus at one person's getting rather than maybe two or three the defensive backfield of them enormous -- of it in those.

I know that they don't. You know start keeping records for pre season games nor will they ever but. Having said that Rodney based on three pre season games should we be concerned about the way the team is playing not necessarily the results we -- Fans watching the games.

Which is let me just say this I mean. You know pre season is useful a lot of different different things and for us. You know we're focusing on trying to get better and that's all you can do in the weight room in the classroom and on the field and obviously we haven't played great but. There's some a lot of areas that we played -- that that we worked hard and we've come to -- going to continue to work car we're going to watch film we're going to get better and that's all we can do. You know -- the -- individual -- we have to get better and that's how you have to do. How difficult is it for a veteran guy like John Lynch to assimilate himself into a brand new system. With a relatively short amount of time to do I don't know you prior have as talents but I mean he's working hard he's doing a good job of you know trying to learn signals and learn communication and he's asking a lot of questions and I've been communicating with John and you know he's a veteran he knows the game and you know he's picking everything out.

Here's the thing that that jumped out to me just about again the performance -- the scores that historically here -- check you guys have done very well on the third pre season game. And you usually rebounded from a bad game with a very good one I've brought up the example of all four in Cincinnati it was a game where he. Bill that the defense and mass brought back out for the third -- lost 31 to three. We come back the next -- had a great pre season game in Carolina looked really good in the first half. Happen the next year you give a bunch of points while it's here in 5 you -- to Green Bay all the Packers at three point the track record here today. Is that. You turn around after that pre season game and in this case. You make it better from Tampa you've probably.

Worse. That's why we -- to focus on what we did last year compared to what we're doing this year we realized that I only every is every year different but every week it's different so. I mean for us to say. Okay than the previous years we did this oh we didn't do -- this time or are we going to do that that be something not to not to do and we don't want to dwell on. Past victories -- so we just move on what he.

Yeah and I was talking to Christian for about this the other night he said bill. After that Cincinnati lost was on the warpath that we get training camp and he you know it was -- can he make sure you're ready to go that next week and put some points. In that game. Is a little bit less. This way this year running given the length and -- how did you know that the whopper of the year you have last year's -- managing that whole thing all the differently this.

Last year has no bearing on this year I mean a totally different team we have new players. You know some players left some new players and I'm has no bear I mean but the emphasis still wear on me a sense of urgency to go up there. And make sure your communication make sure guys are doing their job making tackles and not breaking down a coverage in and do an all sorts of things so. I wouldn't say that his approach Hussein's our approach hasn't changed. And it was still focus all we have to do we're still making mistakes was still Dawson decent things but we gotta get better and that's that's what comes out of.

I'm always curious how the young guys. Fit into the puzzle here and you've had mini camp now -- you've had training camp for the most part. Tell me how you see some of the young guys let's let's go to your position in particular -- guys like Crable and and Jerod Mayo holiday fit men. I.

I guess most that most applicable to that question will be mail because he's playing next to me and now we've we've had a chance to work together now for a few weeks since mini camps and also in the offseason workouts when when we are there working out together and you know in terms of a young guy that that is that is if you want to young guy who's just willing to -- into. You know work well in the work and you know there -- a lot of adjustments and a lot of things you have to learn. With with our defense and and I can ask anything more from from terms of his attitude because so far I mean it still is early and and at the base faces you know the greatest performance or anything like that right now would be wrong but in in terms of his attitude and and what he does in the meeting room and and preparation I could be more happier with a --

I was going to ask you that -- when you're looking at a young player are you more concerned. With their willingness to prepare almost in the results out on the field at this stage show me that -- going to work show me -- going to be in the weight -- going to be in the film room that sort of thing. We have as part of his job title mean to come in and work part show up and just work and that's really our mentality is veterans to mean. You know. I mean he'll have to say a lot you to school -- in and work hard and do your responsibility and take care of business and that's what. You know the the young guys are required to do this with the veterans are required to do and that's what you know coach expects all of us on -- just got to play something that he's been with a one study for. Three weeks someplace started every pre season games with the one's probably the cycle we -- camp and you know the kids are going to be there unless bill -- Celtics you something and.

Yeah I expect a lot of and so does he himself also he expects expects a lot of out of out of himself I mean we come to the sideline and there's even. I misread that he has or something like that he's he's asking me questions and in terms of what did you see I mean. And what what would you have done on this -- Europe in my position because he knows I've played it before so and his expectations for himself very high council.

Tedy Bruschi and Rodney Harrison brought -- by TD BankNorth banking it's faster easier and hassle free. Rodney in your case you've been kind of working your way back into the regular lineup here as you pointed out to us last week. Getting better physically every day is that the sort of thing or as a veteran. You may feel and I don't know that I need for pre season games to get ready for more regular season war at this stage in my career.

As a veteran I mean has run the Hairston I just I like to play football so. Whenever a coach wants me to play him I'm ready to play you know I'm not hurt or on -- on injured so it really doesn't matter I can't control how many games I play. All I can do is -- help because there ranges player I'm always prepared to play sixty minutes. And for -- for four pre season game so. I have no control that and that's like four or -- you guys happy for scientists and they'll. Of course he's two great friend of -- than me he was soldier here. He worked his butt off and he went out they needed -- old fashioned way he earned it. So of course going to be happy for a guy we saw him come -- grow up. In to a mature young man the guy that on -- out -- and made a lot of plays continuing to make plays and you know we love like he's a little brother.

Well I mean and you fans feel differently obviously -- the reaction in the stadium to him when he made the first and on Moss and then. You know some other times -- throughout the course the night there on him pretty hard and they look at him as. Disloyal or turn Carter after the money or whatever you know fans put on that. Mean I think that's crazy personally am in a guy who works that hard to get that one payday of his activity here we expect him to do.

As a as a fellow team and I saw I saw something before before the game now one of two men two things -- was you know wish you were still here and then also congratulations because -- that he was happy and he got everything -- he wanted and that's all you can hope for -- when he when your friends you know he was. Was our friend when he was here and he went out there he. He he went through the process of the franchise tag to reach whatever that the restricted free agency whatever it was that steps that he had to go through to get two free agency. You know he he got through and then -- she comes around and that's when a player that.

Rodney do you feel that this pre season as a whole again I'm taken results on the next. Work the things you guys have accomplished the things you've been working on getting his pre season is gone the way you wanted to so far. I may have on Arnold. I don't look at it like that I just look at it as. You know you can't necessarily somewhat how well you play by you know the points and pre season game it's about. Didn't batter it's about. Consistently you know being able communicate from a defensive standpoint. Do want some different things we got different guys in different positions. So for me can't necessarily some summon up but of course we can get better lot of different areas and we will get better I mean we still have time. We worked in our butts off from the film -- were communicating a lot we're talkin' back it's -- in my case and that they listed were back there you know trying to figure out. What we need to do to get to the next level you guys think Tom Brady not being on the field. Impacts just. The -- of the team I mean -- guys -- over there and say oh he's not playing so this the different -- night in that impacts of the power of our.

that question of the -- mental toughness and that's and I would I would I would question his team's mental toughness -- anything mean. Some things that we've gone through some things that we need to persevere through and still win football games. I think -- were mentally -- squad and Tuesday that it would.

Last week the National Football League players association. Lost its head gene Upshaw passed away after idea a battle with the pancreatic cancer. Rodney as a veteran and a guy's been around this league for a long time all his legacy be for the players Association's.

I mean that you mean that he was a tremendous man that he worked his butt off I mean he was very influential. And change in the game the collective bargaining agreement and this that this guy he held a prestigious title and he treat people fair and and you know he had a lot of criticism but. The man and the as a very intelligent man very articulate. And he was well respected around the league so. I think it just gives the public as well as you know. Football players an opportunity to appreciate perspective that you know any day you gotta tell allow your loved ones that you level that you careful because. You know tomorrow's not promised force -- your thoughts on gene Upshaw.

Yeah he was he was the trailblazers I mean in terms of what we have now -- players in terms of of playing early in our careers and achieving that free agency that we are talking about. He was -- a big reason why that the players the players have some of the some of the benefits that we have right now and he'll be greatly missed.

Talk about back to the games will put the reds on defense. For as many yards and and plays that you gave up in the first happy to tighten up -- that -- series study each -- you got your hands on the ball. In the end zone down -- they are you still think mean most people look at that being the most important part. Of defense period mean -- the bend but don't break thing about this defense for years. That is essential obviously rod.

Yeah I mean that's that was definitely a point of emphasis going into this year comment to this training camp and even in on mini camps making sure that. My ribs on the fences on vastly improved I mean we couldn't get any worse than last year. But I think I think we're right on the right page on great communication. You know Teddy got his hands on the ball it if you would that. Block to -- priority and it set up. Because you have got to screw me up again. But job overall you know that's somethin' -- to build on some positive and and we need to continue on.

I always wonder about that -- if you're in the back. Andy's got a three and are you yell at old Olympic -- Florida -- that night is always going to get his hands on the ball is everywhere now there was were in Eugene Wilson. Literally was Eugene ripping an interception out of your hands. As either don't know as a player and get it but inundated -- about that as always you know. Those two plays by the way Rodney tipping away a pass intended for LJ Smith and Teddy tipping away a pass intended for LJ Smith as well in the league all part of our McDonald's defensive stop the game stop the game -- you by McDonald's I'm lovin' it are you every -- Adam don't don't let it go argue all of them. That's always Catalanotto. Not more question your goal -- before long ago.

You have to treat this fourth pre season game more seriously than you might the fourth is usually into the end -- the bench and we know how it goes on here in the fourth pre season game. But given the given what you haven't done in the first three do you feel. There's more of emphasis on doing something good going into the regular season momentum a.

I think still getting into a year getting into your schedule you know I mean. Today it's sort of like a Wednesday so get in the -- sort of preparation which you do for four regular season games and treat it like that and treatment the coming days after that game like -- regular season game gets you get you some momentum going into the regular season game I think that's we will handle it in terms of the past three games them compared how we should prepare hard for this game I think we're prepared this -- the same history and hopefully put up better performance.

So does not necessarily a sense of urgency run need to have some good results on the field to field the team going to need it. I mean we're not panic you know I mean you sound like you have a panic you'll always -- paddock thought I mean again I mean. You want to go into a regular season haven't being outscored as a starting unit that put 49 what this is like this is a great great opportunity for us to go against the Giants. Tremendous offense tremendous team want to Sobel last year so. Anytime you get a chance to get out there and get on the field experience I think it's huge force. I think is some that we can definitely look at ticket in to a the following week and into Kansas city's see what we do it right fuel we did it wrong and adjust from there.

You won't have any clothes for David Tyree before the game or any thing. Now if not there's a story here that I want to get to some that some day -- I tried talking to about it earlier bullet for note David. It was a time when it was reported human right the -- to daily volume here these days ago Rodney Harrison Tedy Bruschi we appreciate time is always guys thank you very nice guys are weekly conversation with Tedy Bruschi is brought to you by SP ally of Massachusetts. And no nonsense life insurance company like it's hard. But SP ally has the perfect game plan to protect your family's future low cost eight plus rated life insurance call triple late yet SP -- or is it as BO like dot com.