Rodney Harrison

INDIANAPOLIS - Were he still patrolling the Patriots defensive backfield, maybe Rodney Harrison would preach the team's party line regarding its Super Bowl rematch with the Giants, which basically can be condensed to this: Payback is not on our minds, and what happened in XLII has nothing to do with motivating us for XLVI. Next question. But Harrison, who is three seasons removed from his final NFL game and has flourished in his second career as a studio analyst on NBC's "Football Night in America" because of his unfiltered candor, says the suggestion that revenge won't be a motivating...

INDIANAPOLIS - Were he still patrolling the Patriots defensive backfield, maybe Rodney Harrison would preach the team's party line regarding its Super Bowl rematch with the Giants, which basically can be condensed to this: Payback is not on our minds, and what happened in XLII has nothing to do with motivating us for XLVI. Next question. But Harrison, who is three seasons removed from his final NFL game and has flourished in his second career as a studio analyst on NBC's "Football Night in America" because of his unfiltered candor, says the suggestion that revenge won't be a motivating...

FOXBOROUGH -- For the first time this season the Patriots admitted on a Wednesday -- the day the NFL requires teams to release their injury reports -- that a player would not play that week. In fact, two players -- tackle Matt Light and reserve running back Kevin Faulk -- are out for Sunday's game against San Diego. Light has a broken bone in his right leg and a team source said Faulk has a broken bone in his left foot and could miss 6-8 weeks. The Patriots yesterday signed free agent Amos Zereoue as their third running back and released receiver Andre' Davis, who was acquired from...

Eli Manning could have a pretty clear view downfield against the hardly super secondary of the New England Patriots. Get ready, Julian Edelman. Here comes Victor Cruz. A young group including undrafted free agents, a Pro Bowl player in a sophomore slump and even a wide receiver was good enough to help beat Joe Flacco and the Baltimore Ravens — barely — in the AFC championship game. The New York Giants and Manning, with his big-game experience and receivers Cruz and Hakeem Nicks, pose a tougher challenge in the Super Bowl on Feb. 5. "The Giants are playing like...

FOXBOROUGH -- Rodney Harrison wasn't around yesterday -- and it showed. It left an opening for someone else to razz the rookies, double-check that the necessary reps were completed in the weight room, and subtly remind certain veterans they should peruse their playbook one more time -- just because. Harrison wasn't there to provide glib insights, searing indictments of the fools who dared to disrespect his football team, or thoughtful responses to queries regarding the attributes of teammates.

It is a beautiful Labor Day weekend in New England and the games are going on all around us and the prospects for autumn (and beyond) seem infinite . . . and then we find out that one of the local favorites is a cheater. Unless you are on the receiving end of one of his bone-rattling hits, it's just about impossible to dislike Rodney Harrison. He's a teammate's teammate, a stand-up guy, and a locker room leader. He takes no prisoners on the field and makes no excuses off it. He's good to the fans, gives great sound bites, and has been one of the...

A wideout floats across the middle looking to make a catch but gets wiped out by a spectacular hit from a defensive back. For as long as he can remember, Rodney Harrison most often has been in one of two positions for such occurrences: celebrating as the hitter, or celebrating as the teammate of the hitter. That's what big-time NFL safeties do. Yesterday, however, Harrison was involved in such a play and celebration would have been inappropriate. Harrison wasn't sporting the Patriots' home blue or road white, and neither he nor a teammate...

The Patriots defense, riding high after its recent performances, was dealt a blow yesterday when the NFL suspended rookie linebacker Brandon Spikes four games for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances. Spikes’s suspension begins immediately. He will not appeal because he will return for the start of the playoffs, according to agent Terry Watson. Spikes was absent from practice Wednesday and Thursday; on Wednesday, the team listed him on its practice report as missing the session for a “not injury related’’ issue.

FOXBOROUGH -- On a day when most players were tying up loose ends -- mainly Super Bowl tickets and hotel arrangements for family and friends -- before tomorrow's departure to Jacksonville, Fla., for Super Bowl XXXIX, the Patriots had a motivational gift dropped in their laps. Thank you, Freddie Mitchell. At the end of an ESPN interview yesterday, in which the Eagles wide receiver had trouble naming some of the players in the Patriots' secondary, Mitchell said, "I got something for you Harrison when I meet you, too. " Rodney Harrison's response was to tackle the issue...

FOXBOROUGH -- The play was one of the worst of the game for the Patriots' starting defense, but it turned out to be the most important for safety Rodney Harrison. Early in the second quarter of a 41-0 exhibition victory over the Redskins Saturday night, Harrison inched up to the line of scrimmage. It was third and 1, and the Patriots were anticipating a run. They got it, and Harrison charged into the gap between Redskins tight end Christian Fauria and left tackle Chris Samuels.

The Patriots defense, riding high after its recent performances, was dealt a blow yesterday when the NFL suspended rookie linebacker Brandon Spikes four games for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances. Spikes’s suspension begins immediately. He will not appeal because he will return for the start of the playoffs, according to agent Terry Watson. Spikes was absent from practice Wednesday and Thursday; on Wednesday, the team listed him on its practice report as missing the session for a “not injury related’’ issue.

Other than the 15th offensive snap of the season, when Tom Brady crumpled to the turf in pain, it would be hard to find another play that reflected the Patriots’ 2008 struggles better than this: Overtime. Third and 15. Momentum on the Patriots’ side after a late, fourth-quarter touchdown to tie the score. Jets backed up to their 15-yard line. The mid-November crowd at Gillette Stadium was frenzied. Then everything fizzled. A blown assignment and/or miscommunication left the nickel defense vulnerable, and quarterback Brett Favre connected with tight end...

FOXBOROUGH - Rodney Harrison always has played the game of football on his own terms, but what could be his final NFL season didn't end on his terms. A league source confirmed yesterday that Harrison suffered a torn quadriceps in his right leg during the Patriots' 41-7 win over the Denver Broncos Monday night. The injury will end Harrison's 2008 season, and very likely could signal the end of a Hall of Fame-worthy 15-year career. That seemed to be the thought in Harrison's mind as he was carted off the field after being injured on the final play of the third...

FOXBOROUGH - James Sanders has driven past where his mother works. He's never actually gone inside and that's exactly the way Kathy Thompson wanted it. Thompson has spent the last 14 years working as a correctional counselor at a Kings County California prison that contains gang members and maximum security inmates. For safety reasons, Thompson said she is not allowed to reveal the name or exact location of the prison. The county seat of Kings County is Hanford, Calif., which is about 35 miles south of Fresno.

It is a beautiful Labor Day weekend in New England and the games are going on all around us and the prospects for autumn (and beyond) seem infinite . . . and then we find out that one of the local favorites is a cheater. Unless you are on the receiving end of one of his bone-rattling hits, it's just about impossible to dislike Rodney Harrison. He's a teammate's teammate, a stand-up guy, and a locker room leader. He takes no prisoners on the field and makes no excuses off it. He's good to the fans, gives great sound bites, and has been one of...

FOXBOROUGH -- Rodney Harrison wasn't around yesterday -- and it showed. It left an opening for someone else to razz the rookies, double-check that the necessary reps were completed in the weight room, and subtly remind certain veterans they should peruse their playbook one more time -- just because. Harrison wasn't there to provide glib insights, searing indictments of the fools who dared to disrespect his football team, or thoughtful responses to queries regarding the attributes of teammates.

FOXBOROUGH -- If you think losing one game after winning 21 in a row is going to rattle Rodney Harrison, you probably need him to smack some sense into you. Except for Corey Dillon, a longtime Bengal, Harrison probably knows about losing better than anyone else on the Patriots roster. Try 59-84 in nine seasons with the San Diego Chargers, including 1-15 in 2000. Now that's losing. Harrison knows about losing because he's seen it, lived with it, tried fighting through it. You think a 34-20 loss to the Steelers in Pittsburgh that dropped the Patriots to 6-1 is going to shake Harrison's resolve?

FOXBOROUGH - Rodney Harrison always has played the game of football on his own terms, but what could be his final NFL season didn't end on his terms. A league source confirmed yesterday that Harrison suffered a torn quadriceps in his right leg during the Patriots' 41-7 win over the Denver Broncos Monday night. The injury will end Harrison's 2008 season, and very likely could signal the end of a Hall of Fame-worthy 15-year career. That seemed to be the thought in Harrison's mind as he was carted off the field after being injured on the final play of the third quarter while chasing...

FOXBOROUGH -- The play was one of the worst of the game for the Patriots' starting defense, but it turned out to be the most important for safety Rodney Harrison. Early in the second quarter of a 41-0 exhibition victory over the Redskins Saturday night, Harrison inched up to the line of scrimmage. It was third and 1, and the Patriots were anticipating a run. They got it, and Harrison charged into the gap between Redskins tight end Christian Fauria and left tackle Chris Samuels.

FOXBOROUGH -- Willie McGinest has never been one to go unnoticed. And not because of boastfulness or brashness. Oh, he is straightforward and always confident in what he and his team are capable of, but the Patriots' starting linebacker draws attention for his play, not his mouth. Yet, when he speaks, everyone listens. Lately, many want to know how much longer he intends to play the brutal sport that has taken a toll on his body for 12 seasons. With the Patriots entering the final game of the regular season against the Dolphins at Gillette Stadium Sunday, McGinest acknowledges...