Category Archives: Rodney Harrison

Injuries will cause Patriots to adjust

With safety/linebacker/special teamer

Posted in AFC East, Bill Belichick, Boston Sports, Brandon Meriweather, James Sanders, New England Patriots, New England Sports, Patriot Nation Blogs, Patriots Training Camp, Rodney Harrison, Special Teams | 4 Comments

Patriots prep for Ravens

Although there is still time before the August 26th deadline to reduce the rosters to 75 players, this first exihibition game will provide an opportunity for Patriots Nation to view the new joiners to the team.
Veterans such as Fernando Bryant, Victor Hobson and Tank Williams will provide experience, while rookies Jerod Mayo, Terrence Wheatley,

Posted in AFC East, Bill Belichick, Boston Sports, Brandon Meriweather, New England Patriots, New England Sports, Patriot Nation Blogs, Patriots Roster, Patriots Training Camp, Randy Moss, Robert Kraft, Rodney Harrison, Special Teams | 2 Comments

Safety secured for Patriots

When we look at different positions on the Patriots defense, one area that will be stronger in 2008 is the safety position.
Rodney Harrison returns with one year left on his contract, but is healthy and able to start from the first day. James Sanders started at free safety in 2007 and had a solid performance, but may be challenged for a starting spot in training camp by Brandon Meriweather.
Meriweather should be concentrating on his role at safety rather then cornerback and safety as he did last season in his rookie year. If he does well in training camp he may be starting come opening day. Definitely starting mid-way through the season.
Veteran Tank Williams joins the roster at safety and has practiced as an additional linebacker in special situations. Although Williams may not be the same type of player as Harrison, I look forward to see how he is used by new coach Dom Capers.
Special teams player Ray Ventrone may get a chance to break the roster and find time rotating in the line-up, but this may be his last year of opportunity with the Patriots.
Undrafted rookie Mark Dillard is also trying to make the roster, but he may be lucky to make the practice squad.
I see Capers and even Harrison challenging the other players to step up and play a more physical game in coverage and moving up in the box to help make tackles and blitz more often.
So why is safety a strength in 2008?
The only real loss from 2007, was Eugene Wilson. Wilson was a known starter and fell out of favor due to too many missed plays as well as injuries. He finished the season rotating into different packages or not playing at all.
Wilson was a bit of an enigma, as he played well his first season having converted from cornerback to safety and replaced Lawyer Milloy to start the season next to Harrison. Wilson helped the Patriots win a Super Bowl that same year.
Since then Wilson has lacked the confidence, leadership and health worth giving him a contract extension. Wilson is now playing cornerback for the Bucs.
IN BILL WE TRUST!!

Posted in AFC East, Bill Belichick, Boston Sports, Brandon Meriweather, James Sanders, MVN, New England, New England Patriots, New England Sports, Patriot Nation Blogs, Patriots Roster, Robert Kraft, Rodney Harrison | Leave a comment

A day of Patriotism across all nations

Happy 4th of July!! Today is the day when the nation and Americans across the globe will wear red, white and blue in honor of the independence fought for and won by a nation of people willing to sacrifice everything for a chance to obtain freedom.
The success of our forefathers who created this great nation may not recognize America the way it is today. It may be true that some scholars believe the creation of the United States was not to become a dominant world player, but our forefathers would be proud that America and Americans have and continue to contribute to freedom around the globe.
God bless our troops and and those families that have their

Posted in AFC East, Bill Belichick, Boston, Boston Sports, CNBC, NFL News, New England, New England Patriots, New England Sports, Patriot Act, Patriot Nation Blogs, Patriots Training Camp, Randy Moss, Robert Kraft, Rodney Harrison | 1 Comment

Patriots release Willie Andrews

As Jamie reported earlier in the week, Patriots defensive back and special teams player

Posted in Bill Belichick, Boston, Boston Sports, MVN, New England Patriots, New England Sports, Patriot Nation Blogs, Patriots Roster, Patriots Training Camp, Rodney Harrison | 2 Comments

Rodney Harrison: Strong(-hearted) safety

A story caught my eye this morning that was such a breath of fresh air that I had to pass it along to everybody. Rodney Harrison, the Patriots’ hard-hitting strong safety and often considered the NFL’s “dirtiest player,” showed his heart, character, and sportsmanship when he agreed to write the introduction to Giants’ WR/special teams ace/Super Bowl hero David Tyree’s book, entitled, “More Than Just A Catch,” which is due out in September. Pats fans will remember Tyree (or try to forget) for his touchdown catch

Posted in NFL News, New England Patriots, Rodney Harrison | Leave a comment

Free Agency not urgent for Patriots

With free agency seemingly dead in the water, there are still a few NFL teams looking to fill needs, but will they wait for the draft or take a veteran they know will add value?
It is interesting to see how 2008 has been similar for the Patriots to free agency periods before 2007. There was too much hype on the Patriots in 2007 and now media pundits feel the Patriots have had a terrible offseason due to losing Asante Samuel, Randall Gay and Eugene Wilson from their secondary and cutting Rosevelt Colvin.
Jamie recently gave a review on the Patriots free agency moves and outlines his thoughts and grades. Although the Patriots have found a few additions in the secondary with CB Fernando Bryant (lions), S Tank Williams (Vikings), CB Lewis Sanders (Falcons), CB Jason Webster (Bills), these players seem to be often injured and decent replacements for the likes of Gay and Wilson or at the very least special teamers.
Dom Capers knows a few of these players and they all seem to be tough physical kind of guys he likes to have to play up in the box. I am hoping that Capers is able to improve the secondary and I agree with Jamie, ‘if Bryant is the starter alongside Ellis Hobbs to start the season, I don

Posted in AFC East, Bill Belichick, Boston Sports, Brandon Meriweather, Draft, James Sanders, MVN, Mike Vrabel, NFL Free Agency, NFL News, New England Patriots, New England Sports, Patriot Act, Patriots Draft, Patriots Roster, Randy Moss, Robert Kraft, Rodney Harrison, Special Teams | 6 Comments

Patriots targeting draft prospects

The Patriots have been quiet during free agency,

Posted in AFC East, Bill Belichick, Draft, James Sanders, MVN, Mike Vrabel, Mock Draft, NFL Free Agency, NFL Mock Draft, NFL News, New England Patriots, Patriot Act, Patriot Nation Blogs, Patriots Draft, Patriots Mock Draft, Patriots Roster, Robert Kraft, Rodney Harrison, Special Teams | 3 Comments

Patriots players contribute off the field

Football players from the New England Patriots and around the NFL are associated with multiple charity organizations and attend charity events.
Offensive Lineman Matt Light and his Light Foundation have been hosting various events over the last few years.

This year in June, the Light Foundation will bring together Native American youth and youngsters from Rhode Island for a two-week outdoor experience with a five-day football camp. The event will support the local Northern Cheyenne Boys & Girls Club.
Light recently spent a week on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation hunting buffalo. The meat from that harvest will help feed hundreds of local children from the Boys & Girls Club
Light is also planning a July golfing event in Ireland. As part of the Southwest Ireland Charity Golf Tour, Light, a few other NFL players and fans will be touring Ballybunion Old Course, the Waterville Course, The Dooks Links, Tralee, and Ring of Kerry. All proceeds will go to the Light Foundation.

Posted in Charitable Orgs/Events, Information Sources, MVN, NFL Free Agency, NFL News, New England Patriots, Patriot Nation Blogs, Patriots Roster, Rodney Harrison, San Diego Chargers | Leave a comment

Rumors on S Tank Williams signing with Patriots

Boston.com’s Mike Reiss has reported on the rumor of safety Tank Williams coming to the Patriots. News on the former Viking came through the Vikings Blog at the Startribune.com.
If true, at 6-foot-2, 223 pounds, the 27 year-old will be one of the biggest safeties on the team. Williams was originally selected in the second round of the 2002 draft by the Titans.
Coming out of college Williams was known as a fast (4.45 in 40yd) youngster smart enough to start in a complicated Titans defensive system in his rookie year. He was full-time starter during his first two years and in his forth year as well before leaving the team for Minnesota.
Williams injured his knee prior to the 2006 season and did not play and only participated in 13 games with two starts in 2007.
He is no longer on the Vikings website, so this may be true…
A few Pats fans on the boards think this is a good signing and has Belichick written all over it.
I think the recent defensive back signings also have to do with Dom Capers hard hitting mentality and this may just be one of the most aggressive Patriots secondaries we have seen since Ty Law, Tyrone Poole, Asante Samuel, Randall Gay, Eugene Wilson and Rodney Harrison played together.
IN BILL WE TRUST!

Posted in AFC East, Bill Belichick, Information Sources, James Sanders, MVN, NFL Free Agency, NFL News, New England Patriots, Patriots Roster, Robert Kraft, Rodney Harrison, Special Teams | 18 Comments