Writing on his Twitter page Thursday, former Patriots safety Rodney Harrison wrote that, “The Patriots won’t go into a war of words with any team, they hear everything and then use it to play better on Sunday.”
That doesn’t mean Harrison is exempt from a little pregame trash talking.
We’re not sure about the sequence of events, but we believe it all started with comments Harrison made on the radio Friday. He later tweeted similar sentiments: “Kerry Rhodes is not really a tough guy, I saw him pass on plenty of tackles . . . I want to see what kind of game he brings Sunday.”
Ouch.
Rhodes quickly responded: “I’m detecting a lil jealousy from @rodneyh37 (Harrison’s handle) he must wish he was playing 2morrow. My talent outweighs his ask belichick.”
Belichick has often praised Rhodes, but we suspect he’ll take a pass at that question. Or use it to puff up one of his favorite former players.
In a later “Tweet,” Rhodes made a crack that the reference to passing on tackles may just didn’t like jumping on to piles late. (Pretty funny.)
Harrison’s response: “Kerry, you talk big for someone who has yet to even win in the playoffs you think you will ever accomplish what i accomplished?”
Rhodes later said he had respect for Harrison, but if we copy any more quotes from this battle, we’ll feel like a schoolteacher documenting a fight at recess. You can follow Rhodes and Harrison for the next chapter, if there is one.
We’re not sure how to feel about all the smack talk this week between the Patriots and Jets, and the ever-growing trend of Twitter wars.
On one hand, it’s a typical media-driven storyline that distracts from the game.
On the other, it’s a return to years past when there was a whole lot more good-natured trash talking and bile spewed between teams, before everyone got so sensitive that players should be seen and not heard. It’s fun.
In the end, we welcome getting to know the players (and ex-players) a little bit better through Twitter.
We’re just not sure their employers will agree in the long run.