Comments on: Rodney Harrison says "I just want these guys to be protected"

By: Mike Daly

Mike Daly — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 18:04:18 +0000

Rodney, they don’t need to be protected, they need to be allowed to play.

By: Codebeard

Codebeard — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 15:03:43 +0000

SteelCurtnDee says:
October 19, 2010 2:53 PM
It does seem hypocritical to me though, that Harrison talks so much about these guys being suspended… He points to himself having concussions… What about the guys he went headhunting for? I think even if he HAD known more about concussions when he played, chances are he wouldn’t care about “safety” if he planted a guy and forced a fumble.
—
He addressed that himself. He openly admitted that it didn’t occur to him. In fact, I doubt any player actively thinks about safety. But that’s why the league needs to step up and address the issue for the players. Players are not worried about getting hit and ending up with a concussion; they’re worried about making the big hit to force a turnover or making the catch for a TD to win the game. This is the same for all players. They throw their bodies around with reckless abandon for the sake of winning a ball game. Let the league officials deal with safety.

By: Mysterious Stranger

Mysterious Stranger — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 22:38:28 +0000

I respect Rodney’s opinion, but not on this issue. Opinions change from when you are playing to when when you are not. I believe if he was still playing, his opinion today would be that of James Harrison’s. It’s a different world through the helmet. A big hit has the potential to change a game more than someone’s life. I believe Roger Goodell should wear helmet and shoulder pads for every fine he dishes out. They are weapons, not defensive protection.

By: NoRingForYou

NoRingForYou — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 17:59:39 +0000

“I told him, ‘If your son was DeSean Jackson, would you be saying that?’”
Says the League’s former dirtiest player

By: habman

habman — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 17:42:55 +0000

Just a reminder for some of you idiots. “I don’t give a damn who likes it or not”. Way to go Rodney!

By: funi

funi — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 16:40:00 +0000

What Roidney Harrison os tryingto say is, “shoot uo twice with HGH then call me in the morning!”

By: CKL

CKL — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 16:03:53 +0000

# CraigMaitland21 says: October 19, 2010 2:58 PM
This all coming from one of the dirtiest players ever… and a convicted Steroid User!!! It blows me away that hes involved in football at any level.
______________________
Steroids? Really? When did that happen?
Oh you mean HGH, which HE had to confess to on his own because there is no test for it the NFL Union will allow NOR is it a steroid? Ignorance, it’s what’s for dinner. If you are going to trash a player for something at least be correct.
Yes sometimes Rodney played past the echo of the whistle and I didn’t like that part…but he was very smart & a playmaker in NE and their secondary suffered when he wasn’t there. I didn’t think he was dirty even before he was a Patriot though he did trash talk a lot.
I am a bit surprised he would take that stance.

By: Jack Burton

Jack Burton — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 15:59:36 +0000

Funny Courtland Finnegan Sr. would even jump into this argument being he was the epitomy of dirty in his heyday.

By: Footballz

Footballz — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 15:59:34 +0000

I agree with the poster who mentioned Antione Winfield. I think he may be one of the best tacklers in the NFL. Not one of the biggest hitters though. I have watched him since he started playing for the Vikings and can’t recall 1 concussion that he has caused. I could be off in this though.
To the poster who mentioned the comparison of Steve Young to Rodney Harrison you should realize that I am sure the concussions for Young knocked him out cold. I am sure the ones Harrison is referring to are much more minor then those. While they are more minor, they are still a very serious problem.

By: RacerX

RacerX — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 15:59:20 +0000

I’m against anything that puts more in the hands of the referees. They have entirely too much sway over the outcome of a game as it is.
Everything is getting way overmanaged in this game…may be on CFT more than PFT if this trend continues.

By: TheBigOldDog

TheBigOldDog — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 15:59:19 +0000

I never in my life though Rodney was a stone-cold hypocrite or would claim he wasn’t responsible for his own actions because it was what “he was taught.” I admired him becuase he was always appeared to be honest, straightforward and consistent. I made an enormous mistake in judgment about his character.
The media is like politics in that it sooner or later destroys even the best of men who enter the profession.

By: Filthy Fernandez

Filthy Fernandez — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 15:39:07 +0000

@ kosarsmyidol:
I like Harrison as a commentator up to this point. Now he’s just a freakin’ kite blowing with the wind.
If he isn’t in the top 3 of guys with the most unsportsmanlike conduct and/or personal fouls called against him, I’d be shocked.

By: Rex Grossman

Rex Grossman — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 15:37:08 +0000

How does former NFL star and NBC analyst Rodney Harrison wash down his steroids?
With the lemon-lime soda every steroid abuser loves, Sprite.
“I love Sprite. It really calms my nausea after downing a dose of nandrolone. Now I’m huge and feel like I’m 30 again. Thanks nandrolone! I mean, Sprite!”
“Only my wife knew what I was going through, I didn’t want anyone else to know. So she’d run to the store and get a 2-liter bottle of Sprite for me. The nausea was gone and nobody had any idea I was chock full of…um, getting hit too hard in yesterday’s game.”
Sprite.

By: ThatGuy

ThatGuy — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 15:36:33 +0000

I would be willing to bet Steve Young had more than 7-9 concussions. Its just that what we regard as a concussion today is not the same as when he played. It used be just getting your bell run, or a hard hit. The 7-9 documented concussions were all probably blacked out concussions or could barely walk/talk concussions.

By: steelersmichele

steelersmichele — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 15:35:45 +0000

“If I’m cringing from some of these hits, what does that tell you?”
That when you played, you loved it when other players cringed from your hits.
Why do players and coaches start saying these things AFTER their career is over? Harrision loved to hit and now he wants to the hits to stop. He never listened when he played, so why does he expect the current players to listen?
And Dungy, I love and respect the man, but why wasn’t he verbal about the swearing and player behavior when he was a coach–not just to his team but the league?
Yeah, I know they were “in” the culture of football and had a job to do, but complaining about things after the fact….

By: Mike McCarthy's Moobs

Mike McCarthy's Moobs — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 15:35:13 +0000

Dirty player tries to make good….sorry Rodney, we all still remember what a scumbag you are.

By: jamaltimore

jamaltimore — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 15:33:29 +0000

I think what rodney forgets is that fans don’t really care about players. We care about the game and who’s wearing the jersey on Sunday. I’m happy they get paid all this money cause they deserve it for the unique talent and the risk they undertake.
Same sentiment when it comes to fans no longer caring about steriod policy. Just like the players want, it’s a business and it’s entertainment just like going to watch deniro in a movie. Sure it’s sad that a small % of players experience these post career traumas but that’s the risk of playing football. Are we really supposed to believe the league cares about players when they had to be exposed for not giving a extra NICKLE to the legends who made this game great?
If it’s too much fall back on your college education and come to the real world. Unfortunately headaches and naseau are also prevelant there as well. i’m not afraid to tell you I have to take advil and drink sprite almost every other day. PLEASE!

By: GC in DC

GC in DC — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 15:32:21 +0000

Good for Harrison. You get a sense that current players aren’t going to want to say anything about this because they don’t want to antagonize coaches or make other players think they’ve gone soft. But it does seem like more and more former players, including defenders, are expressing concerns about the hits and offering constructive solutions for dealing with the issue. It looks like we’re at a tipping point.

By: melikefootball

melikefootball — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 15:30:28 +0000

The league feels confident in ther officials as to the point no player or coach can say anthing about them or get fined. They are on the field at real time and if they feel the play does not warrant a flag then the league should go by there judgement. No, they want to look at every angle at very slow speed over and over and then make there decesion on the play. Tthe game is played at high speed not slow speed so let the officials on the field make the call. No fan or player wants anyone to get a head injury. They go to the suspension and you are tarketing one side on the ball game, the defense. the leagues has taken away there play with rule after rule for the offense. How many plays won’t be made with thought of no pay for game. Gee how about better equipment?

By: jayy

jayy — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 15:30:19 +0000

ps.. thinkin about makin a tackle as a def player slows them down instantly.. which makes them vunerable to gettin blasted on a block or the runner himself.. and now ur teachin 2 tackle below..blow out knees, knee to head concussion.. yeah ur helpin out 1 defenseless reciever but leavin all 11 def players vunerable to slowin down thinkin about fines and hurtin team and in hurt can rly cause a big collusion. from the fast speeded reciever to the slowed down thinkin about what to do defender.. goodell, i love what ur doin what players but ur deffffff over protecting players and turnin the league to shit. watch im tellin u if these bullshit penaltys keep comin and fine n suspended players for a”big” hit ill let u i wont be watchin football as much 5 yrs from now.

By: Marv_Sleezy

Marv_Sleezy — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 15:30:19 +0000

Once a guy says hes had hundreds of concussions, I know hes either a liar, or he really is that stupid to think that.
In Harrisons case I truly believe that it is both.
Also, Shane Conlon was a really great form tackler.

By: Belichick for President

Belichick for President — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 15:27:37 +0000

Wonder if Rodney wanted to see Trent Green protected?

By: Rex Grossman

Rex Grossman — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 15:27:06 +0000

More like Sprite and Steroids

By: andyprough

andyprough — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 15:26:29 +0000

Harrison said that, during his career, “I was in gladiator mode because that’s all I was taught.”
==============
Funny that other players weren’t “taught” to play dirty and cheat in all the myriad ways you did, Rodney. Nice job blaming your reckless play on your “teachers”.
Now, how about all the illegal clutching and grabbing that you did on the ref’s blind side – were you taught that, or did you figure it out on your own? And who “taught” you to juice?
No worries – you will always be fondly remembered for one thing: Failing to defend against David Tyree’s “greatest catch ever”.

By: cbrianwatkins

cbrianwatkins — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 15:26:13 +0000

CJ SPILLER says:
October 19, 2010 2:39 PM
“I’ve had hundreds of concussions,” he said.
____________________ ____________
Yeah, right!!! If he had hundreds of concussions like he claims, he wouldn’t be able to open up his big mouth. No possible way!!! Why is it that Steve Young had between 7 and 9 and had to retire? Harrison wouldn’t be walking and talking today if that was the case
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well for one, it depends on the concussion
you could be concussed to the point where that one hit will put you out for the year
where i could be concussed and be able to play the next day
some could be concussed and never be right ever again after just ONE HIT
Everyone’s brains react to things differently, this is Grade 10 Science/Biology

By: jayy

jayy — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 15:24:37 +0000

one thing i completely agree w is the leadin w helmet fines..like meriweather.. that was uncalled for n clear he was leadin w head against defenseless reciever.. and he needs 2 be suspended..but big hits IS football. always has been to change it might as well turn into flag football.. everyone knows the danger and what there gettin into and they get paid huge for it. i love the big hits as a fan. deshaun jax hit was awesome but at the same time unfortunate. helmet 2 helmet hits def cause for suspension but legal huge hits is what made the nfl the nfl and to change it changes everythin and to make it “safe” will lessen the value bec big plays n hits r what fans want to see.. injuries will happen every game its part of sport. no need to change it bec of a bad weekend.

By: stillayinzer

stillayinzer — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 15:24:35 +0000

‘If your son was DeSean Jackson, would you be saying that?
YES. He is grown man. If you don’t want the risk, don’t play. No onoe has a gun to these guys heads to play football. It is a 100% voluntary activity and every player knows the risks.
Harrison is a hypocrite of epic proportions!

By: Dolfan34

Dolfan34 — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 15:23:58 +0000

So nice to see Harrison get all warm and fuzzy in his old age and now that he’s in the media he can come across as such a nice guy. Not sure why Peter King kisses this guys butt but Rodney Harrison was one of the dirtiest players when he played and continually crossed the line.

By: Lord Harry Latts

Lord Harry Latts — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 15:09:35 +0000

he wants steroids. maybe the most idiotic choice to have on tv and talk as an “expert”.

By: jgowdy138

jgowdy138 — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 15:08:15 +0000

@CJ Spiller – look up the definition for a concussion. the medical description. hell even just read the wiki. not all concussions are the same. the kind you get when you are a QB and LB’s/DE’s are trying to get you on the ground (and land on you in the effort) are a bit more brain jarring. Steve Young…poor guy, I feel like he’s gonna have alzheimer’s by the time he’s 50.