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Rodney Harrison

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Rodney Harrison
refer to caption
Rodney Harrison during the Patriots' 2006 training camp
Career information
College:Western Illinois
NFL draft:1994 / Round: 5 / Pick: 145
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 17, 2008
Tackles:1,205
Sacks:30.5
INT:34
Player stats at PFR

Rodney Scott Harrison (born December 15, 1972 in Template:City-state) is an American football safety who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the fifth round of the 1994 NFL Draft. He played college football at Western Illinois.

A three-time Pro Bowl selection, Harrison is the only player in NFL history to record both 30 sacks and 30 interceptions. He earned two Super Bowl rings with the Patriots.

Early years

Harrison went to high school at Marian Catholic High School in Chicago Heights, Illinois. In March 2006, Marian Catholic retired Harrison's #37 jersey.[1] Harrison actually never wore #37 while in High School. Harrison's varsity numbers were #26 as a sophomore, #11 as a junior and #3 as a senior. Harrison graduated from high school in 1991.

College career

Harrison played college football at Western Illinois University from 1991 to 1993. He is the school's record holder for tackles in a career (345) and tackles in a game (28). As a freshman, Harrison was a second-team All-Gateway Football Conference before being named a first-team All-Gateway pick as a sophomore and junior. The Associated Press also named him a second-team All-American as a sophomore and a first-team All-American as a junior.[2] He majored in General Studies.

Professional career

San Diego Chargers

Harrison was originally drafted in fifth round of the 1994 draft (145th overall) by the San Diego Chargers, the same year they made their first and only Super Bowl (Super Bowl XXIX). They lost to the San Francisco 49ers. Before the draft Harrison had run a 4.82 second 40 yard dash. He became a starting member of their 1997 defense. He went to two Pro Bowls with the Chargers in 1998 and 2001.

New England Patriots

2003

Following the 2002 season, on February 27, 2003, Harrison was released in a salary cap move by the Chargers. Harrison said it was "only a matter of time" before he was released, and that he "was happy to test the free agent market."[3]

Two weeks later, on March 13, Harrison landed with the Patriots, signing a six-year deal. At the time, the Patriots had both Harrison and fellow Pro Bowl safety Lawyer Milloy under contract. However, throughout the offseason the Patriots and Milloy were involved in contract negotiations, with the Patriots requesting Milloy take a pay cut or be released. Milloy didn't budge, and on September 2 he was released.

Prior to the 2003 season, Harrison was named a defensive captain in his first year with the Patriots by his teammates.

On January 10, 2004 in the divisional playoff game against the Tennessee Titans, he intercepted Steve McNair, which set up Antowain Smith's touchdown as New England would hold on for a 17-14 win. In the AFC Championship game the next week against the Indianapolis Colts, Harrison intercepted Peyton Manning in the end zone and forced a Marvin Harrison fumble that teammate Tyrone Poole recovered. Harrison then went on to help New England Patriots win their second title in three years, against the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl XXXVIII, 32-29. He was injured late in the game, but a Tom Brady-led drive and Adam Vinatieri field goal secured the Patriots' victory. In his tenth year in the league, Harrison earned his first Super Bowl ring in 2003.

Additionally, Harrison was named to the Associated Press' All-Pro team following 140-tackle (a 2003 NFL best for a defensive back) and three-sack season.

2004

The 2004 season showed a similar performance from the Charger exile. Harrison helped New England's defense finish second in the NFL in scoring for 2004. For the second straight season, Harrison's 138-tackles were tops for defensive backs in the NFL. Harrison also started all 16 regular season games for the sixth time in his career, holding together a Patriots secondary that was without Ty Law and Tyrone Poole for the majority of the season.

In the Patriots' divisional playoff game against the Indianapolis Colts, Harrison intercepted Peyton Manning late in the game to remove the last chance Indianapolis had of scoring a touchdown. The next week in the AFC Championship, Harrison jumped a Ben Roethlisberger pass and took it 87 yards for a touchdown, helping the Patriots defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers, 41-27. During the week leading up to the Super Bowl, Harrison got into a verbal feud with Philadelphia Eagles receiver Freddie Mitchell after Mitchell claimed he "had something for Harrison" and did not know the names of the New England secondary.[4] Harrison and the Patriots made a statement in Super Bowl XXXIX, as he would record seven tackles, a sack, and two interceptions of quarterback Donovan McNabb, despite missing almost an entire quarter due to an injury sustained during the game. The second interception with ten seconds remaining in the game preserved a 24-21 Patriot win, ensuring a third championship in four years.

2005

The 2005 season began a string of multiple injuries for the 12th-year safety. It ended with a game on September 25 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, when Harrison was hit in the knee by a falling Cedrick Wilson and tore the ACL, MCL, and PCL in his left knee.[5] Harrison was subsequently placed on the injured reserve list, ending his season.

2006

More than 10 months after his season-ending injury, Harrison returned to Patriots practice for the first time on August 7.[6] After sporadic playing time in the preseason, Harrison started the first seven of the Patriots' games in 2006, totaling 23 tackles and one sack. However, while making a tackle on Marvin Harrison against the Colts on November 5, Harrison injured his right shoulder and missed the next six weeks of the season. He returned for the Patriots' penultimate game of the season against the Tennessee Titans, but his season was ended for good the next week after a low block from Bobby Wade injured his right knee.

2007

Harrison was suspended for the first four games of the regular season for admitting to federal investigators that he knowingly obtained and used human growth hormone.[7] Harrison stated to the media that he used "a banned substance" for "accelerating the healing process from injuries [he] sustained playing football," and "never to gain a competitive edge."[8] In addition, according to federal agents and Harrison himself, Harrison received a shipment of HGH, with his name on it, just days before the 2004 Super Bowl.[9]

In the AFC Divisional Playoffs versus the Jacksonville Jaguars, Harrison intercepted a pass with a little over 4 minutes left in the final quarter.

2008

In a Week 7 game against the Denver Broncos, Harrison tore his right quadriceps femoris muscle on a play, was carted off the field, and placed on injured reserve.[10]

2009

In June Harrison declared his retirement from football to become an analysis for a major broadcaster.

Controversy

Harrison was voted the "dirtiest player" in the NFL by his peers according to a 2004 poll conducted by Sports Illustrated. In 2006, Harrison once again topped the "dirtiest player" voting by 361 other NFL players.[11] In 2008, NFL coaches awarded the title to Harrison in an anonymous 2008 poll conducted by ESPN.[12] Harrison has also been fined and suspended multiple times, and as of 2002, had racked up over $200,000 in fines by the NFL. A notable suspension occurred in 2002 after a helmet-to-helmet hit on the Oakland Raiders' Jerry Rice.[13]

Accomplishments and records

  • In 1997, became first player in NFL history to score touchdowns on an interception return, fumble return and kickoff return in same season.
  • Has the most sacks (30.5) of any defensive back in NFL history.
  • Had 4 interceptions in 3 games in the 2004-05 playoffs.
  • His 7 playoff interceptions (including one returned for a touchdown) are a Patriots team record.
  • Is one of nine players in the history of the NFL to record at least 20 interceptions and 20 sacks in his career. The other members of this small club are linebackers Seth Joyner, Wilber Marshall, William Thomas, Donnie Edwards and Ray Lewis, safeties LeRoy Butler and Brian Dawkins, and cornerback Ronde Barber.
  • On October 21, 2007, became the first member of the 30/30 Club of players with both 30 interceptions and 30 sacks
  • Is the NFL's all-time leader in personal foul penalties [citation needed]

References

  1. ^ M Legends Marian Catholic High School. Accessed 24 April 2007.
  2. ^ Rodney Harrison biography Patriots.com. Accessed 24 April 2007.
  3. ^ Chargers cut Harrison, Conway NFL.com. Accessed 24 April, 2007.
  4. ^ Patriots Have a Name for Eagles' Mitchell: 'Jerk' Washington Post. Accessed 24 April 2007.
  5. ^ Pats SS Harrison expected to miss season NFL.com. Accessed 24 April 2007.
  6. ^ Harrison too Boston.com Reiss' Pieces. Accessed 24 April 2007.
  7. ^ Pats' Harrison to be suspended 4 games for alleged HGH violation ESPN.com. Accessed 31 August 2007.
  8. ^ Harrison statement BostonHerald.com The Point After Blog. Accessed 31 August 2007.
  9. ^ Harrison report Espn.com. Accessed 17 September 2007.
  10. ^ Reiss, Mike (2008-10-22). "Spann promoted". Boston.com Reiss' Pieces. Retrieved 2008-10-22.
  11. ^ Pats' Harrison can't wash hands of dirtiest player label ESPN.com. Accessed 24 April 2007.
  12. ^ Coaches validate Harrison's rep as NFL's dirtiest player ESPN.com. Accessed 1 July 2008.
  13. ^ Harrison loses appeal, to miss Jets game NFL.com. Accessed 24 April 2007.

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