Rodney Harrison out for year

[Precious Roy 0]

Strong safety Rodney Harrison, the heart of the New England Patriots' secondary and long regarded as one of the league's most aggressive players at the position, will miss the rest of the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

 

Three sources confirmed the severity of the knee injury, suffered in the first quarter of Sunday's 23-20 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. There could be ancillary damage beyond the ACL as well. The team almost certainly will place Harrison, 32, on the injured reserve list.

 

At his regular Monday news conference, coach Bill Belichick said the status of injured players would be updated Wednesday, when the team is compelled by league policy to report players' availability. New England hosts San Diego, the team with which Harrison played the first nine seasons of his career, on Sunday afternoon.

 

Harrison's injury is the latest setback to a New England secondary already battered at the cornerback position. This will mark the second consecutive season in which the Patriots will be forced to overcome injuries in the secondary and in which the team's mettle and ability to compensate for the loss of key players will be tested.

 

The loss of Harrison, coupled with the absence of inside linebacker Tedy Bruschi, leaves New England without two of its smartest and most inspirational defenders as the Patriots attempt to become the first franchise in history to claim three straight Super Bowl titles.

 

In addition to Harrison, the Patriots likely will be without starting left offensive tackle Matt Light for the foreseeable future. Light suffered an injury to his right knee but full details were not yet available.

 

Second-year safety Guss Scott, who replaced Harrison for the final three quarters Sunday, is the candidate most likely to move into the starting lineup. Scott was a third-round pick in the 2004 draft but, ironically, missed his entire rookie season because of a knee injury.

 

The Patriots may explore alternatives outside their organization but there are not many quality safeties without jobs. Harrison, a multiple Pro Bowl performer, is regarded by some in the New England organization as one of the most irreplaceable players on the roster. Beyond his playmaking skills, and ability to get everyone aligned in the right spot, his on- and off-field leadership will be sorely missed.

 

The 12th-year veteran was injured about midway through the first quarter when Steelers wide receiver Cedrick Wilson fell onto his leg during a running play. Harrison's knee bent grotesquely. He was on crutches, and wearing a brace, when he left Heinz Field.

 

Harrison is in his third season with New England, having signed with the Patriots in 2003, after the San Diego Chargers released him for salary cap considerations. In 158 games, Harrison has 1,027 tackles, 27½ sacks, 31 interceptions and 104 passes defensed.

 

I think this is going to hurt a little bit more than losing Ty Law last year. All I'll say is, we get a pass this year, but whatever we do get done without Bruschi & Harrison is going to be amazing.

[Annabelle 0]

that sucks. i hate the patriots, and would like to see them lose at full strength. teddy bruschi's affliction was a real bummer, but if i had to choose any player on the patriots i'd like to see injured, its harrison. he's a douchebag. still, i'm not glad it happened. he's just a douche. douche.

[nl5xsk1 0]

The Pats have survived the loss of their two coordinators. They survived the loss of their #1 safety and their #1 CB over the course of the last few seasons. So far they're doing Ok in terms of surviving with Bruschi and Johnson.

 

But losing Harrison & Light in one game might be the toughest losses of the lot.

 

Bright side: this gives Wilson, who's improving game-by-game, the chance to do some hardcore on the field learning. It should help his game in the long run.

[UZI Suicide 0]

You can't say they "survived" anything 3 games into the season, that's to be determined at the end of the year.

 

Hard to feel sorry for a guy like Harrison though.

[Annabelle 0]

who are we kidding? the patriots are still going to be amazing this year. its just the way it is. harrisons injury allows them to groom for the future. it may be a blessing in disguise if harrisons contract is too hefty for them down the line, ala law.

[2GOLD 0]

who are we kidding? the patriots are still going to be amazing this year.  its just the way it is.  harrisons injury allows them to groom for the future.  it may be a blessing in disguise if harrisons contract is too hefty for them down the line, ala law.

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Rodney will come back for chump change though because as much of a dick he is on the field, he's overally grateful that the Pats gave him the chance when the rest of the league was ready to flush him down the toilet.

 

And the Patriots will be fine. Every year it's "how will they win without..." and they still win. People need to just accept it, they find guys to plug the holes and the boat just ends up sailing better than ever before. I have no fucking clue HOW they do it, but they keep doing it. For all anyone knows, Eugene will just end up being better than Harrison.

 

As for losing Light, offensive line actually looked better when he wasn't in. Give the rookie a chance, it's the reason you drafted his ass.

[Big Ol' Smitty 0]

2 of my 3 fantasy defense players went out for the season Sunday: Harrison & Takeo Spikes.

[Just John 0]

I'm sorry, but I won't count the Pats out until they've been eliminated from the playoffs. They're like the Terminator of football... Whenever you think they're wounded, they heal lightning fast and come back stronger than ever. When Light went down yesterday, the Steelers beat up the O-line for a couple plays, but by the end of the game, they were a fully cohesive unit that allowed Brady to go 12/12 in the 4th. It would take most teams several games to get that kind of solidarity out of a re-arranged O-line, if they achieved it all.

 

The Pats thrive on adversity and people counting them out. When will people learn?

[UZI Suicide 0]

who are we kidding? the patriots are still going to be amazing this year.  its just the way it is.  harrisons injury allows them to groom for the future.  it may be a blessing in disguise if harrisons contract is too hefty for them down the line, ala law.

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Rodney will come back for chump change though because as much of a dick he is on the field, he's overally grateful that the Pats gave him the chance when the rest of the league was ready to flush him down the toilet.

 

And the Patriots will be fine. Every year it's "how will they win without..." and they still win. People need to just accept it, they find guys to plug the holes and the boat just ends up sailing better than ever before. I have no fucking clue HOW they do it, but they keep doing it. For all anyone knows, Eugene will just end up being better than Harrison.

 

As for losing Light, offensive line actually looked better when he wasn't in. Give the rookie a chance, it's the reason you drafted his ass.

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Yes they do always seem to win regardless, but they've never faced any circumstances like they are this year.

 

Plus, add that to the fact that, they aren't going to win Superbowls forever. I mean at some point, the run will end, they aren't just going to win it every year. This seems to be a perfect year for it to happen - losing 3 key defensive players, and Corey Dillon looking like he's breaking down.

[Guest Vitamin X]

If the Packers have no shot this year (looking more and more like it the longer they go without getting their first win), I'd like to see the Patriots win again. I don't care what people say, I enjoy seeing dynasties, and with all the adversity they've gone through to come through and win another one would be great in this time of "parity".

[The Ghost of bps21 0]

Bad week for the AFC East. Or a good week for the Dolphins...

 

Pennington, Harrison and Spikes done for the year.

[Guest Vitamin X]

Dolphins = AFC East Champs?

[Spaceman Spiff 0]

Not yet. Pats still have Brady.

[KingPK 0]

No post from Cartman where he moans that the Pats won't win a game the rest of the season? What, did he fall asleep?

 

Just wait until Ricky is eligible to play again, then the fireworks will begin in Miami.

[Damaramu 0]

Isn't Rodney getting up there in years? Anyone think this may be the end for him?

[The Czech Republic 0]

Not yet.  Pats still have Brady.

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Jinxed it, I hope

 

 

Oh do I hope

[Precious Roy 0]

Harrison will turn 33 this December

[Spaceman Spiff 0]

Not yet.  Pats still have Brady.

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Jinxed it, I hope

 

 

Oh do I hope

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Just gotta find some way to jinx Belichik now.

[Ripper 0]

The Patriots win because of their defense. not because of TOM FUCKING BRADY. If Harrison's backup does a good job, then they will be fine.

 

With all that talk about their corners going down last year, the backups did a great job in coverage. Just because the starters weren't there people were pretending that high schoolers where back there or something. Their defensive losses hurt right now, but they still COULD be okay. If they lose another Linebacker, you can pack it in though, because I KNOW they don't have much quality on the backups there.

[KingPK 0]

The Patriots win because of their defense.  not because of TOM FUCKING BRADY.  If Harrison's backup does a good job, then they will be fine. 

 

Correction: They win because of both.

[Ripper 0]

No, not correction. They win because they hold explosive offenses to small amounts of points then score because of the great field position that the defense give them. The offense doesn't score enough points to beat a vast majority of the teams that they play if the other teams offense had a regular outing.

 

Not saying they are SuperBowl Ravens offense bad, but this is pretty much the same case. Tom Brady is lightyears better than Tony Banks and Trent Dilfer, but the offense is no more than average at best....at very best.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

They don't score often because they eat up a lot of clock with their slow and methodical style. At least that's my personal observation.

[Precious Roy 0]

yeah, part of the reason the defense plays so well is because they actually get some extended rest when Brady and the offense burns clock. It's a two way street, you have to share credit with Brady and the offense. Not any QB could pace the team like Brady does.

[nl5xsk1 0]

No, not correction.  They win because they hold explosive offenses to small amounts of points then score because of the great field position that the defense give them.  The offense doesn't score enough points to beat a vast majority of the teams that they play if the other teams offense had a regular outing. 

 

Not saying they are SuperBowl Ravens offense bad, but this is pretty much the same case.  Tom Brady is lightyears better than Tony Banks and Trent Dilfer, but the offense is no more than average at best....at very best.

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Question: your theory makes it sound as if the Pats recognized that they had a weak offense and purposely build a gameplan around having a defense strong enough to cover for it. Wouldn't it have been easier to just improve the offense?

 

And while not a great offense, I think to say "average at best" is a hyperbolic. There's a shitload of teams that could kill to have a QB like Brady, RB like Dillon, and a TE combo like Watson & Graham. Not necessarily the greatest offense in the world, but certainly above average.

[Black Lushus 0]

gotta go with the majority here, I don't see how you can really knock the Pats offense...they put up enough points, yeah they're not the 99 Rams or anything but they're averaging at least 21 or so a game, no? They control the clock, any offense would kill to do that and any defense would love said offense for it...they're a complete team...this season, the Superbowl seasons, hell the season in-between when they went 9-7 and missed the playoffs...

[KingPK 0]

No, not correction.  They win because they hold explosive offenses to small amounts of points then score because of the great field position that the defense give them.  The offense doesn't score enough points to beat a vast majority of the teams that they play if the other teams offense had a regular outing. 

 

Not saying they are SuperBowl Ravens offense bad, but this is pretty much the same case.  Tom Brady is lightyears better than Tony Banks and Trent Dilfer, but the offense is no more than average at best....at very best.

 

Last year's offense was:

 

1st in average margin of victory (11 points)

4th in total points (437) (they were 12th in '03)

4th in PPG (27.3)

7th in total yards (5722) and YPG (357.6)

 

The problem with the offense was that they didn't have a real running game (just 100.4 YPG in '03), but Dillon gives them balance (improved to 133.4 YPG in '04, good for 7th in the league). The Patriots are built to win any type of game you throw at them. Blowouts, defensive struggles, high scoring games, close games, you name em'.

 

Just because Brady doesn't run for 150 yards a game and doesn't throw 49 TD passes in a year doesn't mean that he's not one of the top QBs in the league. He's had two 300+ yard games already this year, I believe (Oakland and Pittsburgh).

[Ripper 0]

Okay, a below average offense is weak. I said they have a average offense. And all this "they control the clock" they actually on have the ball a average of 2 minutes more than the other team. Its something, but it isn't a all world, defense rejuvenating time difference. New Englands D is dominating because they are dominating and have great players at just about every position. there was no reason to upgrade the offense, because it does what it is supposed to do. not screw up, don't get in a hurry, and take advantage of great field postition caused by the defense.

 

My main point is that this is another case of "wow...look at the quarterback winning this game for his team" when it really isn't the QB. Last year, I honestly would say that the defense, Dillons Rushing, and Brady's QB'ing, IN THAT ORDER, is the reason the pats won(all of this falls under great coaching of course). Just like how Big Ben was called this great rookie QB, when the Defense and Rushing game was winning them games.

 

ONCE AGAIN, I am not saying Brady is a bad QB. I have to say this because for some reason, if you don't say he is god around here you are saying that he sucks balls and can't throw the ball at all. I am not saying that. I am just saying that the guy is given WAY too much credit for this team when there is a all world defense that doesn't give up points, and gives him great field position on the other side of the ball, and a offense that is conservative and safe....just like every offense that was depending on a great defense has ever been. Thats why they have been the best team in the last couple of year.

[KingPK 0]

My main point is that this is another case of "wow...look at the quarterback winning this game for his team" when it really isn't the QB.

 

HE DIDN'T MISS A FUCKING PASS IN THE FOURTH FUCKING QUARTER LAST WEEK! God. I also think Brady has gone over 300 in the last two Super Bowls (I know he did in 38, don't remember if he did in 39.)

 

Look, yes the defense shut the Steelers down in the second half, but the defense didn't go 12/12 for 140something in the fourth quarter.

 

and a offense that is conservative and safe....just like every offense that was depending on a great defense has ever been.

 

Did you see the AFC title game last year? Was that a "conservative offense"? They can be if the situation calls for it and they have to kill the clock (the Colt game) and they can also put 30+ points on the board (the Cincy game).

[Ripper 0]

So what you are saying that if the D plays like crap it won't matter? The original statment was that the Pats will be alright because they have Tom Brady. What I am saying is that its not Tom Brady. Yes, he played wonderfully in the 4th quarter last week. Great. My point is still that the team success over these last 4 years have been because of the incredible defense that they have.

 

Brady is still given too much credit. I mean week in and week out we hear about how he is doing all this was Average recievers, but they have 500 yards of YAC yardage this year of the 958 that Brady has thrown for.

 

Still not saying Brady is a bad QB, but geez, look at their average starting field position, the fact that their D was number two in points allowed. They were shutting down offenses that were walking all over the league.

[Boon 0]

Not yet.  Pats still have Brady.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Jinxed it, I hope

 

 

Oh do I hope

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Just gotta find some way to jinx Belichik now.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You've got a better chance at winning the lottery.

 

The Patriots are built to win any type of game you throw at them.  Blowouts, defensive struggles, high scoring games, close games, you name em'.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I just want to re-emphasize what King said- I've seen the Pats win every kind of game you can play- they're just that balanced.

 

Balance is the key word here- Offense balances defense and vice versa.

 

Now if they could do something about penalites and special teams, they'd be perfect.