He got what he deserves

By John Gottlieb

The Phanatic Magazine

I was having a conversation with someone regarding the opening of the NFL season and my utter happiness that Rodney Harrison got nabbed and will be forced to sit out the Super Bowl contender's first four games against at the Jets, vs. San Diego and Buffalo before the the Pats go to Cincy.

The guy I was talking to lives in San Diego and he said he thought Harrison was a ball hawk, willing to throw out a punishing hit, and respected him even more for coming out and admitting he used HGH.

I'm not sure if this was made clear, but Harrison got caught. He didn't just volunteer the information that he's a cheater...he got busted in the Internet drug scam investigation done by the authorities in Albany, NY that also netted Cowboys QB coach Wade Wilson.

Then we get to hear about how sorry and embarrassed he is about using illegal substances and getting caught. He wouldn't be sorry if he was in the clear (no pun intended). Let's get this straight...he's not sorry for cheating, he's sorry for getting caught.

I'm not surprised he's a cheater. Harrison has always been a dirty player. Go back and watch any Chargers or Patriots game for five minutes and I guarantee you that Rodney Harrison will make at least one dirty, late hit.

He's made it his forte. He likes to be the last one to jump into a pile just after the ball-carrier has been dragged down, leading with a forearm, elbow or shoulder.

Football is a rough sport and people get hurt all the time, but it's hard to commend a player that goes out and willfully tries to injury people in a cheap fashion.

I'm glad that he's missed the end of the last two seasons. As a matter of fact it puts a smile on my face each year he has to end his season in Week 12 on the sidelines. Maybe he wouldn't get hurt so much if played the game on the up-and-up.

He reminds me of Bill Romanowski. A dirty player and every one knows it. It's hard to feel bad for players that are underhanded their entire careers, and then go on 60 Minutes or to the press looking for sympathy because they screwed up their lives.

Harrison is losing his edge and was willing to do anything to regain the extra umph to get back on the field. By doing that he could've crippled New England. The Pats are the clear cut favorites to win the Super Bowl after adding WR Randy Moss, S Brandon Meriweather, LB Adalius Thomas, WR Wes Welker, WR Donte Stallworth, WR Kelley Washington, TE Kyle Brady, and RB Sammy Morris.

However, add the loss of All-Pro Richard Seymour for six weeks and the Pats may not jump out of the gate. They are still trying to get Moss and Asante Samuel into game form as well as getting first-round draft pick Meriweather up to speed with the pro game.

Bill Belichick should cut Harrison. The Pats haven't had to deal with adversity like this in a while.

Harrison is past his prime, and now that Samuel is back they have enough bodies in the secondary for one of the better units in the league.

Due to Harrison the Pats could conceivably start 1-3 or 2-2, which would certainly be an interesting dilemma. After that they still have games at Dallas, at Miami, at Indy and at Buffalo within a six-week stretch, followed by a game at home against Philly, then at Baltimore and home vs. Pittsburgh before the Jets come to town on December 16.

A slow start could lead this team right out of the playoffs, and Harrison should take the blame if that happens.

They'll probably still win the Super Bowl , but Harrison certainly made it a whole lot more interesting. He got what he deserves.