Oct 5, 2009 12:06 pm US/Eastern
Harrison: Brady Comment Backlash 'Ridiculous'
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
-
-
Rodney Harrison (file image)
Donald Miralle/Getty Images
Poll
Is the NFL too protective of it's quarterbacks?
You need the latest Flash player to view our Poll.
Click here to download.
Click here to
bypass this detection if you already
have the latest Flash Player.
Rodney Harrison said Monday the backlash over
his comments about Tom Brady has been "unbelievable" and "ridiculous," adding that he was just having fun with his former teammate.
THE DAY AFTER
Harrison and Brady both spoke to
WEEI radio Monday morning, a day after Harrison complained about a new rule designed to protect quarterbacks from getting their knees blown out.
It was clear the two former teammates are still good friends.
THE PLAY
During Sunday's Patriots-Ravens game in Foxboro, Ravens outside linebacker Terrell Suggs went after Brady's legs and was hit with a roughing the passer call. Under the new "
Brady rule" you can't hit the quarterback below the waist.
Harrison, who is now a football analyst for NBC Sports, took a good-natured shot at Brady during halftime of Sunday Night Football.
THE COMMENT
"Tom Brady, if you're listening," Harrison said. "Take off the skirt and put on some slacks. Toughen up."
Watch: The Harrison Clip
RODNEY'S EXPLANATION
Harrison said Monday the comment was a joke and that he alerted Brady ahead of time.
"I texted Tom and told him I was going to bust his chops a little bit at halftime. I mean it was a joke, everyone was getting bent out of shape," Harrison told WEEI.
"It's ridiculous that people would actually think I would take a shot at Tom Brady."
Harrison said he and Brady have been friends for years and nothing has changed between them.
However, Harrison stood by his belief that it was not a great call on Suggs and that he doesn't like the new rule.
"The funny part, he came back and ripped me and that's just the nature of our relationship," Harrison said.
BRADY'S SHOT
Brady did take a playful shot at Harrison earlier in the morning on WEEI's "Dennis and Callahan" show.
"Rodney's been fined more than any other player in the history of the NFL, so I can understand why he's a little sensitive towards cheap shots at the quarterback," Brady said.
"It's a tough call and I never think those guys are being malicious out there. They're trying to make the play and make the tackle and, you know, it's tough for a defensive player to hold off on a quarterback. You're trying to get to the quarterback and that's what your job is and that's what the team is relying on you to do and it's a tough call for the ref, they can't judge intent, so they judge on what happens," Brady said.
"It really goes both ways," he added. "I think in the end they pretty much all even out."
"It's just the way the rules are."
Brady added that he loves Harrison and there's nothing his old teammate could say that would bother him.
What do you think?
Join the conversation in our Conversation Nation blog.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Comments