Harrison fires back - Patriots safety responds to Eagles receiver's

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Harrison fires back - Patriots safety responds to Eagles receiver's opening salvo
By Boston.com Staff And Wire Reports | January 28, 2005

FOXBOROUGH -- Freddie Mitchell may have something for Rodney Harrison when he meets the Patriots safety in next week’s Super Bowl, but Harrison had some words of his own today for the Eagles wide receiver.

The Philadelphia Eagles' other loquacious receiver -- the one without the Pro Bowl pedigree and ankle injury -- offended some Patriots when he dissed their secondary in a television interview. In a segment taped yesterday on ESPN, Mitchell admitted he couldn’t name any of the Patriots defensive backs, saying he only knew their numbers. Except for No. 37 that is.

“I got something for you Harrison when I meet you too,” he said.

Preparing for the Patriots’ second-to-last practice at Gillette Stadium before heading to Jacksonville, Harrison said he had not yet seen the interview, but quickly got the gist of it from a group of reporters surrounding his locker.

“That’s pretty funny coming from a guy that doesn’t start,” he said. “This is his 30 seconds of fame. What Freddie needs to do is concentrate on what he needs to do.”

Mitchell started just nine games this season for the NFC Champion Eagles, but has been fairly instrumental for the team in the playoffs with the absence of injured Terrell Owens, most memorable in his circus touchdown catch that helped the Eagles beat the Minnesota Vikings in the divisional round of the playoffs.

"It just shows he doesn't have respect for us," Patriots cornerback Asante Samuel said Friday, responding to Mitchell's comments from a day earlier.

After the divisional playoff game against the Vikings, Mitchell thanked his hands for being so good, and now has opened the initial war of words between the Patriots and Eagles, gearing up for Super Bowl XXXIX.

“You expect it from immature guys who haven’t experienced success on a pro level,” Harrison said. “Some guys are just immature and haven’t experienced things. When you go out there and play well, you don’t have to do these sideshows.”


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Harrison fires back - Patriots safety responds to Eagles receiver's opening salvo

Oh man...talking smack to Rodney Harrison? Of all people? Where is the discipline? Don't these guys know the Patriots feed off of this stuff like no other team I have ever seen?

[WilliamPitt]

1. I sense a spinal injury for Mitchell in the immediate future

Rodney is no one to fool with on or off the field.

[MrSlayer]

2. Ah, just a bit of fun.

Mitchell and Harrison are friends off the field. Gotta have some fun with all the T.O. talk swallowing everything.

Neither one of these teams will be intimidated and neither team needs BB material for motivation.

[WilliamPitt]

9. Didn't sound like it to me

Harrison just ripped Mitchell's balls off on ESPN. Disrespected him six ways from Sunday, called him an underachieving failed first-rounder who only plays when others get hurt, etc. Mitchell's reply to Harrison was "I was just kidding."

Punk.

[MrSlayer]

10. Actually he said he didn't care what they said.

I just saw it on NFL network. I think the Pats have a bit of a thin skin. Touchy, touchy.

[WilliamPitt]

11. I guess we'll find out

The last team with a player dumbassed enough to talk wrong to the Pats scored exactly three points in the playoff game.

[MrSlayer]

12. Do they really need outside bullshit to fire them up?

You know as well as I do that none of this has any bearing on the game. The Patriots would have kicked the shit out of the Colts regardless of what anyone said before the game because they can't play outside and Belichick owns Manning. I wonder if the Patriot receivers can name our backup d-backs. My guess is no. Should the Eagles feel all disrespected because of that? No. This whole thing is stupid. New England is the best team in football, everyone is picking them to win and has picked them from the start of the season yet they insist on whining about not getting any respect. It is getting kind of silly.

[WilliamPitt]

13. It is silly

but then again, the 'no respect' mantra has been their bread and butter. No one gave them a chance in 2001, and they used that. This year, most people wrote them off against the Colts. They use that stuff. It does help. Teams shouldn't add to it, imho. But it is silly.

Then again, as soon as you start walking around thinking you are the shit, you get dogged out. People start rooting for you to fall. Say what you want about the Pats, but they are anything but an ego team. So maybe the disrespect/underdog thing is healthy.

Like I said, we'll see.

[MrSlayer]

14. I concur.

They are definitely the epitome of the team concept. I keep telling the overzealous maniacs around here that the Pats are the football equivalent to the New Jersey Devils in their Cup years. It's like every player can play the other guy's position because they are so well coached, so unselfish and so disciplined. You wrote that you were having a hard time hating the Eagles, well I'm having a hell of a hard time hating the Patriots. I have so much respect for their organization and their team that I refuse to talk any trash. It would just be ridiculous. All that said, I do believe the Eagles can win if they bring their "A" game, the defense is ferocious, the secondary unmatched and our offense is very good despite the mediocre reputation of our receivers. I think this is a lot closer game than the 7 point spread. It's going to be a good one.

[HuckleB]

3. Peanuts Phone Talk: WahWahWahWahWaaaahWahWahWaWahh.

Er, Blah. Blah. Blah. Blah. Blah. Blah. Blah. Blah.

Is the NFL turning into Professional Wrestling?

[sportndandy]

4. Why NOT talk smack?

If Freddie Mitchell backs up his talk, he will parlay it into a big-time free agent deal. If he doesn't, he will at least get national notoriety for one week in his life, deserved or not.

As far as giving the Patriots bulletin board material, I think both teams are beyond that. They are both too good to be that insecure.

The Eagles are going to have fun in this game. They lost 3 straight NFC championships and the sun came up the next day each time. And they knew each time they would be going back the following year for another shot. The Eagles are still the class in the NFC for next season, and they will probably be back in the Superbowl next year. So lets just let it all hang out and have some fun on Sunday, cause if we win or lose we will be back next year.

[MrSlayer]

5. Well he'd have to back it up again next year if he's looking for a FA deal

Freddie is under contract until after next season.

[sportndandy]

6. You are 2/3 right.

I think Freddie has been a disappointment. I think the Eagles think he is a little bit of a dissappointment. If his stock could rise enough in the superbowl, the Eagles might be able to trade him to somebody who would sign him to a big deal.

I wouldn't mind packaging him off with the no 1 and 2 picks and moving up in the draft to get a big physical...wide out. Maybe we could get Daniel Snyder's pick, he loves to play fantasy football.

Anyway, for now he is an Eagle and I love him. I don't expect him to be on the team after his current contract runs out.

[MrSlayer]

7. I don't know how disappointed I am with him.

It took him a couple of seasons to get the offense down but he performs when he gets the chance. He's a good slot guy and he has great hands. I don't think he's gotten enough passes with T.O. in there this year but he's come through pretty big in the Playoffs. I don't think he's anywhere near as bad as people make him out to be, the guy is a gamer, he has a lot of heart.

As much as I like FredEx it wouldn't kill me if they dumped him and scooped up Stokley in the offseason.

[WilliamPitt]

8. Mitchell = chickenshit

I just saw him on ESPN reacting to Harrison's total shredding of Mitchell post-comment. Mitchell's reply?

"I was just kidding. Didn't mean it."

Punk.

[Arkana]

15. I saw Rodney Harrison's press conference

I knew he was thinking, "I'm gonna crush that SOB like an accordion if he comes near me."

[ThorsHammer]

16. Why on earth is an underacheiver, never-was like Mitchell talking trash?

It's one thing for Moss or TO to do it, but Mitchell doing it makes no sense at all.

[sportndandy]

17. The Eagles are SOOO scared of the Patriots!

Patriots are the best team of all time!

Belichick is the greatest coach ever!

Brady is the ultimate quarterback!

I think Patriot fans are starting to believe this bullshit hype. I just hope your team shows up in Jacksonville. History says they will, but can they win a superbowl by more than 3 points?

Oh don't worry. Its only the Eagles. Ha Ha Ha. They have not had a winning season in forever. They were lucky to squeak by the vikes, and they must have cheated to beat the falcons. They basically came out of nowhere to barely make the NFC championship and won that on a fluke. They are happy to be awake, much less going to the Superbowl!

The arrogance of Patriot fans is starting to make the Eagle fans look positively humble. Well, your team better feast on the Eagles, or Monday morning there is going to be a lot of people eating crow.

Patriots (187)
Eagles (-5)

[sniffa]

18. *yawn*

history says pats by 3, but i'm going with pats by 14.