Ex-Charger Harrison poised for retirement

This is not surprising. After his injury last year it was pretty well known that Rodney would not be coming back, with the Patriots or anybody else. It'll be interesting to see if he does the 1-day contract to retire as a Charger considering how that relationship changed when he left and during his time with New England.

9 months ago John Gennaro 12 comments 0 recs |

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Good luck, Rodney!

Always one of my favorite Chargers – too bad Marty didn’t seem to care for him. He hit hard, sometimes on the edge of dirty as defined by many of our current “soft” rules, but he brought it on every play. That’s something that we have searched for & been unable to find for years in a safety.

I seriously doubt that we’ll see Rodney back to retire as a Charger. In fact, I’m not very confident that the gesture would even be made. Oh well …..

Good luck, Rodney, and thanks for the Charger memories!!!!

If the thunder don't get ya then the lightning will!!

Robert Hunter

by Buck Melanoma on Jun 3, 2009 5:26 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Agree

Rodney’s intensity and nastiness have yet to be replaced at the safety position.
I also doubt he would retire a Charger, especially considering he won 2 Super Bowls with the Patriots. Although, looking at his profile, he did have the most success (Pro bowl appearances, etc) with the Chargers.
It will interesting to see what happens. I am almost positive he will end up voted one of the 50 greatest Chargers ever. Who knows if that will soothe and hard feelings he has towards the organization.

Do or do not. There is no try.

by Clip Show on Jun 3, 2009 10:00 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Rodney won't be replaced in New England either

He was one of a kind and gave every game his all. Rodney will be sorely missed and I believe the NFL is worse off without him and the high-caliber, team-first mentality he brought to both teams when he played. We wish him all the best.

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Jun 3, 2009 5:59 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Fine, I'll be the jerk

I never liked Rodney. I thought he was dirty and too arrogant. He also struggled in coverage and seemed to improve his game when he went to NE, which showed that he didn’t try his hardest in his last few years with the Chargers. Something about Rodney always rubbed me the wrong way and I wasn’t surprised when the steroids talk popped up this year.

"I did not invent the wheel, I was the crooked spoke adjacent." - Aesop Rock

by John Gennaro on Jun 3, 2009 7:23 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I think

he is one of those guys you either love or hate. He was not very good at coverage (as you point out) but the dude LOVED to hit….even to the point of getting multiple fines for it. It’s weird that you say he improved his game when he went to NE, and yet he only went to one pro-bowl with them, but while with the Chargers he was a perennial pro-bowler. Not sure how to explain that one.

Do or do not. There is no try.

by Clip Show on Jun 3, 2009 11:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

He made the Pro Bowl twice with the Chargers

and the second time (in 2001) he was on a sharp decline. It was like they brought him in because there was nobody better and they thought he’d be done with his career soon.

The jump he made from 2002 (with SDG) to 2003 (with NE) was staggering. That’s what I was talking about. I’ll admit that he’s probably the best safety the Chargers ever had, but I think in his last few years he was riding his legend more than earning his keep.

"I did not invent the wheel, I was the crooked spoke adjacent." - Aesop Rock

by John Gennaro on Jun 4, 2009 9:54 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agree...

He made the pro-bowl with the Chargers more on reputation. Granted, he also played for a really good NE team (won 2 Super Bowls), and winning games makes even the most mediocre players look that much better (not that he was mediocre). And I sure NE allowed him to do things that the Chargers just weren’t willing or able to let him do in their defensive schemes.
As you say, he is probably the best safety the Chargers ever had. Not sure if that is a testament to Rodney’s ability, or the Chargers lack of ability to find talent at that position. Probably a little bit of both.

Do or do not. There is no try.

by Clip Show on Jun 4, 2009 11:10 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

If memory serves he played injured the entire 2002 season.

Bolts from the Blue // "Game over." - Jamal Williams
Bloody Elbow // "Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit upon his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats." - H.L. Mencken

by Richard Wade on Jun 4, 2009 3:33 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Perennial Pro-Bowler?

Rodney was my favorite player when he was on the Chargers and my homer memory recalls him getting snubbed for the Pro Bowl as a Charger. He made it twice with the Chargers and looking at his years here 2000 stands out as an egregious snub. 6 INTs, 6 sacks, 101 tackles for one of the best defenses in the league? That wasn’t good enough? 1996 and 1997 were probably also Pro Bowl worthy in mind at the time (his tackle totals were definitely high enough). The guy was terribly underrated as a Charger outside of San Diego. Probably because he kept getting fined for hits that looked pretty legit to me.

Memo to baseball managers: You manufacture runs by NOT making outs, not by making them on purpose.

by Wonko on Jun 4, 2009 4:28 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs