FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Here’s a sample, compliments of Patriots linebacker Pierre Woods, of what television viewers can expect when Rodney Harrison goes on the air:
“When you hit someone, you want their mommas to feel it.”
Or this: “If you can’t hit the quarterback, what are you doing out there?”
“I miss Rodney. I wish he was here,” Woods said after New England’s optional workout on Tuesday. “Wherever he’s at, I’m sure he’s going to be great.”
The Patriots had a round of voluntary workouts this week and Harrison was not on the field at Gillette Stadium — or any field, for that matter. The two-time Pro Bowl selection, who worked for the NFL Network and NBC while injured last season, has scheduled a conference call for this morning and is expected to announce he is retiring to enter the broadcast booth.
“I know he was pretty good on TV,” Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi said. “The future’s bright for him, no matter what way he decides to go.”
One of the hardest hitters — some say dirtiest — in the history of the NFL, Harrison, 36 won two Super Bowls with the Patriots but missed the last 10 games last season after tearing a muscle in his right thigh. Injuries, along with a four-game suspension in 2007 for using a banned substance, limited him to 31 games over the past four seasons.
He holds the NFL record for defensive backs with 301/2 sacks and, with 34 interceptions, is the only player to have at least 30 of each.
“You’re not going to find any more Rodney Harrisons.” Woods said. “They called him the dirtiest player in the game, but the guy played with a passion.”
BRONCOS WR CLEARED TO PLAY
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Denver Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Marshall is free to play the entire 2009 season, providing his surgically repaired hip allows it. He learned Tuesday he won’t face disciplinary action from the NFL over his latest arrest in a domestic dispute. Marshall was arrested March 1 in Atlanta after a fight with his new fiance. Charges were dropped the next day when Marshall and his fiance, Michi Leshase Nogami-Campbell, refused to testify against each other.
COWBOYS DUMP LB
IRVING, Texas — Dallas released Greg Ellis, ending the linebacker’s Cowboys career after 11 seasons and the eighth-most sacks in club history.
EAGLES DB SKIPS WORKOUT
PHILADELPHIA — Disgruntled Philadelphia cornerback Sheldon Brown, who wants a new contract or to be traded, didn’t attend the voluntary team workout on Tuesday. Coach Andy Reid was aware that Brown would not be participating and doesn’t expect him to rejoin the team during the workouts, which continue over the next two weeks.
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