The NFL free agency market has been quiet lately. The 2020
NFL Draft, which runs April 23-25, is the feature event football fans now have
to look forward to.
This year’s free agency period was brutal for the New
England Patriots. They were gutted with departures, as franchise
icon Tom Brady defected to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after 20 legendary seasons
in New England.
The Patriots also lost linebackers Kyle Van Noy (Dolphins)
and Jamie Collins (Lions). They did, however, add safety Adrian Phillips. An
undrafted free agent, Phillips originally entered the NFL with the then-San
Diego Chargers in 2014. The defensive back is most known for his elite special
teams’ play. He earned a Pro Bowl nod and was named to the first-team All-Pro
in 2018, both as a special teamer. Phillips suffered a broken arm in Week 2 last
year, a season-ending injury that effectively ended his six-year run with the
Chargers.
With the exciting part of free agency come and gone, it
gives us a chance to look back on prior free agent signings. Specifically with
regards to the Patriots, who is the best signing in team history? That honor belongs to Rodney Harrison.
Rodney Harrison: Patriots Career (2003-08) Overview
After being released by the Chargers in February of 2003, the 31-year-old safety Harrison joined the Patriots on a six-year pact.
Harrison shined in his first season in New England, leading
all NFL defensive backs in tackles (143) in an All-Pro campaign. Named a
defensive captain, Harrison helped the Patriots win the Super Bowl with a
dominant postseason, collecting two interceptions and a forced fumble across
three playoff victories. He picked off a Jake Delhomme pass in Super Bowl XXXVIII.
The following season, Harrison again led the league in tackles
(138). He was a second-team All-Pro selection in 2004 and again made his mark
in the postseason. Harrison intercepted Peyton Manning for the second
consecutive postseason, this time in the divisional round in the Patriots’ win
over the Indianapolis Colts. He had Manning’s number, and the five-time NFL MVP
quarterback even gave a shutout to Harrison in his Hall of Fame speech.
Harrison came through with a pick-six the following week
against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship. He intercepted a pass
from then-rookie Ben Roethlisberger and returned it 87 yards for a TD.
Adding to his playoff legacy, Harrison intercepted
two more passes in Super Bowl XXXIX versus the Philadelphia Eagles. Harrison was
the Patriots’ best defensive player during that postseason, amassing four
interceptions and leading New England to its second straight title.
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| Mike Vrabel (right) celebrates with Rodney Harrison (left) after the safety secured a game-sealing interception in Super Bowl 39. (AP) |
Following the 2008 season, Harrison retired from the NFL
after 15 seasons—six with the Patriots. Across six years in New England, he
accumulated 634 tackles with eight interceptions, 32 pass breakups, seven
forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and nine sacks. In addition to his
regular-season totals, Harrison also mustered seven interceptions in nine
playoffs contests.
