Rodney Harrison: “About Time” Patriots Put Together A Good Secondary

Former Patriots safety Rodney Harrison was on hand yesterday for Ty Law‘s induction into the Patriots Hall of Fame, and he talked about this 2014 Patriots team, mainly the defensive backfield, and their improvements from past years.

(Quotes from Mike Reiss of ESPN Boston)

On this year’s secondary:

"“About time! About time!” he repeated. “For the last six years, I’ve been very disappointed. Quite frankly, I take pride in this team and what Bill Belichick believes in … It hurt my heart to have to criticize this secondary on Sunday night [broadcasts for NBC]. But at the same time, there has to be a certain level of accountability. You get to the point where you realize ‘Yes, it’s nice to score points on offense, but you need a defense.’ And you need guys that aren’t afraid to get up there and jam guys and play man-to-man coverage and hit you in the mouth. I think that’s what [Brandon] Browner and [Darrelle] Revis give you.”"

On the Patriots:

"“It’s attitude. It’s about being excited playing football,” he added. “You have an opportunity to play for the greatest organization on the planet. How can you not come out here and get it done? It’s not good enough to win a playoff game. It’s not good enough to make it to the AFC Championship Game. It’s time to win a Super Bowl, and everyone has to be held accountable.”"

On who’s the best cornerback in the league:

"“All this talk about Patrick Peterson, Richard Sherman, and who’s the best cornerback? The best cornerback on the planet is right here in New England — he will prove it this year.”"

Amen to all of that.

The Pats finally have a physical, talented defense, which is what brought them three Super Bowls in four years in the early 2000’s. Tom Brady is one of, if not the best quarterback of all time, but he needs help, and he has finally got it. When Rodney Harrison is excited about a defense, there is a damn good reason for it. Between Darrelle Revis, Brandon Browner, Alfonzo Dennard, Logan Ryan, and Devin McCourty, it is going to be very hard for opposing offenses to throw on this New England defense in 2014.

And on that best cornerback comment, I completely agree it as well. People seem to have forgotten about Revis among this Sherman versus Peterson debate. But Revis is the best, and he will prove why he deserves to be number one as the season progresses.