CHARGERS: The hits keep on coming for Harrison

Pats safety still effective long after leaving Chargers

By MIKE SULLIVAN - Staff Writer | Saturday, October 11, 2008 11:50 PM PDT ∞

SAN DIEGO ---- It's hard to achieve a career first when you've played 15 NFL seasons and own two Super Bowl rings.

It's even more difficult when you were the first player in NFL history to score touchdowns on an interception return, fumble return and kickoff return in the same season, and you stand alone as the only player in NFL history to record at least 30 interceptions and 30 sacks in a career.

But Sunday night, when the New England Patriots (3-1) visit the Chargers (2-3), strong safety Rodney Harrison will play in a regular-season or postseason game for the 198th time. And the former Chargers standout will do something he has never previously done: Play in Qualcomm Stadium in an opposing uniform.

"It is going to be a special moment because I started my career there," Harrison said a few days ago while riding a bus to practice. "I get a chance to go back and play in front of a lot of family and friends. It should be a fun time."

The ending of his San Diego stint wasn't so fun. After nine seasons of ferocious hard hits and big defensive plays, Harrison was released by the Chargers following the 2002 season.

At the time, the Chargers badly needed to be rebuilt, and there were fears that Harrison's skills were declining. So when Harrison balked at a pay cut proposal, the player who participated in two Pro Bowls as a Charger and was named to the franchise's 40th anniversary team was released.

Chargers general manager A.J. Smith was the team's assistant GM at the time, not the decision-maker. He chose not to revisit the decision process.

"All I will say about Rodney is we wish him the very best," Smith said last Thursday. "He's been a very productive and outstanding football player for many years."

It took Harrison several months to come to grips with the fact that he was no longer part of the Chargers' organization. To be discarded after nine years of loyalty by the only franchise he had ever known was tough.

But when he arrived at the Patriots' training camp in the summer of 2003, he knew it was time to cast aside the grudge.

"I realized it was over and that I had to turn the page in my professional career and it was a new chapter," Harrison said. "Initially, as a young person with not understanding the business side of it, you get really ticked off and become a little bitter.

"After sitting back looking at the situation, you understand that it is a business and there is nothing you can do about it. I took advantage of my opportunity (with New England), and some great things happened for me here."

Harrison's production remained high during his first two years in New England, and he recorded his two highest single-season tackle totals as the Patriots won back-to-back Super Bowl titles. Now 35, he's often mentioned as a future Pro Football Hall of Fame candidate.

"I hope so; he deserves it," said Chargers nose tackle Jamal Williams, a former teammate and workout partner of Harrison's. "Any time you have one man who receivers fear going across the middle, yeah, that says a lot about him."

The 2008 version of Harrison may be a step slower than the one who terrorized receivers during his prime. But he does have a team-leading 36 tackles and a reputation that leaves opposing players looking out for No. 37 at all times.

"Absolutely," said Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson, a teammate of Harrison's in 2001-02. "You always have to pay attention to him. He's so effective in so many things he does ---- tackling, obviously, but also blitzing. He's a heck of a blitzer. You have to be aware of where he's at."

New England quarterback Matt Cassel raves about Harrison's leadership skills and propensity for "giving 110 percent effort" in every practice, and Patriots coach Bill Belichick has relished coaching one of the game's all-time great safeties.

"Rodney is one of our best players, one of our team leaders, one of our captains, and a guy that everybody really looks up to and has a lot of respect for," Belichick said on a conference call. "He sets a good tempo for us on and off the field, and he's a pleasure to coach and be around to work with. I'm glad he's on our football team."

Tomlinson said Harrison is "still playing at a high level" and is intimidating as ever. And Williams, who used to wake up for 5:30 a.m. workouts with Harrison, isn't the least bit surprised that Harrison continued to thrive after his release by the Chargers.

"This is a business and things happen, but I knew he still had a lot of football left despite what other critics might say," Williams said. "I'm happy for him. He's been doing good and he's accomplished a lot."

And now he will be accomplishing another career first. The Patriots played the Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium in the 2006 postseason, but Harrison missed the game because of a knee injury.

So, finally, he will get to walk out on the Qualcomm Stadium surface again and survey the scene like he used to do in a Chargers uniform. Then it's time to go all-out during a 60-minute football game.

"That was my home for nine years," Harrison said. "The San Diego Chargers gave me an opportunity to live my dream and to be a part of a Super Bowl team (in 1994) and a team that struggled at times. We went 1-15 (in 2000).

"At the same time, it taught me so many valuable lessons. The city embraced me and the fans were always great to me."

Contact staff writer Mike Sullivan at (760) 739-6645 or msullivan@nctimes.com. Staff writer Loren Nelson contributed to this report.