Tag: Rodney Harrison

Ex-Chargers RB LaDainian Tomlinson shares top five teammates

Who were Chargers great LaDainian Tomlinson’s favorite teammates from back in the day?

Former Chargers running LaDainian Tomlinson will forever be one of the greatest players to suit up in the blue and gold.

Tomlinson enjoyed a successful career with the Bolts, all while playing with some other greats along the way.

Now a member of NFL Network, Tomlinson recently outlined his top five favorite teammates during his nine-year stint with the Chargers.

He listed Rodney Harrison, Lorenzo Neal, Philip Rivers, Antonio Gates, Drew Brees and Junior Seau among his top teammates.

All players mentioned were among Chargers Wire’s 100 best players in team history.

To read more of Tomlinson’s article, where he explains some of his favorite moments, click here.

Rodney Harrison compares Bears safety Eddie Jackson’s instincts to Ed Reed

In 3 seasons, Eddie Jackson has established himself as one of the best safeties in the NFL. And he’s been compared to one of the best.

In just three seasons, Bears safety Eddie Jackson has established himself as one of the best safeties in the NFL. And Chicago compensated him as one, signing the former fourth-round draft pick to a four-year extension worth $58.4 million, making him the highest-paid safety in the game.

Jackson has been praised for his vision and instincts, something that has made him quite the ballhawk in his first two years in the league. In his first two seasons, Jackson totaled eight interceptions, 21 passes defensed, four forced fumbles and scored five defensive touchdowns, which garnered him All-Pro and Pro-Bowl nods in 2018.

And Jackson certainly has a fan in former Super Bowl-winning safety Rodney Harrison.

“I think this young player is a terrific player,” Harrison said, via NBC Sports Chicago. “Good size, great instincts, everything that you want in an all-star caliber safety. I thought he played a little out of position last year, playing a little more strong safety, I think he’s a more of a natural, ballhawking free safety. They need to bring somebody in to play that (strong safety) position. Just let him roam with his athleticism.”

While Jackson had a solid season in 2019 — which included his second Pro Bowl nod — he didn’t as many as those explosive plays that he’s become known for, which can be attributed to moving him to the box. Like many, Harrison believes Jackson’s great contributions come when he’s operating in centerfield, similar to one of the best to ever do it in Ed Reed.

“I think Eddie Jackson needs to go in the middle of the field, because he’s got so much range and so much vision,” Harrison said. “You look at the vision and the instincts, it’s like Ed Reed. Why would you take him out of the center of the field, and put him as the strong safety? If you’re going to do anything, send him off the edge, bring him, blitz him, disguise, move around, do all those different things.”

When the Bears signed Jackson’s Alabama teammate Ha Ha Clinton-Dix to join him in the secondary, they moved Jackson to strong safety, where he wasn’t able to contribute in the way he’s been known to roam the middle of the field.

“A guy goes from getting his hands on the ball, strips, INTs, pass breakups, and then you take him out of the center, where he was a first-team All-Pro, and I actually voted for him, and you put him in the box?” Harrison said. “It’s crazy. You don’t have to pigeonhole him, but don’t put him in the box solely, because you just limit his ability and what he can do.”

Thankfully, Jackson figures to return to free safety this season, and veteran Tashaun Gipson or Deon Bush will likely occupy the strong safety role, which should mean more of those explosive plays are on the way in 2020.

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Rodney Harrison is disappointed the Patriots haven’t signed Cam Newton

“He’s a good guy and he’s still a great football player.”

Count Rodney Harrison as one of the people waiting and hoping the New England Patriots will sign quarterback Cam Newton.

It’s been a popular opinion. Newton is in need of a team, and in particular, probably wants land in a spot where he can compete for a starting job. New England has quarterbacks Jarrett Stidham and Brian Hoyer, but it stands to reason that, if Newton joined the Patriots, he’d be in the mix to start.

“…I thought it would be a great situation where he could have came in at a reduced salary,” Harrison said on “The Rich Eisen Show.” “He could have came in and really learned a lot about just technique and just the intricacies of being on a really great football team with great guidance as far as the head coach and offensive coordinator. I thought that would have been a really, really ideal situation for him. He could have came in, competed. Could have helped the young guy, young guy could have helped to push him. I thought it would have been a perfect situation. I’m just a little disappointed that the Patriots weren’t a little bit more aggressive just recruiting Cam.”

The thought with Newton is that teams are awaiting the chance to give him a physical. Facilities are closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, so teams cannot get their doctor in the same room as Newton.

“…I don’t think Cam would have came in and been a problem,” Harrison said. “Cam’s a good guy. Yeah, at times he acts a little immature and I’m sure he’s learned from that immaturity. …He’s a good person. Yeah, he made some mistakes with some interviews and the way he’s handed some situations, but he’s a good guy and he’s still a great football player.”

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Rodney Harrison explains why he loves Patriots drafting DII standout Kyle Dugger

“I love this pick. I absolutely love this pick.”

Retired New England Patriots safety Rodney Harrison wasn’t among those looking skeptically at Bill Belichick’s decision to draft DII standout Kyle Dugger. Few had heard of Lenoir Rhyne, Dugger’s alma mater, in the football community prior to his selection in the 2020 NFL Draft.

But it’s not necessarily about what school Dugger came from. It’s about where he’s going in the NFL. Harrison thinks the young safety, who is a freak athlete with blazing speed (4.5-second 40-yard dash) and impressive size (6-foot-1, 215 pounds), is capable of big things.

“To me, if you can play — there’s a lot to be said about Division I-AA players like myself, Division II players,” Harrison said to NBC-10 Boston’s Raul Martinez last week. “We’re hungry … And you get so tired of all the big schools and LSUs and (2020 second-round pick) Grant Delpits being named in front of you, so I think this kid’s going to come in with an edge on him.

“I think Belichick’s going to use him whether it’s over the slot, over the tight end, because they need a bigger guy that can come in and relieve Patrick Chung and cover tight ends. I love this pick. I absolutely love this pick.”

New England has been looking for a rangy and versatile defender for the last few years, with safety Obi Melifonwu (6-foot-4, 210 pounds) and cornerback Joejuan Williams (6-foot-4, 210 pounds) making the 53-man roster in 2019. Bill Belichick clearly favors these defensive backs, who are unique athletes with exceptional size and speed. It seems to be a response to the receivers and tight ends with that same size and speed. But the Patriots coach didn’t seen payout from Melifonwu, who the team released this offseason, or Williams, who spent the 2019 season on the bench.

Surely, the Patriots hope to buck that trend with the addition of Dugger and the development of Williams.

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