Two-time Super Bowl champion Rodney Harrison hasn't been in a rush to embrace the Carolina Panthers this season, but the current NBC Sports analyst may have crossed a line Tuesday during an interview with Newsday.
According to Tom Rock, Harrison told him:
“If I see Cam Newton running the ball and he’s a quarterback and I’m on defense, I’m trying to hurt him. I’m trying to knock him out of the game.”
Voted the league's dirtiest player multiple times during his career, it's not like Harrison's comments were out of character. They were, though, a bit blunt for a sport trying to change its on-field culture.
"I didn't see the quote, but I think any time somebody even at all addresses trying to injure somebody in this game, I don't think there's any place for it," tight end Greg Olsen said Wednesday, about four hours after Harrison repeated his comments on the Dan Patrick Show.
"I know he's said some things about us throughout the course of the season about various players and various situations and I understand his job is to generate interest. But I think any time somebody says that about anybody, let alone your MVP quarterback, I think that speaks more about him than it does about anything else."
Cornerback Josh Norman, who had a back-and-forth with Harrison in December, added:
"Wow, you're out here injuring guys now and you don't even play the game? Rodney's been saying a lot of things this year, and to make a comment on something like that, it's something I don't think this game would want.
"I don't know man, you may need to ask Tyree about that one."
Norman landing a not-so-subtle shot at Harrison's role during David Tyree's helmet catch in the Giants' 2007 Super Bowl win.
Because Harrison has firsthand experience toeing the thin line between winning and losing a Super Bowl, his perspective is interesting. It could also make one wonder what the Broncos, who have been heaping praise on Newton for more than a week, are really thinking.
"I guarantee you that as many compliments that Denver’s defense is giving Cam Newton," Harrison said, "those guys are in the background saying: ‘If we can knock him out of the game, that’s the difference between us winning and losing the Super Bowl.'"
Even if Harrison's guarantee is accurate, it's the type of talk the NFL loathes. It's also more than just wondering out loud if the Panthers are truly the league's best team.
"People coming right out overtly and stating that they would try to injure your star quarterback in the Super Bowl, I think we're talking about a different level of comments there," Olsen said.
"So again, I didn't hear exactly what he said, but if it was how it's being portrayed, then I think that's uncalled for and somewhat embarrassing."