FOXBORO --
Just in case you needed a reminder of why the Patriots brought Rodney Harrison to New England this season, he happily provided it yesterday.
The two-time Pro Bowl safety signed with the Pats in March, and though he has made his presence felt in the secondary this season, yesterday was arguably his best game of the year.
Harrison made nine tackles yesterday (five solo), deflected two passes, and picked off two of his own, both times the beneficiary of Richard Seymour deflections, in the Patriots' 17-6 win over the Giants.
He did it under chilly and wet playing conditions, something he wasn't accustomed to in his nine seasons in San Diego with the Chargers.
"Ty Law told me before the game, 'Get used to it, it only gets colder,' " Harrison said with a smile.
There was a lot to smile about for the 30-year-old. He called yesterday's game fun, going up against highly regarded players such as tight end Jeremy Shockey, receivers Amani Toomer and Ike Hilliard and quarterback Kerry Collins.
"I was excited to go out there and play against such a competitive team. You always get excited about playing against the best, and I think Shockey is the best tight end in the league. It was just fun for me to go out there and just play football," he said.
When training camp opened, there was a great deal of anticipation about New England having two top safeties -- Harrison and Lawyer Milloy -- playing side by side. Both are among the hardest hitters in the league, and known for the intensity they bring to the field.
But just before the start of the regular season, the Patriots cut Milloy and his large salary, and talk began that it was the beginning of the end for the New England defense. And as injuries piled up on the defensive side -- including losing another big free-agent pickup, linebacker Rosevelt Colvin, for the season -- it began to look more and more like that might be true.
Against Tennessee last week and in the win over the Giants, the defense has proved, in Harrison's word, that it can persevere.
"I knew (Milloy) was well respected and a great player, but I knew all the time what type of player I was. Eventually we knew that once he was gone we would have to move on, because no one would feel sorry for us," Harrison said. "I think it helped a lot of guys elevate their games, especially with the injuries.
"It really has solidified the team's attitude, personality, to persevere and grow through all of the trials this team has gone through."
The defense, and the team, succeeded in spite of themselves yesterday. The Patriots had 10 penalties for a whopping 110 yards, including a 15-yard unnecessary roughness call on Harrison after Matt Chatham scored the game's opening touchdown on a fumble return.
Harrison said the team will have to be more disciplined and a little less aggressive in order to cut down on the number of yellow flags it sees. It didn't hurt them today, he said, but that won't last forever.
"Overcoming all of the penalties made (the win) very satisfying. We had some big plays called back on penalties. We can't keep having those, including myself, because eventually it will hurt us."
