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The prevailing wisdom is that the Patriots "dynasty" spanned the Super Bowl seasons of 2001, 2003 and 2004, and that since the end of 2004, the team's performance has generally deteriorated. And there's a good bit of truth to this viewpoint. After all, the results are the results and there hasn't been a parade around here since February 2005.
Another view is that the Patriots played their best, most consistent football from 2003 through 2007. Prior to 2003, New England had never won as many as 12 games in any regular season. In the five seasons beginning in 2003, they did it four times. During this time, the Patriots were 66-14 in the regular season and 11-3 in the play-offs, an astounding 77-17 (.819) overall. That's five years of dominant play by any conceivable measure.
Rodney Harrison was signed in 2003. The team's worst two years during the 2003-07 stretch were 2005 and 2006. What do those years have in common? Both were seasons that Rodney missed substantial portions of (including all play-off games) due to injuries.
Here's the amazing part. The team's record during 2003-07 with Harrison in the lineup was an unheard of 58-8 (.879)! Without Rodney, 19-9 (.679). And only once did the Patriots lose a post season game (8-1 in the play-offs) with Rodney in uniform (ugh - sorry to even bring this up).
Coincidence or cause and effect? There's no way to be entirely sure, but what's clear is that the Patriots were a tougher, smarter and much more intense football team whenever #37 suited up. The numbers suggest that Harrison was a bigger part of New England's success than many realize.
Another view is that the Patriots played their best, most consistent football from 2003 through 2007. Prior to 2003, New England had never won as many as 12 games in any regular season. In the five seasons beginning in 2003, they did it four times. During this time, the Patriots were 66-14 in the regular season and 11-3 in the play-offs, an astounding 77-17 (.819) overall. That's five years of dominant play by any conceivable measure.
Rodney Harrison was signed in 2003. The team's worst two years during the 2003-07 stretch were 2005 and 2006. What do those years have in common? Both were seasons that Rodney missed substantial portions of (including all play-off games) due to injuries.
Here's the amazing part. The team's record during 2003-07 with Harrison in the lineup was an unheard of 58-8 (.879)! Without Rodney, 19-9 (.679). And only once did the Patriots lose a post season game (8-1 in the play-offs) with Rodney in uniform (ugh - sorry to even bring this up).
Coincidence or cause and effect? There's no way to be entirely sure, but what's clear is that the Patriots were a tougher, smarter and much more intense football team whenever #37 suited up. The numbers suggest that Harrison was a bigger part of New England's success than many realize.
