ESPN: 11 coaches vote Rodney dirtiest player

GoWhalers said:

I love Rodney and I personally believe he's been nothing less than a savior for the defense at times, but you have to admit there were a few moments last year where he was getting out of hand with his late hits on the pile.

I can recall at least two moments where he just blatantly threw himself at someone in the pile well after the whistle. Didn't Belichick bench him late in the game at one point after he drew an obvious personal foul on special teams?

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yeah but that stuff is funny.

KontradictioN said:

You have to include Brian Billick in any list regarding Rodney being the dirtiest player in the NFL for this reason alone:

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I didn't include him only because he's not the coach at Baltimore anymore, is he? I thought he got replaced.

EnglishPatsFan said:

As much as i love Rodney i think he need to 'tone-it-down-a-bit'. Some of teh dirty plays he makes are totally classless!!!

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Classless? Na, I don't think so. Stupid? Some of his PF have been VERY stupid. He just needs to exercise some control from time to time.....maybe.

Bill would agree with some of that -Watch the last 5 min of the Week 17 Giants game. Rodney(or team, I can't remember) got his second PF, you can see Bill ask who it was on, and then he pulls him out of the game - as Rodney walks by Bill they are both yelling at each other and Rodney goes to the bench (I think it's Tommy that walks over to him and says something to him).

Of course, the beauty of that is that 2 plays later Rodney's back in the game and Bill is giving him the plays and encouraging him from the sideline.

I suspect Rodney will be a little toned down with the "Merriweather understudy" project.

A few years back, he spent time working as an official (NFL Europe) and was very cerebral about it. I suspect coaching is in his future.

PATSNUTme said:

That means there are 21 coaches that appreciate the awesomeness of Rodney. And, 11 crybabies.

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So not voting for Rodney (or even responding to the poll) is the same as "appreciating his awesomeness?" Dude!

Travis Henry has 9 kids from 9 women.

He gets my vote.

when Rodney first got here i remember one play that made me fall in love with him. I dont remember the exact team but there was a fumble and a huge pig pile with both teams going at it trying to get the ball, even refs piled in there. Well there were guys pushing and shoving etc etc, anyways Rodney was wrecking havok like you know he does, he was just outside the pile pulling guys off and stuff he wasnt on the bottom, and you know how Rodney gets when after the play hes always in a scrum with someone, well there was a big *** olineman from the other team that came over and started messing with Rodney, Rodney straight up pushed him back and he went flying over the pile backwards and fell on his ***. Was the funniest thing man, owning a big olineman like that.

im gunna miss him when hes gone! Hes 35. This may be his last season. At least we got Meriweather to latch on to now, this kid is gunna be just as good.

KontradictioN said:

You have to include Brian Billick in any list regarding Rodney being the dirtiest player in the NFL for this reason alone:

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Now that was classless.

WelkerMagic said:

There is no way Rodney Harrison is the dirtiest player, he get's a bad rep IMO.







Vince Wilfork is the dirtiest player!!!!!!!!!!

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A Bills fan pretending to be a Patriots fan...pathetic.

A title well earned by Rodney. What makes Rodney dirty is what he does, constantly, after the whistle. He is a "Chippy" player.

Folks, - Rodney Harrison earned instant tenure for this award after his horrific hit on Trent Green in the pre-season of 1999 when he was a Charger I am sorry but you will have to look at this for yourselves and make your own determination. That almost ended Trent Green's career and did end his season. That is basically the memory people have of this guy when they vote. And by the way, don't bash ESPN "talking heads" for this. They are reporting the results of a survey.

jbb9s said:

Folks, - Rodney Harrison earned instant tenure for this award after his horrific hit on Trent Green in the pre-season of 1999 when he was a Charger I am sorry but you will have to look at this for yourselves and make your own determination.

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IIRC, Rodney was extremely upset by that hit and was talking about retiring because of it...saying something like he would never do something to try to end someone's career. Be that as it may, I love the guy and yes he does go a bit overboard at times and I wish he wouldn't. That game someone cited where BB pulled him, before that happened I was SCREAMING at my tv for BB to yank him so he would cool down and think about doing stupid crap like that. But I don't want him to stop being ferocious either. It's a fine line. I remember when he first came to the Pats he was going balls to the wall in TC and he laid a smackdown on Troy Brown like you wouldn't believe. A couple vets had to pull him aside and say hey Rodney, we know you can still play...cool your jets. It hit me wrong at the time, I admit, but I grew to love the guy. Marcellus Wiley, and old teammate of his said on NFL Live today that Rodney is a bit out of the way sometimes but he loved having him as a teammate. I do think he has toned it down a bit since he left SD.

That being said, how does a guy who has forced a rule to be passed because of his method of tackling (Roy Williams) and yet STILL continues to do it at least twice per year that I have SEEN (and I see maybe 4 Cowboys games/year) not win this one hands down?

It's okay ... back in the 50's and 60's Rodney wood have been viewed as a good "must have" player on your team.

F.B.N. said:

It's okay ... back in the 50's and 60's Rodney wood have been viewed as a good "must have" player on your team.

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Still is a MUST HAVE in my book.

I could care less what they think about him... I'm just happy that he is on our team.

Keegs said:

-Marvin Lewis?

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Olin Kreutz got a vote, so you gotta figure Marvin Lewis.

Good for Rodney.

Although it annoys me that Roy Williams hasn't topped the dirtiest player list yet.

Boston Jay said:

Good for Rodney.

Although it annoys me that Roy Williams hasn't topped the dirtiest player list yet.

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I can't recall...but was Ronnie Lott considered 'dirty?' He was ferocious and aggressive and widely considered the greatest at the position.

If Sean Taylor were alive, would he be on that list or is he a 'smart, aggressive' player?

PittPatriot said:

I can't recall...but was Ronnie Lott considered 'dirty?' He was ferocious and aggressive and widely considered the greatest at the position.

If Sean Taylor were alive, would he be on that list or is he a 'smart, aggressive' player?

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Yeah ... it's game of aggression but tackle nice now Rodney and be a good boy. It's no secret that Rodney is very religious ... I can see him praying and God sends a message ... Rodney ... nice hit on that slot receiver today ... Amen Rodney.

"ESPN.com surveyed NFL head coaches for their take on a range of issues, including the league's smartest offensive player (non-QB), smartest defensive player, dirtiest player and which owner carries the best reputation among head coaches. Thirty-one of the 32 coaches participated on some level."

Are there any prizes for guessing the name of the coach who was too busy to answer ESPN's questions?