“Tom Brady if you’re listening, take off the skirt and put on some slacks – toughen up.” – Rodney Harrison to Tom Brady on NBC’s Football Night in America.
Those words from former Patriot Rodney Harrison touched off a bit of blowback, even though to me, it was very clear that Harrison was just busting Brady’s balls. Harrison’s comment was in reference to the two roughing the passer penalties given to the Ravens, one in particular where the defender lunged at Brady’s knees, and the QB did a slick matador move to get out of the line of a direct hit. Brady could be seen turning to the official and petitioning him for a flag, after which the official nodded and threw the flag.
Harrison had to come out and clarify that he was just busting Brady with the comments, and Brady, on WEEI this morning, busted Harrison right back, while expressing his affection for his former teammate. Harrison then came on WEEI and said that he had texted Brady earlier that he was going to get on him a little bit, and added that there was no way he’d say something like that in seriousness about the guy who is responsible for the two Super Bowl rings that Harrison owns.
Can we move on now?
It was another week of idiocy by the media, especially the national type. The prevailing wisdom seemed to be that the Patriots just couldn’t match up with the physical Ravens. The Patriots flagship radio station beat up on the team in the week prior, with mid-day host Gary Tanguay, who also hosts the Patriots pregame and postgame shows, insisting that the Ravens were too physical for the Patriots. He was “concerned” about this. Obessessed was more like it, as he must’ve said it 100 times in four hours on Friday.
The genius of beating up on the Patriots before the game is that if the Patriots win, everyone is so happy, they don’t care what you said the week before, and if they lose, you can bask in the position of being correct. A no-lose situation.
Nationally, the majority of the experts were in the Ravens camp, which wasn’t in itself such a bad pick, as the Ravens are a VERY good team. The reasons given were laughable. If you’ve been watching this game for years, you’ve come to realize that most of the national media really have no clue when it comes to picking games. Most of them do not follow all 32 teams on a weekly basis, and only know the basics of each team, which is understandable. Asking them to make picks across the league is unreasonable. Yet, they all continue to make the picks, and give their “take” on them.
An example was the NFL Network’s Gameday Morning crew, in which three of the four “experts” picked the Ravens. Steve Mariucci correctly picked the Patriots, noting the difference that Wes Welker would make. The other three, Marshall Faulk, Warren Sapp and Michael Irvin were all in the Baltimore camp, with their only “take” being that the Ravens defense was going to be too much for the Patriots. I believe it was Warren Sapp who said that the Patriots couldn’t handle the Ravens defense when Tom Brady was healthy, how will they now, plus the Ravens have a great offense now. I guess “couldn’t handle” means “never lost to” in Sapp’s world.
When it came to Irvin, the former Cowboy was to the point. “Ravens, easy. EASY!”
I tuned in for NFL Network’s highlights show at night, of which Irvin is a part, to see if he would address his pick. When it came to the Patriots/Ravens game. Irvin didn’t have much to say, other than some babble about the Patriots learning to regain their swagger.
This week? Expect to be overloaded with student/master McDaniels/Belichick references as the Patriots prepare to travel to Denver and take on the 4-0 Broncos.
Patriots Daily 
Thanks Bruce, good article. The most useless media activity in sports is the NFL predictions – nothing but filler to media types can create their own controversy. It’s hard to analyze schemes and players within schemes, that’s why most media can’t do it.
And yeah, seems like everyone has to give an opinion on Rodney’s little joke – morons. Of course Florio thinks he foundsome gossip gold and can’t stop writing about it.
LikeLike
The point about media hacks picking against the Patriots the week prior is a good one…akin to having your cake and eating it, too. You get to say you were ‘right’ if they lose while basking in the knowledge that, if they win, people ‘won’t care’ what was said earlier. It clearly doesn’t take more than a high-school diploma to play that little game, which is what people like Tanguay call their ‘degree.’
LikeLike
Last week Sapp said some pretty idiotic things on his way to predicting the Falcons would crush the Pats in Foxborough. He’s clearly carrying a grudge.
At least Faulk and yes even Irvin usually use facts and logic to back up their opinions.
Sapp is just a loudmouth, know nothing know it all. NFL Network should fire him, lest it become ESPN3.
LikeLike
Post-game shows, I suppose there’s highlights, injuries, stats, etc. But on those rare times that I’m free between 12 and 1 p.m. Sunday, and I flip to any of the many pre-game shows, I can’t last more than 5 minutes. I learn more from Walter Scott’s Personality Parade.
So, out of curiosity . . . . to those who watch them, why do you still watch any of the pre-game shows? Do they offfer anything?
LikeLike
I usually learn more Sunday mornings by reading the BSMW message board and the Las Vegas Review Journal.
LikeLike
could not agree more,Cap…..It’s funny because when I was a young lad I NEVER missed the old “NFL TODAY” show with Brent Musberger, Jimmy “The Greek”, Irv Cross and Phyliss George. It was only a half hour long……….It probably wasn’t that great of a show but since there was only that and the one on NBC (with Bryant Gumbel and then Bob Costas) It seemed like it was special…….Now there are shows on all week on ESPN, NFL NETWORK, COMCAST etc..etc……..a clear case of “MORE is NOT better”……..now I don’t watch any of them.
LikeLike
oh yeah, and to but it bluntly. Anybody who thought Rodney Harrison was REALLY bashing Brady is a damn fool…..It’s a well known fact around here that they are good freinds and bust each others balls alot…….off course the national media being a bunch of lazy ass’s almost wet their pants thinking there was a real “feud” between the 2 of them………pathetic
LikeLike
ESPN still brought that out this afternoon, well after the good-natured aspect of the comment had been established. Blowhards on Around the Horn even referred to it as “The Skirt Game.”
Good God.
LikeLike
I wish Brady and Harrison didn’t clear it up, I’d rather the media obsess about some ball busting all season thinking it was real
LikeLike
Did anyone notice crybaby Harbaugh’s “weak” and very swift handshake with Belichick after the game on Sunday?
Where’s the outrage?
Had BB been the one to offer such a half-hearted handshake, you know it would have been blared across the front page of ESPN.com and other sports websites. Heck, there are some idiots out there in the media who STILL claim that Belichick “snubbed” Peyton Manning after the AFC title game loss three years ago, despite photographic evidence to the contrary.
LikeLike
Isn’t this the same Warren Sapp that declared in 2002 that the Patriots were a fluke and he would have retired if the Patriots had beaten him in the Super Bowl.
LikeLike