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October 3, 2007

Harrison: "I don't want to talk about the past"

Hey all --

Today marked the first time in a month that we in the media have seen Rodney Harrison, as he re-joined the Patriots yesterday after serving a four-game suspension for admitting to purchasing and using human growth hormone.

We'll admit upfront that the crush of reporters in front of Harrison's locker made it hard for us to hear a lot of what he said, but here are some points that he hit on:

* He did not want to elaborate on the past nor share his thought process on what led him to purchase HGH

* Asked if the time away gave him some perspective on his career, Harrison said, "I've always had perspective on my career. Life isn't football, and I have a lot of life left."

* He said people make mistakes, there are consequences to every decision one makes, and that he can't go out of his way "to change everyone's opinion of me. I know what kind of person I am."

* Harrison wanted to get everyone to focus on what's in front of him, not what's behind, noting that he has Browns tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. and the rest of Cleveland upcoming and he's getting ready for that.

Tom Brady also chatted in front of his locker, and he said the same thing about Cleveland that his coach did: that the Browns are a field goal away from being 3-1. He praised the Cleveland secondary, and doesn't want the Patriots to become one-dimensional against them because they'll get beat.

Bill Belichick opened his press conference by talking extensively about the Browns, saying that they've gotten better every week, can move the ball down the field in a hurry on offense, have good young players in the secondary, and a standout punt and kick return man in Joshua Cribbs.

He said Harrison would absolutely be on the practice field today, and that the team will work him into things day by day.

New England has been granted a one-week exemption for Harrison, going until Oct. 8, but if he is activated for Sunday's game, thereby ending the exemption, there will need to be a corresponding roster move.

shalise

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 11:55 AM to Rodney Harrison | Permalink