Former Patriots safety Rodney Harrison declared the Patriots the greatest dynasty in NFL history when he joined Ordway, Merloni and Fauria Friday afternoon live from Radio Row in Minnesota.
Harrison won two Super Bowls in each of his first two years in New England alongside Bill Belichick and Tom Brady. Now an analyst for NBC Sports, he, like most, are amazed the duo has continued their success and dominance over the NFL for as long as they have.
"I think it's the greatest. It's unbelievable because they're doing the same things that we used to do." Harrison said, alluding to the back-to-back championships they won together in 2003 and 2004, something the Patriots are going for Sunday against Philadelphia. "How do you keep that level of intensity up, the focus, each and every year?"
Harrison specifically was impressed with Brady, who has won five Super Bowls and four Super Bowl MVPs, and his drive to win is as fierce as ever.
"Tom, he's accomplished a great deal," he said. "Sometimes you get to a point where you say, 'You know what? Maybe I can chill a bit. Maybe I don't have to get out of bed and lift weights and do all the things I used to do because I've accomplished so much. I made it.' You never see that from Tom Brady. You never see that from Bill Belichick.
"I love their relationship because Bill is the one guy who can push Tom's buttons. Obviously the expectations are there, and Tom has just been delivering time and time again. It's been great."
Harrison remembers back during his time in New England during team meetings after games when Brady would get criticized by Belichick and he would remain humble, quiet and take his coaching. That's one of the reasons the two-time All-Pro safety believes the Patriots have remained an NFL power.
"When your best player accepts coaching, everyone else will fall in line."
The analyst then dove into the game this Sunday against the Eagles. Harrison tabbed Malcolm Butler as a guy who will need to be prepared against the Philadelphia run-pass option. He thinks that Butler may have set expectations for himself too high this season, reason for some of added attention from opposing quarterbacks.
"It's a tough job man. That's why these guys get paid so much. They're on an island. They have no help," he said. "He put too much pressure on himself this year…sometimes it's difficult for guys to play under those circumstances. Ultimately the Patriots will have to play a lot of man-to-man coverage."
Harrison's key for the Patriots is to spread the ball around and keep the linebackers honest, which he believes will lead to Brady throwing for 350-plus yards come Sunday.
