Former New England Patriots safety Rodney Harrison decided to chime in on the antics of Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowki after their Super Bowl loss to the Giants on Sunday night.
Harrison stated that Gronkowski “disrespected himself” by taking off his shirt during the Patriots’ post-game party.
“I guarantee you this, if Willie McGinest, Tedy Bruschi, Larry Izzo, Richard Seymour or myself had been at that party, (Gronkowski) probably would have got his head rung,” said Harrison on ESPN 1000 in Chicago. “There’s no reason for that to happen.”
“When we lost the Super Bowl, any of my Super Bowl losses, I was so devastated the last thing I ever wanted to do was party, let alone dance or take off your shirt,” he added. “It’s just immaturity. It’s not right. He made a mistake and I’m sure he feels absolutely stupid about it at this point. There’s a time and place for everything.”
Harrison believes the leadership within the Patriots locker room needs to step up.
“The leadership has to step up and someone has to pull (Gronkowski) to the side and say, ‘Look young man, this is inappropriate, this is not the time nor the place. You need to grow up,’” Harrison said. “And that’s what it comes down to. I like this kid. I think he’s a good kid, works hard, is unselfish. But he made a mistake …
“There’s a certain way of representing yourself and your family and that’s not the right way.”
Harrison is confident that Patriots head coach Bill Belichick will likely address the situation with Gronkowski.
“That’s something internally that they’re going to have to deal with,” he said. “I’m sure Bill Belichick is addressing it. I’m sure he’s very disappointed about that.”
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What I want to know is…why were the Patriots having a post-Super Bowl party in the first place?
Underthebus – They were partying for exactly the same reason people throw a wake when someone dies.
why can’t the man dance he’s a human being if the man wants to dance let the man dance maybe he had post superbowl stress. After, losing the game and dancing and taking off his shirt is his way of blowing off steam. I think he is grown and has the right to do what the hell he wants maybe he just need to let a load off on something if you know what i mean rodney gayman harrison.
I agree with you Tom there is no reason for Rodney to be such a prick. he’s a human being, sure the team just lost the super bowl but life goes on. grow up Rodney
Well, sure, Tom Matey, he can do anything he wants if it’s under the heading, “he’s just blowing off steam”. Right! If he wants to take of all his clothes, run around naked, hit the head trainer upside the head, make an obscene gesture right straight into a CBS camera, call Eli Manning’s mother a few choice names and have sex with a Patriots cheerleader (with or without her consent) right in front of his locker, hey, it’s perfectly okay because “he’s just blowing off steam”.
I’d like to see Rodney Harrison TRY to ring Gronkowski’s head…he’s pretty brave in print…
Learn how tor read **** is says “Patriots’ post-game party” not superbowl party
It was probably already scheduled in advance….
Hey Rodney Allen Rippey – Former Patriot..get it former Patriot. STFU ! I would have rung his head..trust me it would have taken all three of you’ll to ring his bell. Of course you would have been at the Bar calling the play by play action.
With that body, he can rip his shirt off anytime he likes. :-Þ
RODNEY THE LOSER YOURE JUST MAD YOU DONT HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO REALY MAKE IT INT THE NFL.OTHER THEN YOURE MOUTH.
he was in the nfl dumbass, on the patriots
Thom – you’re a fool, and an embarassment. I recommend knowing something….ANYTHING, before you open your idiot mouth and prove what a dipshit you are
Don’t have what it takes? Do you even know what he has done?
In 1997, became first player in NFL history to score touchdowns on an interception return, fumble return and kickoff return in same season.
Has the most sacks (30.5) of any defensive back in NFL history.
Had four interceptions in three games in the 2004-05 playoffs.
His seven playoff interceptions (including one returned for a touchdown) are a Patriots team record.
Is one of ten players in the history of the NFL to record at least 20 interceptions and 20 sacks in his career, for which he is well regarded. The other members of this small club are linebackers Tom Jackson, Seth Joyner, Wilber Marshall, William Thomas, Donnie Edwards and Ray Lewis, safeties LeRoy Butler, Brian Dawkins, Lawyer Milloy and Adrian Wilson, and cornerback Ronde Barber.
On October 21, 2007, became the initial member of the 30/30 Club of players with both 30 interceptions and 30 sacks. He is joined by Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis
Lawyer Milloy who also played on the Patritos with Harrison.
It’s called a troll. Don’t feed the trolls.
WTF What is he to do?? Cry in his beer. It was just a friggin game. He will get there again. Tell Jacobs to shut the f#*% up too. She was right! Is that so hard to take?
And yet women do that every day in and out of the sports arena with the clothes they wear (or don’t wesr) and nobody thinks a thing about it. The way women disrespect themselves these days brings all the rest of us down with them.
Rodney,
Let it go,,,the only bigger disgrace was you never making an attempt to break up that catch by Tyree! “Mr Tough-guy” safety played that like a 13 year old girl! So ,,guess who needs to grow up? He’s 22 years old,,out with his friends,,what exaxtly did he do wrong?,,nothing,,,,Go Gronk!
Chuck Picardy
13 yr old girl? are you kidding, did you ever see rodney play. He was the hardest hitting safety in the league when he was playing. he did try to break up the tyree pass all the way to the ground. there was a reason why tyree wasn’t able to get his other hand on the ball and thats because rodney was trying to break it up the best he could in that situation. that was a lucky catch on one of the best safety’s in the history of the game
sooo.it was a patriot post game party..right?? was gronk the only patriot there??and what about beilckek and the $500,00 spygate ‘mistake’…gisele’s comment was funny and justified…washed up players subbing as commentators need to smarten up or shut up…
cry me a ******* river harrison, they made it to the super bowl! thats a huge deal even if you lose, not only that, its a game fella, let your nuts drop yo
I hope that as the Patriots lineup, and coaching staff age they are thinking about the future of the organization. I’ve been a long time Pats fan, even when we sucked way back when, and I would like to see some sort of cross training happening where key staff positions(Head Coach) and other key positions (QB) are grooming the next generation to do business in the same excellent manner that has been the Patriots hallmark for a long tme now. I don’t know about anyone else, but I think we have a great thing going here, and it would be a shame to let it die when Brady, and Belichick finally call it quits.. GO PATRIOTS!!!!!!
Unfortunately it will go down the tubes when they leave – look at the cowboys after johnson left…switzer coasted on that talent for a season and then they went south…it will be many years before the Pats can regain where they are at now…just enjoy it (you could be a browns fan and have nothing)
ROB IS A DUMBASS. IF I WAS A NFLer AND HAD JUST LOST A SUPER BOWL I WOULD BE DEVESTATED. I AGREE WITH HARRISON, HE DISRESPECTED HIMSELF, HIS TEAM AND HIS TEAMMATES.
Supermodel or not, (I have no idea why, she looks like Steffi Graf) she did get it right, the receivers sucked that day, period.
And yes, Brady got batted down critically. Basically they were “hung over” from something, and the Giants handed their A$$es to them. They deserved it the way they played.
And Rodney “smallshank” Harrison should shut up and go back down on his boyfriend. That loud mouth loser HASBEEN!
He sucked when he did play! Go GRONK, party your a$$ off, you made it to the “Promised land”!!! Have fun wit it!
who cares if he parties. he was just in the super bowl. that’s enough reason to party! some of you people need to get a grip.
I think this guy needs to learn how to speak English before he attacks anyone. “To disrespect” is NOT a verb. OMG. He went to college? Jesus.
Lets talk about disrespect on the team… Tom Brady insulted his own team mates home town area just before the big game. (clearly his wife has an issue with filtering her thoughts as well…). Gronk party it up brother, you deserve it, be proud of your accomplishments! Winning isnt everything, only two teams make it to the SB every year so making it there with your team is something to celebrate! I really dont see the big deal, he could have done a lot worse than take his shirt off… <3 A fellow Buffalonian.
Are you kidding me? I like you guys who say “winning isn’t everything”, and “at least you got there”. You must have never tasted how sweet being number one feels like, or the feeling of dejection of all that hard work meaning you go home with no hardware! Ask John Wooden, John Chaney, Coach K, Coach Paterno (RIP), If it is okay to party after loosing on the big stage! Teach your kids that it is okay to be “first loser”! Being a successful althlete and coach, I see more and more players settling for mediocracy, just to say they played in the big game. That’s why we have few ‘elite’ players. I’m sure Gronk would trade places with the Giant’s third string tightend right about now. Numbers are for you Sunday Morning QBs and ESPN ratings. Have fun with that one! God bless you all!
I don’t believe for one second you are a successful athlete or coach. Your words read like someone that has never really competed in anything in their life. Live vicariously through sports center much? Probably not even a has been, you’re probably a never was and never tried. Everyone wants to win but unfortunately there is only one winner. Second place definitely beats the hell out of watching from the comfort of your couch. In sports you rise to your best and if you have it in you, you strive to go further. Sometimes you lose, that’s life. Losing is not settling for mediocrity, it is just being bested by a better opponent on that day. You learn from losses and here’s a cliche, it builds character! Yes it sucks to train 8 weeks for a fight and lose in a flash knockout in the opening round, but it happened to Lennox Lewis agaist Sheldon Washington. Was he mediocre? I think not. Every time I step into the cage I thank God for the opportunity to do so. A year ago I couldn’t throw a punch, 18 months before that I could raise my arm. And despite the risk of catastrophic re-injury I still pushed through painful surgery and rehab to continue to pursue a sport that is tempermental at best. REAL athletes know what I mean. Furthermore you contradict yourself. You claim you’re a coach and you see too many athletes settling for mediocrity? Well if you were a coach for longer than a week you would pretty much know that most athletes are mediocre, the elite are a select few. You also contradict yourself when you say that Gronk would rather trade places with the Giants third string tight end? That confirms you have no athletic credibility, no elite athlete would trade their status as one of the top at their position for a chance at sitting on the bench of a championship team. That is just STUPID!!!…I’m sure most will agree that they would rather give their all in a glorious battle and lose rather than sit on the sidelines (or on the couch) wondering what the turf feels like.
Thanks for your comment. Well stated.
Who is it for anyone to decide how another person’s emotions should be after a game? And it’s a GAME. Sure the Super Bowl is a big deal in many ways, but in the end it’s not something you need to use to destroy your own mental state for the sake of being “correct” in the way you handle a loss. If the guy wants to party, that’s his own business. Gronk has already proved that he can play and play damn well, so why should he have to act like a baby?
How did “Grionk” perform when the team needed him the most? Thats right PATHETIC!
You can gain all the yards/TDs you want in the regular season, but what good is it when you CAN’T PERFORM in the biggest game of the season?
Gronk had NOTHING to dance and party about, NOTHING! No ring, no TDs, and measly yardage in the biggest game of the year!
LOSERS DON’T CELEBRATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yeah Chris, I’m sure being a 240 lb man on a sprained ankle had nothing to do with his ability to get open and break tackles. But hey it’s professional sports at its highest and you watched the game so I guess you belong on ESPN now with the other experts sporting Super Bowl rings.
I love it how these fan boys that probably can’t even throw a tight spiral love to throw around sports cliches and provide their keen insight into a real athlete’s inner workings.
I don’t care how the man decompresses but how was he able to jump around like that if his ankle was such a problem?
he was drunk.
first off yea thom is a a dumbass second yea i think gronk has a right to party just the same way anyone who made to a WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP would. He disrespected noone. Brady needs to shut his wife the F**k up her husband got the pats a safety which if he didnt they would have only needed a field goal to win and wouldnt of needed to try and drive down the field so hard and blame the whole game on the recievers. thats a mistake that should not be made in a superbowl.
Well said Mark. Rodney Harrison has impeccable credentials and resume. He was and remains a leader on and off the field. The nay sayers are just that …talkers. Until you’ve done it, keep your inexperienced, ill advised and uninformed opinions to yourselves. Rodney Harrison possessed exemplary skill sets, fierce determination and and a work ethic second to none. He was a “PROFESSIONAL” in every sense of the word.
And still an arrogant, narcissistic, self centered, over opinionated, disrespectful, (to Tony Dungy) big mouthed Charles Barklian, who needs to be fired!
He is the Terrell Owens of sports commentators.
No one actually likes him. Dump his a$$, PLEASE!
There are a plethora of qualified, topflight, retired, (and interesting), classy NFL players available.
John Lynch comes to mind. Sign him up!
Rodney Harrison? Please, send that spode packing.
Spode:
A brainless person, especially one who looks deceivingly ornamental or decorative, i.e. wears all the trendy fashions.
See that guy in the Tommy Hilfiger clothes? He looks all that, but he has no common sense. He’s a real spode.
with the money they make and today’s culture, players just dont respect the game as before. how many players have you heard in all the years do what he did? the guy i think is letting fame get to his head. first the stripper and now this.
I have no problem with him partying. However, if I was a Patriot fan, I’d be wondering where those moves were during the game. The ankle looks fine in those videos. He could jump across the dance floor, but looked like a 90 yr old man diving for the loose ball on the hail mary. MAybe he should have got trashed before the game. Great football talent, but obviously not too much upstairs.
If TO did something like this, white boys were be ready to flog him and calling him every N word name in the book.
Hey Rodney, who cares what you think is right or wrong. That may have been the way things were done in the past, but people move on. Sorry that your former team is the Giants *****, but maybe that is what you should be more concerned with instead of who is taking their shirt off.
Rodney – did you happen to see the photo of Rob’s dancing, along with the shirtless Pro-Bowler Veteran and long-time blind-side defender Matt Light right next to him? Why no nasty comments about Matt’s conduct?
Rodney, I love ya to death but you are dead wrong here. Matt Light (who played with Teddy, you, and the guys you named) took his shirt off to but it didn’t get the same attention ‘cuz he doesn’t look like Gronk. Also, it was a private party thrown by their BOSS. Of course, the party was planned as a celebration initially but they didn’t cancel it so they showed up and had fun…what the heck is wrong with that? Leave them alone or attack Matt Light as well…equal punishment for equal crime…you decide. BTW, still love ya
STFU Rodney, You aren’t ringing anyones head….Why can’t the man dance or take off his shirt? Correct me if i’m wrong…It WAS a PARTY, RIGHT???
Maybe he popped some pills and needed to dance .
Look, the Patriots have absolutely no class. Gronkowski dancing like a beeyotch is to be expected. I mean, it’s not like he has an ankle injury or anything…
Ok Harrison was an amazin player but still Patriots played hard and tried their best and at least they made it 2 the super bowl and they deserved 2 celebrate 4 that
Yeah – difference is TO said stupid stuff all the time. He was all about me.
He had built a huge amount of disrespect by his self indulgence in ME.
Hurt because team did not clebrate his birthday? come on what a prima donna.
I think he is just jealous, who cares if he lost and who cares if he decided to take his shirt off at a party. Its his body and he can do as he pleases, if anyone at the party objected they would of opened their mouth to him. Harrison sorry your not a part of the “IN” crowd anymore. Let people be themselves
shut your face @Face Im so tired of people alwaqys turning everything into a racial situation. Im a white man married to a black woman and i have seen racism from the black race towards white people alot more that the other way around. It could be because people Im around know they will get there head bashed if they talk any nonsense around me I know what history tells us but we are here now not back then so shut that hole in your face. This is a place to comment on Gronk dancing or what Harrison had to say about it, now lets see if you can take your narrow little mind down that path. Just to not be a hypicrit I think the Patriots lost as a team it looks liek they partied as a team harrison gets paid to give his comments nobody was wrong. Been a pats fan sinced they drafted Drew I use to cheer for Harrison and do so for Gronk now. So why don’t all of use just sit back watch tv relax from our jobs and let those guys do theirs!!!! Face your still a dumbaZZ in my book.
Sometimes dancing is the way to just let everything out.
He’s right. There is a level of professionalism that he, Tedy, Seymour, etal exhibited that is not indicative of celebrating publically after a loss like that – much less minus your shirt.
FIRST off, the party was not public, it was a PRIVATE PARTY, GET IT?
If he wanted to paint the dance floor with his schwantz and call him Priccasso, he has the right! He was partying with his pals! It was PRIVATE! GET IT?
SECOND, he’s 22 and just played the biggest game of his life! Something he has fantasized about his entire life, GET IT?
THIRD, He had a few drinks, and probably had a pain pill to mask the pain, something real athletes do everyday, GET IT?
So yeah, he could dance around a bit. It’s not like being on the field and pushing your body to the max on every play, GET IT?
GOOD, NOW GET OVER IT AND MOVE ON!
Can’t agree with you more Mark, spoken like a true Pats fan. Rodney was absolutely right on with his comments. You wouldn’t have seen those players ( he left out Vrabel and a few others) acting that way after one of the biggest losses of their career. All you fools taking shots at Rodney at prob 21 and under living in Ma’s basement saying that crap about people to make yourselves feel better. This behavior isn’t the Patriot way and this team does need the veteran leadership of players like Rodney mentioned. Step up Tom, Vince and bring this team back to where it once was.