I’m not really sure if I like how Tom Brady is evolving into Tom Brady Gisele.  Doesn’t really matter how the media covers Tom Brady, it’s hard to ignore how his return has been all the talk in all of New England.  While working at Gillette during the DC United and Revs game, some of the TeamOps staff members that I got to work with couldn’t stop gushing about Brady’s return.  The conversations didn’t stop at Tom Brady return, draft picks and predictions about being the team to beat were also main discussion points.  Some of the fans within the stadium are still talking about the (almost) perfect season.  Now I really thought that I was over it, really, really over it.  But hearing the ladies talk, I’ve come to realize that it still hurts.  Last season was a pretty heroic run but it just didn’t feel the same. Tom Brady is on the cover of a recent Sports Illustrated and after reading his article, it was hard not to get just a little more excited for the season to come.

I’ve done everything I could to push myself, sometimes too hard.  Right now, I’m doing everything. There’s nothing I can’t do. – Tom Brady

"We will not go quietly into the night!" We will not vanish without a fight! We're going to live on! We're going to survive! Today we celebrate our Independence Day!

Really? Come on, how do you read that and not feel good about the New England Patriots? I felt like I right after I heard Bill Pullman’s speech as the U.S. president in Independence Day.  *sigh* That is definitely one of those movies that I can just put on when I want something to distract me from doing laundry.

I won’t sit here and preach about my favorite team, but it is nearly impossible not to understand the impact of the return of a player like Tom Brady has to the morale of the entire New England area.  This is the time of ambiance that people could only dream of in their city.  One of the first things people ask me when I tell them that the Pats are my team, is if I only started liking them after they won the Super Bowl.  What can I say? I had good taste in teams in 1998, it just so happens that my love for the Patriots is what made me relocate to the east coast.  Extreme? A bit, but doesn’t everyone tell you to follow your dreams? That’s why I’m here in Providence, Rhode Island, with its strange weather, horrible roads/pot holes and awesome food.  All of it just to be closer to my favorite team.

When football season starts in a few months, count on things to get pretty crazy on here.

# 37, We’ll Miss You.. A Lot.

As of June 3, 2009, Rodney Scott Harrison, the safety from Western Illinois announced his retirement from the National Football League.  Harrison has been called the Dirtiest Player in the NFL not just in 2004, 2006 and also in 2008. This isn’t what Patriots fans remember, we remember Harrison making the game changing sacks and playing the safety position better than most in the league.  With his 16 years of experience in the league, it’s hard to ignore the gap that will be left in the Patriots defense.

Who knew: 2 players we've had to say goodbye to in 2009

What made you, Rodney Harrison?

I found this really touching clip of Rodney Harrison talking about his mom and how much she’s impacted his career.  It’s a 5 minute piece, take the time to watch it and you’ll forget he was called a dirty player. 

Note to my mom: Please watch it, I know you tend to like players with stories like this so I’m sure you’ll love Rodney by the end of it!

Now looking at Harrison’s career, his athletic resume proves to be pretty impressive.
- Played a total of 186 games

- 1,198 total tackles
- 30.5 sacks
- 34 interceptions
* 2 time Pro Bowler
* 2 Super Bowl rings

Overall, he proved to be worth more than his 5th round (145th overall) pick in 1994.  Rodney Harrison was who I looked to when I was younger to get a better understanding of what a person in the Safety position was supposed to do.  I feel as though he had some part in making me the football fan that I am today.  Luckily this won’t be the last we see of Harrison, NBC will be using his experience to enhance their already impressive broadcasting arsenal.  Rodney Harrison was a no-nonsense player and got the job done, if he can do the same as a broadcaster, he may just make NBC a little more interesting.

Rodney Harrison has got it.

This is just a glimpse of what NBC has to be ready for. Harrison takes jabs at Deion Sanders? Niiiiiiiiiiiiiice.

I know this is mostly a Patriots post, I can’t help it guys..working at Gillette does this to you.