NBC analyst and former NFL defensive back Rodney Harrison knows well the folly of doubting the Patriots.
On Oct. 14, 2001, Harrison’s Chargers butted heads with a 1–3 New England team. Led by second-year quarterback Tom Brady, the Patriots rallied from a 26–16 deficit to win in overtime; they would go on to win Super Bowl XXXVI.
Harrison would go on to join New England and contribute to its 2003 and ’04 title teams. Now, two decades later, he is urging fans to have patience as the Patriots reel from an 0–2 start.
“It’s dumb for fans to sit there and (count the team out). It’s just stupid,” Harrison said on MassLive‘s Eye on Foxborough podcast. “I mean, if you know anything about coach [Bill] Belichick, you know, every single week, I don’t care what the record is. They’re gonna fight and claw and they’ve giving themselves a chance to win against two good teams back to back.”
New England threatened both the Eagles and Dolphins at home in the first two weeks of the season, but was unable to pull out a victory. The Patriots are scheduled to visit the 1–1 Jets on Sunday.
“I just, I don’t get it,” Harrison said. “You bury a team after a couple of weeks. I mean, obviously there’s a learning curve. … You’re trying to figure out what you have on defense. What do you have on offense? It’s early.”
