Harrison goes to great lengths to help

PITTSBURGH -- As Ben Roethlisberger rolled right, the frenzy unfolding before his eyes, Rodney Harrison flashed to film he studied last week of the Steelers rookie quarterback.

"Happy feet," Harrison thought to himself.

Roethlisberger still had the ball, but Harrison knew he was now in control. It was second and 6 for the Steelers at the New England 19-yard line. The Steelers, trailing, 17-3, were on the move. And, so was Roethlisberger, who was locked in on tight end Jerame Tuman.

"He definitely wants to run, run to throw the ball," Harrison said. "And on film, he would sometimes lob some up. I tried to anticipate a little bit and wait for him to take the lead. Then step in front of it."

The forthcoming pass arrived at the destination a second too late, meaning it was a few feet behind a helpless Tuman. Harrison stepped in for the pick and saw the most beautiful sight an NFL safety can lay eyes on: pure nothing.

"It was just smooth sailing," Harrison said. "It felt good for once to see nothing but greenery. When I was running, I was just so elated because I knew it was a big play in the game."

His 87-yard return for a touchdown turned a 17-3 New England lead into a 24-3 advantage.

"We could be here talking about his big plays all day," coach Bill Belichick said. "That was a 10-point swing. Maybe more."

If Roethlisberger completes that pass, the Steelers probably find themselves in position to kick a field goal (and make it 17-6) or reach the end zone (making it 17-10). Harrison, whose pick for a touchdown was the longest in team history, became just the third Patriot to return an interception for a touchdown in the playoffs. He joined Ty Law (47-yarder in Super Bowl XXXVI against St. Louis) and Todd Collins (40-yarder vs. Miami Dec. 28, 1997).

Law's 47-yard return against the Rams had been a Patriot record. But Harrison likely wouldn't have gotten half of those 87 yards without Mike Vrabel, one of only three players visible on the television replay once Harrison broke into a dead-out run on the Steelers' half of the field. It was Harrison high-stepping down the field as Vrabel slowed to block poor Roethlisberger -- the only Steeler back -- to the ground.

"Barring kickoffs," Vrabel said, he couldn't remember ever running so fast.

By the end of his jaunt, Harrison probably had never run so slow. He walked the last 3 yards into the end zone. A little showmanship, perhaps. Or, just a sign of old age.

"If you saw him in the end zone, he was on his back, crawling," noted receiver Deion Branch. "He's getting old."

Harrison turned 32 last month, and with each added candle has come added perspective.

"My first year in the league, 1994, I went to the Super Bowl," said Harrison, whose Chargers lost, 49-26, to the powerhouse San Francisco 49ers. "It was 10 years. I don't take things for granted. I keep telling these guys that."

That might be why Harrison, twice injured last night, returned to the game both times.

On the first Pittsburgh series of the second quarter, Harrison attempted to stand up running back Duce Staley. Someone fell on top of Harrison, who limped off the field for one play.

Then, in the third quarter, Jerome Bettis broke a 25-yard run down the left side. Would-be tackler Eugene Wilson came from the middle of the field while Harrison gave chase down the sideline. Wilson got to Bettis, knocking him out of bounds, but undercut Harrison in the process. Wilson hit Harrison in the left knee, causing him to land on his shoulder. Is he banged up?

"Are you kidding me?" Harrison asked. "Of course I am."

He was helped off the field, and on the ensuing play Roethlisberger hit Hines Ward on a play-action pass. Ward, who had lined up on the left side, had run a post pattern and wound up in a vicinity where Harrison would have been.

"Who knows?" Troy Brown mused. "Maybe he would have been there."

True to form, Harrison returned.

"He's a great football player," Vrabel said. "He plays with everything he's got inside of him. If you have a son who plays football, you'd want him to play like that.

"If he's out there, you're getting everything he's got. If he's not, you know he's not OK."

That's the way it is with Harrison. Anything short of a broken bone -- such as the arm he broke in last year's Super Bowl -- and he's back on the field.

"He plays hard," Brown said. "He doesn't realize it's cold out there. He bangs some guys and gets hurt. He's a tough guy. He bounces back."