Sports Media

Harrison safety valve: Super Bowl TV work

By Michael Vega

Globe Staff / January 30, 2009

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Patriots safety Rodney Harrison has made no secret of his desire to become an NFL official once he's done playing. But he may want to reconsider, because Super Sunday could be the launching point for a television career.

Harrison, who made several appearances last weekend as a guest on NFL Network's "Total Access," parlayed that exposure into an analyst's role on NBC's six-hour Super Bowl pregame show.

"He's shown a ton of potential," said NBC coordinating producer Sam Flood. "He's a knowledgeable football guy who's got great insight."

Flood said Harrison will be involved in "various elements of the show" and will tape a segment with Cris Collinsworth and offer reaction to several other feature elements. He will join a large assemblage that will include former NFL players Jerome Bettis and Tiki Barber and coaches Mike Holmgren and Tony Dungy.

"He's sprinkled throughout the show," Flood said. "We'll make sure [Patriots fans] see Rodney throughout the day."

Harrison, a 15-year veteran, is coming off a season-ending right quadriceps injury last Oct. 20. He may have the tools to make the transition to broadcasting.

Ever since his arrival in Foxborough in 2003, he has been a media go-to guy in the locker room, largely because of his accessibility, candor, and articulateness.

"We have a couple of cornerbacks and safeties in Rod Woodson and Deion Sanders, but it's always interesting to get a defensive player's perspective," said Eric Weinberger, an executive producer at NFL Network. "Rodney has a real smart point of view on defense, he's articulate, and he's a good communicator."

Harrison appeared last Friday at NFL Network's studio in Culver City, Calif., to talk with anchor/host Derrin Horton and analyst Jamie Dukes, a former NFL offensive lineman.

He addressed numerous topics. His health: "I can't run right now, but I'm able to lift weights and do some things in the weight room." The factors he'll weigh in deciding his future: "I think you look at everything you've accomplished in your career in 15 years, you look at the injuries I've sustained, you look at where you're at right now. I'm at a point where I'm 36 years old and I can still play the game. I believe that, but I'm always going to believe that." His football mortality: "When you're 26, 27, 28, you're made of steel. All of a sudden, you turn 34, 35, and you're made of glass, because now the tendons get weak and the muscles get weak and now you're more prone to injury, and when I walk away from this game, I want to literally walk away."

Harrison showed some edginess when he engaged Dukes in a debate about whether the Patriots should put the franchise tag on Matt Cassel. Asked if he thought there was a possibility New England would pay Cassel more than Tom Brady to sit on the bench, Harrison replied, "Well, you got to look at Tom. Tom's never been a money guy; he's only money on Sundays. Tom's not driven as far as the dollar signs. When you can ensure that you have two great quarterbacks, well, two is always better than one."

When Dukes asserted Cassel was a one-hit wonder whose productivity was attributable to his talented receivers, and therefore shouldn't command a starter's salary, Harrison did not back down. "Watch the film, Jamie. You're an offensive lineman," he said. "You shouldn't get punished for having offensive weapons. Utilize your weapons . . . I'm keeping him. I'm making sure I have two quarterbacks. I've got Tom Brady, who's a Hall of Famer, and I've got a young stud in Matt Cassel, so I'm utilizing both of my quarterbacks."

NBC's drought ends

NBC's Super Bowl broadcast will be its first in 11 years and 16th overall, tying CBS for the most. That prompted Dick Ebersol, chairman of NBC Universal Sports & Olympics, to reflect on the long hiatus caused by the network's exit from pro football. "We had four Super Bowls in six seasons [1993-98], the greatest bounty that anyone had ever had," said Ebersol, who will serve as executive producer for his fifth Super Bowl. Losing the rights to that prized NFL property, Ebersol said, "teaches you a little humility in this business. You get a whole run like that and you think it's going to last forever and it goes away. So my joy is high at having another Super Bowl." Al Michaels will call his seventh Super Bowl, paired for the third time with John Madden, who will be calling his 11th Super Bowl and will become the first person to broadcast the game at all four major networks (CBS, ABC, Fox, NBC).

Au revoir, mon ami

Today marks the last call for Gil Santos, who will sign off on his 38-year career as WBZ Radio's sports director. Santos said he taped his final commentary, which will air today at 12:25 p.m., and previewed it "as a thanks-for-everything type of thing. I decided to tape it because I knew that it would be a tough thing for me to get through." As it was, Santos said he had to tape his final remarks "about five or six times before I could get it right and get through it without getting choked up." The landscape of local AM radio will be forever changed with his departure. "Think of how many people there are who have never heard anyone else do the Patriots or who have never heard of anyone else wake them up to a morning broadcast at this radio station," program director Peter Casey said. "It's a loss and you can't replace someone like Gil." Casey said former WBZ-TV sports anchor Bob Lobel will fill in next week for Santos on a temporary basis. "What am I going to do about Sunday night and the Super Bowl?" said Lobel, lamenting the fact he will have to retire early because of his 3 a.m. wake-up call. "I'll be so nervous about getting up early enough and getting in there that I probably won't sleep." Lobel said he is not a candidate to replace Santos. He was of the opinion the job belongs to Walt Perkins. "Walt really deserves it," Lobel said. "I'm doing this for a week. That's it. It's like the Grateful Dead. They come to a town for a week and they're done. I'm thrilled to be following a legend, but it's only for a week."