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Harrison upbeat
Patriots strong safety Rodney Harrison remains upbeat as he rehabs from a severe knee injury.
"If you asked me 2-3 months ago if I could be where I am now, I wouldn't have believed it," Harrison said en route to the Celtics-Heat game on Wednesday night in Boston. "I'm making tremendous strides. My leg is getting stronger. It takes time and a lot of hard work. There is a lot of tedious exercise, but I'm getting more flexibility, more mobility, more extension in my leg."
Harrison has been working out at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough 3-4 times per week, with each workout lasting 3-5 hours. He said his faith remains strong.
"That's the thing that keeps me level, hungry, grounded. Even through adversity, my faith has remained strong. I truly believe that you don't grow as much when things are fine. You grow through trials and tribulations, becoming a stronger person. That's what has happened to me. I'm at the point, regardless of where God leads me, that I'm at peace. I've given everything I have, never taken anything for granted, and always played hard. Sure, I get disappointed and discouraged at times, but I'm not upset about everything."
Harrison said his comeback plans remain in place. Asked why he previously couldn't imagine performing the rehab he currently is, he said: "I think you start to see the light at the end of the tunnel. When it first happened, my knee was swollen up like a grapefruit. You can imagine how that feels. Now I'm walking, running up stairs, picking up my kids, squatting down a bit. I didn't think I'd be able to do that [this quickly]. You see the progress and say 'if I'm doing this well at three months, I can have the same progress at six months, nine months.'"
Harrison also feels a connection with Patriots fans, who often stop him and ask him about his recovery. "I appreciate all their support," he said.
(Harrison will appear on the television show Mohegan Sun Sports Tonight, on Fox Sports New England, on Thursday at 10 p.m. ET.)
PARCELLS ON VINATIERI: Cowboys coach Bill Parcells acknowledged in an interview with the Star-Telegram in Texas that his team might be in the market for a new kicker. But when the subject of potential free agent Adam Vinatieri was brought up, Parcells had an interesting answer: "If he's smart he'll stay [in New England]. He'd be Bobby Orr and Carl Yastrzemski and John Havlicek. That guy's done a lot."
NOTES: Former Patriots nose tackle Ted Washington has been informed he'll be released by the Raiders if a new collective bargaining agreement isn't reached, according to Washington's agent, Angelo Wright. ... Former Patriots safety Lawyer Milloy has been released by the Bills. ... According to the Indianapolis Star, the Patriots have added DuJuan Daniels to an undisclosed position with the team. Daniels played at Boston College and was coaching high school football in Indiana last season.
