The Patriots not only survived the first four weeks of the season without safety Rodney Harrison in the defensive backfield but most people didn’t even realize he was gone. When Harrison was suspended by the NFL for HGH use just prior to opening weekend many through out the media and even Patriots fans themselves thought 
they could be in for it and what was promising to be a special season could start off ugly.
But the team, as always, pulled together to survive loss of Harrison plus having all-pro defensive lineman Richard Seymour put on the PUP list for the six weeks with an ankle injury. Then came camera-gate and everyone forgot about Harrison’s absence.
Well Rodney returned to the facilities today. I’m sure he’s dying to play Sunday at home against Cleveland and I’m sure Pat’s fans will give him the same treatment they gave Belichick in Week 2. Nothing but love.
Comment of the week goes to Mendoza on the Pat’s projo blog discussing the return of Harrison:
“I feel bad for the first person to get hit by him next week”.
Speaking of Richard Seymour, I haven’t heard anything about if he is going to return for Week 7. This isn’t surprising as the Patriots are very secretive to begin with regarding injuries and never make injured players available to the media. The Patriots have to either activate him or place him on the season-long injured reserve list after Week 6.
The Bengals who started Monday’s game with only four healthy linebackers played nearly 3 quarters with only two after Lemar Marshall and Landon Johnson suffered injuries, neither returned to the field. Wednesday Cincinnati placed Marshall on the IR for the year and replaced him with Corey Mays who they claimed off waivers from New England. Mays played one game for the Patriots against the Jets in Week 1. He made one tackle in limited time near the end of the game. As a rookie out of Notre Dame last season he played in 8 games for the Patriots making 9 tackles.
I want to clarify a note I put in the game recap from Monday night. Randy Moss is the first receiver in NFL history to change teams and have 100+ yard receiving games in the first four weeks with his new team.
Tom Brady is one of four quarterbacks who can break the NFL record for completion percentage in a season. The record is 70.6%, Brady is currently at 78%. He is also the third QB ever with 3+ TD passes in his first four games.
Sammy Morris, who had his 4th 100+ yard rushing game of his career, is an absolute beast when he gets the ball. He is a very good lane runner and gives the Pats a great complimentary back to Laurence Maroney. He also loves to use that stiff arm.
Let’s all stand right now and applaud the offensive line. These five anonymous guys, Brady’s layers of protection, didn’t allow a sack (the one Cincy got was nullified by an offsides penalty) and just dominated the line in the running game with great kick out blocks and seal offs of others.
The defense was once again very good as well holding the Bengals to 0 for 7 on 3rd down chances, put good pressure on Carson Palmer and kept Chad Johnson relatively quiet.
Even though they are 4-0 head coach Bill Belichick see’s room for improvement. He feels they’re still leaving some points on the field. So 38,38,38 and 34 isn’t enough apparently and that’s not a bad thing. Belichick hates to see his players rest on the laurels of the past and never compares past seasons to the current one whether they were successful or not. Brady said after the game he expects to be getting some more “humble pie” from his coach this week as well. The great thing about Belichick is it doesn’t matter who you are or what you have done there is always a way to work at getting better.
“We’ve only played four games” said Belichick. “We’re a quarter of the way through the season, that’s it. I ‘d like to think that we’ll be better.”
Old friend Romeo Crennel returns to Foxboro with his Cleveland Browns on Sunday. Crennel was the Patriots defensive coordinator from 2001-04 and earned three Super Bowl rings in that position.
We’ve all seen linebacker Mike Vrabel come in as a tight end and catch TD passes from Tom Brady. He’s caught 9 as a matter of fact. Now tight end Benjamin Watson wants a crack at rushing the passer.
I want to come in on third-and-long,” he said, smiling broadly. “I want to come in when it’s third-and-20, when everybody’s knows the quarterback is going to pass, and get a sack.”
