New England Patriots: 5 observations from Week 17 win over Jets
By Ben Porter
Welcome, James Harrison
I would like to make a public announcement that I am happy to have James Harrison on the New England Patriots. You hear that, Steelers fans? James Harrison is on the New England Patriots.
Harrison played his first game in a Pats uniform on Sunday, and he didn’t disappoint. He’s the oldest defensive player in the NFL, but he looked explosive.
Related Story: James Harrison proved he can still make an impact
That’s probably due to him playing just 40 snaps all season with the Steelers. His legs are fresh and he’s hungry to stick it to his former team. Thank you for that, Mike Tomlin.
In his Patriots debut, Harrison had 5 total tackles, two of which were sacks. The veteran linebacker didn’t play every snap, but he showed quickness and intuition when he was on the field.
Final James Harrison snap tracker: He played 28 of a possible 57 snaps. Caps off game with two sacks.
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) December 31, 2017
He even set the edge, which we haven’t seen a Patriots player do in what feels like forever.
Now, I would like to make a public apology to Mr. Harrison and the New England Patriots organization. When the Patriots announced the acquisition of Harrison, I accused him of being a Steelers spy.
Not gonna lie I'm a little nervous James Harrison is a double agent. Feeding the Steelers our plays from the inside. Spiking Tom Brady's drinks with heirlooms and nightshades... All the Steelers players speaking out against him on social media? Classic cover up. Wake up, folks.
— Ben Porter (@Ben13Porter) December 26, 2017
Not only did I underestimate Harrison’s character, but the intelligence and decision making skills of the Patriots personnel. It’s clear to me now that Harrison has moved on from the Black and Yellow and is firmly entrenched in the Patriots title defense campaign.
I hope you can accept my apology, Mr. Harrison. I was partially kidding, after all.