It's one of those plays Rodney Harrison will always hear about.
"Not in a million years does he make that catch again," the Patriots veteran safety told The Boston Globe, referring to Giants WR David Tyree's miracle catch in Super Bowl XLII. The play helped set up New York's game-winning touchdown in the final seconds.
But rather than dwell on the negative, Harrison hinted that he's using that moment as motivation for the upcoming season.
"I can't really speak for everybody's motivation, but I think any time you deal with a situation where you had an opportunity to win, and you lose, I think it's only natural that it leaves you with a funny taste in your mouth," he said. "I don't know if anyone literally takes it into next season, but we have some very competitive guys on our team."
Harrison will have some extra competition come training camp, with the arrival of free agent **Tank Williams**. The soon-to-be-28-year-old was one of the senior players in attendance at last week's passing camp. That extra time is crucial to a player like Williams, who's adapting to a brand new system.
"It's part of the process," he said in a MetroWest Daily News feature. "It's an extra opportunity to get up in here and learn the plays and get a head start.
"I'm ready to use every opportunity, every avenue I can get just to get more reps, get more opportunities and get inside the playbook and get my mindset to where the veterans are so when they come back there's not a dropoff from when they're on the field to where I'm on the field. So this is a good way to show the coaches you know what you're doing and can perform out here on the field for them."
On the other end of the spectrum is rookie TE Jonathan Stupar, who's facing long odds to make the team as an undrafted free agent. But Stupar has already beaten more formidable odds, living with a heart condition known as Wolfe Parkinson White syndrome.
"I'm definitely thankful. I know I'm lucky," Stupar said in a Boston Herald piece. "But right now, I’m just trying to forget about that and worry about what’s in front of me. That's what I'm trying to do.
"[The health concerns], that's all in the past. What's important is I'm healthy. I got over it. Now I'm just trying to concentrate on learning the offense and getting a spot on this team. I'm trying to make the most of this opportunity."
