It’s no secret the New England Patriots have had a difficult season, as they currently sit at 3-10 on the year.
Everyone is feeling the heat, from players and coaches to even Patriots alumni, such as legendary safety Rodney Harrison.
The two-time Super Bowl champion was an integral part of the early Patriots teams of the 2000s. He was a cornerstone of the successful defensive units that were crucial in creating the first dynasty.
For years, the Patriots have been viewed as the gold standard for NFL teams, but things have changed in recent years. Harrison spoke about the unfortunate reality of being connected with the Patriots these days, via ESPN’s Mike Reiss.
“I get reminded every week I go to stadiums. Coming from the fans’ perspective, they laugh. ‘Hey what about your Patriots?’ It hurts,” Harrison said in a phone interview. “You go from being looked at as so well-respected, and being such a dominating force, to all of a sudden people are joking about your team being at the bottom.”
The Patriots are in the middle of a rebuild and trying to return to respectability. They have a promising young quarterback in Drake Maye and some pieces to build around defensively.
Even still, they are far away from the perenially contending dynasty they used to be.
