Pats take out the trash talk on Mitchell

By Times wire
Published January 31, 2005

JACKSONVILLE - Roll out the steel cage. Or maybe just invite Rodney Harrison and Freddie Mitchell to the Jerry Springer Show .

The WWE-style rank-out feud between the New England safety and Philadelphia receiver has gotten juicy. It's even overshadowing the Terrell Owens will-he-or-won't-he saga.

Anyone who thought the Patriots are too well-versed in this Super Bowl stuff and far too classy to get involved in a war of words with the Eagles a full week before the big game might need to think again.

The Patriots are angry about comments last week from Mitchell. The defending champions made it clear Sunday when they arrived that they aren't about to ignore Mitchell disrespecting their secondary, particularly Harrison.

"When he says something like that," linebacker-lineman Willie McGinest said, "he's disrespecting our whole defense. Not only Rodney, but me and Tedy Bruschi and Mike Vrabel and all the rest of us."

Mitchell infuriated the Patriots last week when he was asked to name their cornerbacks during an interview on ESPN. Mitchell, a former Lakeland Kathleen High standout, said he knew the numbers of their young corners, but one of the numbers he cited was 25. New England does not have a No.25.

That Mitchell has been an under-achieving backup for Owens hasn't escaped New England's notice. Owens, sidelined since Game 14 with torn ankle ligaments, is attempting to get healthy enough to play. He hasn't practiced, but has been running and no longer has a limp.

But even if the All-Pro receiver returns - coach Andy Reid said he will be evaluated daily - he isn't likely to be a focal point of Philadelphia's offense.

"Maybe he was drinking before he started talking," Harrison said of Mitchell, "because that was clearly a mistake. No one in this league would attack somebody a week before the Super Bowl.

"I'm not really surprised because you're always going to find one jerk out of the bunch, just like (Mike) Vanderjagt," added Harrison, who also verbally feuded with the Indianapolis kicker during the playoffs. "You're always going to find one guy like that who wants some attention and wants to do something to try and stir up the emotions of the game."

For the veteran Patriots to dive into such a fray is surprising. Many of the Eagles recognize that. Even though this is the team's first trip to the Super Bowl in 24 years, they came across Sunday as the more experienced, resolute bunch.

"They were meaningless comments," quarterback Donovan McNabb said. "Freddie didn't mean anything by them. It's sad that people have to blow them up to make them into a story.

"Freddie apologized. If someone needs those comments to get up for a game like this, they don't need to be here."

Mitchell was unavailable to the media Sunday.

"Asante Samuel, Randall Gay, even Troy Brown, who was among their leaders in interceptions - I know those guys," McNabb said. "I've watched them on film. They've done a tremendous job in that system.

"I think people should stop talking about (coach Bill) Belichick's system and start talking about the players who make that system work."

[Last modified January 31, 2005, 09:53:54]