Harrison quietly makes case for best ever

By Anthony Bialy  |   Tuesday, April 17, 2007  |  Comments( 4 )

Indianapolis Colts
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Do you know what Marvin Harrison sounds like? I'm having trouble recalling not just anything he's said but also his actual voice. He's one of the best at any position in the game, yet the only times I can remember hearing him talk are A) a profile of him I saw on ESPNEWS last year, and B) the times when Monday Night Football has had the players introduce themselves during the first possession of the game.

In a position renowned for big egos and mouths, Harrison literally barely makes a sound. It's like how professional boxers never start bar fights: They already know they're good at what they do, so nothing else needs to be done to prove it.

Harrison's strength is that he has multiple strengths. He's good at being any kind of receiver you'd like. Need a speedy threat, a possession receiver, someone to go over the middle, or stretch a defense? There are many receivers who excel at one of those dimensions but few who could be counted on in any situation. Harrison's ability to do everything is only matched by his willingness to do everything.

It reads like the quote from a motivational poster underneath a photo of a sunrise or sailboats, but Harrison's success is a byproduct of his attitude. In a perfect reflection of his internally focused personality, he concentrates more on preparing himself than preparing for others. In lieu of locking himself in the film room, Harrison's always concerned himself more with running exactly precise routes. He can't control what those facing him are going to do, so he just goes about making sure he's going to be at his best Sunday afternoon.

There's no need to do something like, say, announce to the media during the practice week that the cornerback he'll likely be facing is on a personal hit list: Harrison doesn't need the attention, and besides, everyone in the opposing secondary should be doubting themselves without a word spoken by their adversary.

Of course, Harrison has benefited from his environment. Most of the passes he's caught happen to have been thrown by a quarterback who also already gets attention in any "best ever" category. Eric Moulds, chosen a few spots after Harrison in 1996, must struggle to avoid being bitter after spending parts of his career catching passes from the likes of Todd Collins and Rob Johnson.

But one should never apologize for one's circumstances, and Harrison still has to go out there and get it done. Should Jerry Rice apologize for catching so may balls thrown by Montana and Young?

And, like Rice, Harrison continues to find success without letup. At age 34, he's already in the four-digit reception club, and Rice's once-seemingly eternally insurmountable numbers are close to being challenged at a time when Rice could conceivably still play. Harrison's strength in virtually every aspect of the position, consistently overwhelmingly impressive numbers, and the fact there's been no evidence of any decline in his game, mean that Rice -- the one undisputed best ever player at his position -- has to face a challenger. Harrison has to maintain his consistency over the next few seasons, but he's already created at least a discussion.

Any Harrison fan had to be happy with a statistically middling game for him: Super Bowl XLI. He had five grabs for 59 yards, which doesn't look impressive, but the more important stat involves the numbers 29 and 17.

The Colts won, and they did so by focusing mostly on running the ball. Some of the diva receivers in the NFL would have pouted if they ended up with those sorts of numbers even in victory, but Harrison showed why he's the quiet class of the NFL. Just like another gentleman superstar who had a statistically modest Super Bowl, Walter Payton, Harrison is great not only for what he can do but also because he doesn't force his team to force him the ball.

It's remarkable that someone so focused on keeping to himself has done more to improve teammates than maybe anyone in the league.

Original NFL insight, courtesy of RealFootball365.com
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