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MMQB: Rodney Harrison says Tom Brady gets motivation from DeflateGate

By Alex Butler
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, right, and safety Rodney Harrison (37) walk off the field after the Patriots defeated the Indianapolis Colts 24-20 at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis on November 4, 2007. (UPI Photo/Mark Cowan)
1 of 6 | New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, right, and safety Rodney Harrison (37) walk off the field after the Patriots defeated the Indianapolis Colts 24-20 at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis on November 4, 2007. (UPI Photo/Mark Cowan) | License Photo

FOXBOROUGH, Mass., July 18 (UPI) -- While some former teammates have turned backs away from Tom Brady surrounding DeflateGate, it seems like most support the New England Patriots quarterback.

Enter Rodney Harrison. Harrison, who was Brady's teammate from 2003 through 2008, told Jenny Vrentas of Sports Illustrated's Monday Morning Quarterback, that this is "the best thing" that could happen for Brady.

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"You've got way over $100 million in the bank," Harrison told Vrentas. "You've got a beautiful wife. You've got a beautiful family. The natural tendency would be to say, 'I can lie in my silk sheets and just enjoy life now. I don't need football.' But I'm telling you: This is the best thing that could have happened to Tom Brady. This will rejuvenate him. The rest of the league better look out. This year, he's going to make everybody pay for what's happened."

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Brady is currently facing a four-game suspension, pending appeal. The National Football League Player's Association (NFLPA) recently said that it would take the league to federal court if Brady's suspension remains.

"Believe me, he's not saying anything right now, but this is pissing him off, big-time," Harrison told Vrentas. "He will be supremely motivated this year. I know him. I know how he thinks. And this is going to be very bad for the rest of the league when they play Brady this year."

Harrison could have some merit toward his prediction. A season after the NFL punished the Patriots for spying on its opponents, the team fired off a 16-0 regular season record, but eventually lost in Super Bowl XLII to the New York Giants.

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