A chastised Freddie Mitchell backpedaled Tuesday and said he was “shocked” by Rodney Harrison’s reaction to his offhand remark last week that he didn’t know the New England Patriots’ defensive backs.
The Eagles receiver said coach Andy Reid “didn’t like the comment I said. That’s his program. That’s how it goes.”
Harrison seized on Mitchell’s slip of the tongue as a sign of disrespect. Even Mitchell’s teammates wondered why he would rile up a player so notorious for his hard hitting that he has been fined more than $200,000 by the NFL for questionable tactics.
“In all respect, it was probably something he shouldn’t have said, and maybe kept it to himself and not have done it in front of a camera on national television,” said Eagles defensive end Jevon Kearse. “But now that he’s said it, we can’t back down. All I can say is you are forced to go out there on Sunday and back it up, because now that you called someone out, you’ve got to back it up.”
Mitchell was unapologetic.
“I never feel bad for anything I say,” he said. “It’s interesting, though, how they blew it up. It’s cool. Whatever happens, happens.
“I was saying when I saw the media pumping it up, `If you’re hyping up Freddie Mitchell and Rodney Harrison, it’s gonna be a [lousy] Super Bowl. I mean, you have two great quarterbacks in Donovan McNabb and [Tom] Brady, but it’s not really on them each time you turn on the TV.
“I really would love the focus to be off of me.”
Cold question
William “the Refrigerator” Perry, the biggest ex-Bear at Tuesday’s Super Bowl media day, was wielding a microphone as a moonlighting journalist for “Jimmy Kimmel Live.”
Trying to get a word in edgewise, Perry finally got the attention of Kearse.
“Let me ask you a question,” Fridge said. “Do you think Brad …”
A quick glance sideways at his producer.
“What’s her name?” Fridge asked.
“Jennifer,” prompted the producer.
“Do you think Brad and Jennifer will get back together?” Perry asked.
Kearse played along, saying he’d heard about the split between movie stars Jennifer Anniston and Brad Pitt “last week.”
Apparently, Kearse had heard more about it than Perry, who quickly moved with his crew to the next player.
The final word
Fox analyst and former NFL coach Jimmy Johnson on Tuesday, ripping Mitchell for making his comments: “Please. Just shut up and catch a pass.”
