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Wednesday, August 4, 2004
Colts' Marvin Harrison stays on simple mission: Associated Press TERRE HAUTE, In. -- Marvin Harrison defines success his own way. He doesn't need to showboat after touchdowns, compare himself with other receivers or worry about his profile. In Harrison's world, anonymity is preferred to hype, productivity to publicity. Entering his ninth season with the Indianapolis Colts, the soft-spoken five-time Pro Bowl player adheres to the same simple philosophy with which he entered the league: stay healthy, work hard, catch passes and win games. "I want to be 100 percent and I want to get better," he said Wednesday. For opponents who already struggle to defend Harrison, it could be an ominous warning. The NFL's best passing offense in 2003 produced two Pro Bowl selections -- Harrison and quarterback Peyton Manning, the league's co-MVP -- and took the Colts to the AFC championship game. Now Harrison is hoping to add a Super Bowl ring. "That would mean an awful lot, not just for myself but for the organization and the city," he said. "It would still not be satisfying knowing that it was a great thing. I'd probably want to go out and do it again." Harrison, in the final year of his contract, has always had high standards. He still enjoys the game and expects more of himself even though he's been the NFL's most consistent receiver over the past five years. His league record of four straight 100-reception seasons ended in 2003 when he caught 94 passes for 1,272 yards and 10 touchdowns despite missing 1½ games because of a strained right hamstring. To most receivers, that would have been a career year. In Harrison's case, it's become routine. In 2002, Harrison turned in one of the greatest seasons in league history. His 143 receptions shattered Herman Moore's NFL record by 20. Harrison also finished with 1,722 yards, the fourth-highest total in league history, and nearly tied Michael Irvin's league mark for most 100-yard games in a season. Harrison had 10, Irvin 11. More amazing is the fact defenses know Harrison will get the ball, yet they can't stop him. "I see him as a silent assassin," backup receiver Aaron Moorehead said. "He makes all the plays he's supposed to make, and he makes all the plays he's not supposed to make. You can't ask for anything more." At age 31, Harrison already has rewritten the Colts' record book with more receptions for more yards and more touchdowns than any receiver in team history. Some contend Harrison has benefited from the Colts' wide-open attack and playing with Manning, a four-time Pro Bowler. But Harrison's teammates know better. "I'm most impressed with the way he practices," backup receiver Brad Pyatt said. "Most receivers look at practice and don't care if they get the ball. He wants the ball in practice." Harrison doesn't even like taking breaks. When backups are on the field during training camp, Harrison can usually be found moving around, stretching or discussing the next route. Coach Tony Dungy calls him an old-school player who fits the mold of two of Dungy's Hall of Fame teammates in Pittsburgh, Lynn Swann and John Stallworth. What makes Harrison different, though, isn't style; it's the fluid hips that allow him to make quicker cuts. Teammates and opponents often say that what Harrison does best is make every route look the same, and few are capable of imitating it -- even when they're watching his every move. "He's a different type of guy because of his hips," Troy Walters said. "He's got moves like none other." And while it may appear there's little left for Harrison to achieve, he expects more of himself. He wants to improve his yards per reception average. He wants to catch more passes and more touchdowns. He wants to help get the Colts to Jacksonville in February. "There's a lot of things to experiment with and work on," he said. "You're always trying to perfect the basics and expand your game. And we can definitely expand it." This story is from ESPN.com's automated news wire. Wire index
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