Published: May 13, 2008 09:25 am         

Don't judge Colts' Harrison until all the facts are in

ANDERSON, Ind. — The things we don’t know about Indianapolis

Colts’ All-galaxy wide

receiver Marvin Harrison are a lot, and that air of mystery has long

played into those golden hands.

Remember the Super Bowl pep rally inside the RCA Dome 15

months ago, the one where Harrison’s teammates practically had to

drag No. 88 to the microphone?

Everyone short of the dome’s custodial workers and Ron Meyer had

voiced their gratitude to the blue-clad faithful, yet Harrison came off

as legitimately reluctant.

His words to the cheering fans served as the first time many of us —

nay, the majority of us — had ever heard Harrison’s voice. And that

breakthrough moment didn’t come until after the final game of his

11th season in the National Football League.

Harrison is the NFL’s modern-day version of Barry Sanders, albeit

playing a different position. Spectacularly gifted athletes who despite

being the best at what they do become extremely uncomfortable

after the helmets come off and cameras are rolling.

And since we know next to nothing about Harrison the person when

he’s cashing paychecks in our own backyard, how he spends his

time during his offseason months qualifies as an ever larger

question mark.

Not that it’s any of our business, mind you. It’s not.

However, as money-spending Colts fans we take both comfort and

pride knowing our favorite athletes, the Mannings, Harrisons,

Waynes and Freeneys, are doing things the right way on and off the

field.

Harrison always grades an A+-plus in this arena, which is why

people coast-to-coast were stunned earlier this month when

hearing the six-time Pro Bowler had been questioned by

Philadelphia police following a shooting near a bar Harrison owns.

While it’s human nature to jump to conclusions, to unfairly

categorize Harrison as something he’s not based solely on a news

bulletin, don’t in this case.

Unless evidence to the contrary surfaces, Harrison is no Pacman

Jones or anywhere close to the same troubled zipcode. His rap

sheet should therefore continue to read as follows: 1,042

receptions, 13,944 yards, 123 touchdowns and one of those brutally

ugly yellow Hall of Fame blazers five years after he decides to retire.

Harrison by representing Indianapolis and the football franchise it

pulls for with class has stockpiled far too much goodwill around

here for us to see him in a negative light.

Allow Philadelphia law enforcement to do its job. If Marvin Harrison

did something of an illegal nature, I’m quite certain it knows where

to find him:

Immediately south of the teflon-roofed building soon to be torn

down.



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Keeping with the Colts, I like the flavor of their 2008 regular-season

schedule now that the NFC Central is taking its turn in the rotation.

Opening Week 1 against Chicago to open Lucas Oil Stadium the

night of Sept. 7 should make for great television ratings. The way I

see it, fans won’t realize the Bears stink until at least Week 6.

A game at Minnesota the following week should be a good test in a

hostile environment. Same holds true for Indianapolis’ Oct. 19 date

at Green Bay against the Favre-less Packers.

The latter opens an extremely taxing seven-game stretch for the

Colts, who get home games against New England and Houston

and play road dates at Green Bay, Tennessee, Pittsburgh, San

Diego and Cleveland.

If the Colts make the playoffs, you know they didn’t back in.





Mike Beas writes for The Herald

Bulletin in Anderson, Ind. He can be reached at mike.beas@heraldbulletin.com.