SAN FRANCISCO -- Carolina Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis took offense to former New England Patriots safety Rodney Harrison saying he would try to hurt Cam Newton.
Harrison, now an analyst for NBC, said Thursday on "The Dan Patrick Show" that the best way to stop Carolina’s quarterback in Super Bowl 50 is to “take him out.’’
Davis, who has overcome three ACL surgeries on his right knee and plans to play in Super Bowl 50 with a protective cast on his broken right forearm, responded sharply Friday morning on Twitter.
How can you sit there and say you would intentionally try to hurt another player? #NoRespectForTheGame get this clown off the air!! #RH
— Thomas Davis (@ThomasDavisSDTM) February 5, 2016
Davis also wrote in a separate tweet:
It's crazy to think that I actually use to look up to a guy like @rodney_harrison even after he got caught cheating!
— Thomas Davis (@ThomasDavisSDTM) February 5, 2016
Harrison made his comments while describing the best way to stop the dual-threat quarterback, expected to be named the NFL MVP on Saturday.
“The defense is different from when I came in the league back in '94, the mentality is different,’’ Harrison said. “You let a quarterback score, you let him dance, and you see it time and time again on film. If I was playing against Cam Newton, I would try to take him out. I would try to take him out.’’
Asked what he meant, Harrison said, “I would try to hurt him. I would go right to his knees. That’s the goal.’’