FOXBORO - This is why Rodney Harrison, in addition to being a very good football player, also is an IMPORTANTfootball player: He is not down on bended - and rebuilt - knee, head lifted to the heavens, thanking his maker for the arrival of bye week.

To be sure, Harrison is appreciative of the time off, which, he promises, will be put to good use, both in terms of his ongoing game preparation and, naturally, a little R & R. But if there's one member of the Patriots who could be excused for keeping a little calendar pinned to the wall in the back of his dressing stall, checking off each and every day leading up to bye week, can we all agree that Harrison would be that player?