Rodney Harrison will decide by June 1

In less than two months we'll know whether Rodney Harrison will be back at safety with the Patriots, suiting up for another team, or offering up his opinions and analysis from behind a sportsdesk at NFL Network or NBC Sports.

Karen Guregian recently reported that his torn quadriceps muscle has made significant progress and although other teams have shown their interest, Harrison has not yet been on any visits.

“I seriously don’t know what I’m going to do at this point,” Harrison said.  “I’ll decide once I weigh all my options from a TV standpoint as well as a health standpoint.  All I’m doing right now is rehabbing, golfing and having a good time with my family.  I’m not pressed either way.  We’ll see what happens.”

His personal website offers this response to the question of if he decides to play, would he give the Patriots the first crack at him:

I think if I decided to come back, obviously me knowing Bill and the organization out there, the greatest football experience of my life going out there to play and interact and actually learn football - even when I was 30 years old, learning football - knowing the guys, of course [I would].

That's something you would like to consider.  But you have to understand, they have plans, they have certain things they have to plan for.  They have certain drafts, they have certain picks, so I understand they have to move forward.  If that door is open, if that's something I want to do, if Bill allows me to do it, maybe that's a choice.  If not, then we'll have to look at other things.

Once Rodney's rehab is complete, the decision to play here or not appears to be more in Belichick's hands than anyone's.  But even if his New England days are numbered, the fact remains that Rodney Harrison has been an absolute beast since he came here in 2003 - a force who put his body on the line every time he stepped on the football field.

• In 1997, became first player in NFL history to score touchdowns on an interception return, fumble return and kickoff return in same season.
• Credited with 906 solo tackles since entering the league in 1994, leading all defensive backs during that span.
• Has the most sacks (30.5) of any defensive back in NFL history.
• Had 4 interceptions in 3 games in the 2004-05 playoffs.
• His 7 playoff interceptions (including one returned for a touchdown) are a Patriots team record.
• Is one of nine players in the history of the NFL to record at least 20 interceptions and 20 sacks in his career.
• On October 21, 2007, became the first member of the 30/30 Club of players with both 30 interceptions and 30 sacks.
• Named team captain in five of his six seasons with the Patriots, including 2008.
• Is the NFL's all-time leader in personal foul penalties.