Rodney: Gronkowski 'disrespected himself'

Former Patriots safety Rodney Harrison hammered Rob Gronkowski on Wednesday, saying the young tight end “disrespected himself” by taking off his shirt and dancing at a team party after New England’s Super Bowl loss to the Giants.

“I guarantee you this, if Willie McGinest, Tedy Bruschi, Larry Izzo, Richard Seymour or myself had been at that party, [Gronkowski] probably would have got his head rung,” Harrison told ESPN Chicago Radio 1000. “There’s no reason for that to happen.

“When we lost the Super Bowl, any of my Super Bowl losses, I was so devastated the last thing I ever wanted to do was party, let alone dance or take off your shirt,” he said. “It’s just immaturity. It’s not right. He made a mistake and I’m sure he feels absolutely stupid about it at this point. There’s a time and place for everything.”

Harrison acknowledged he hadn’t seen the pictures, and added that he was “surprised” veteran left tackle Matt Light was also photographed dancing with his shirt off. To Harrison, it’s the veteran leadership on the team that should have ensured something like that didn’t happen.

“The leadership has to step up and someone has to pull [Gronkowski] to the side and say, ‘Look young man, this is inappropriate, this is not the time nor the place. You need to grow up,’” Harrison said. “And that’s what it comes down to. I like this kid. I think he’s a good kid, works hard, is unselfish. But he made a mistake. ... There’s a certain way of representing yourself and your family and that’s not the right way.”

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