Hey Bill Belichick, Rodney Harrison is shooting his mouth off about Peyton Manning.

Oh wait, there’s nothing Belichick can do about it anymore.

(AP PHOTO) Rodney Harrison shows off his Super Bowl XXXIX championship ring.

Harrison, known for laying the smack down both on and off the field prior to his stint as a Patriots safety, wasn’t pulling any punches in his first day of retirement from the field.

The 36-year-old Harrison, who announced his retirement from the NFL after 15 years with the Patriots and San Diego Chargers on Wednesday, has joined NBC for its Sunday night “Football Night in America” broadcasts.

Harrison and former Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungy, who both appeared on NBC’s Super Bowl pregame coverage earlier this year, were introduced Wednesday night as studio anaylists for the upcoming season.

While Dungy, known throughout the league as a classy guy, may shy away from calling out players and coaches, Harrison made it clear he will talk on air like he played on field.

“Just like I played the game,” Harrison said, “I’m going to be honest and I’m going to be forthright and I’m going to do it with passion. It’s the only way I know and I know Tony feels the same. We are going to be honest, but we are going to be fair.

“Certain guys you definitely respect their opinions but other guys I felt like they were afraid to come out and really tell the hard truth, and as an analyst, it is your job be fair but honest. And sometimes you have to be brutally honest with guys who you have played with, guys that are your friends.”

Now if guys he played with better be ready for his sharp tongue, his former opponents are sure to feel the wrath. Just ask Peyton Manning, who recently talked about his disappointment with the Colts’ coaching situation. More importantly, with the lack of communication of what will happen on the offensive side of the ball this fall.

“That really gives Tom Brady the edge over Peyton Manning in terms of leadership because he’s a guy that if this went on in New England he wouldn’t come out publicly and he wouldn’t make a big fuss about it,” Harrison said. “I think as a leader on a team, you being Peyton Manning, a Hall of Famer, you need to keep it in house. You have so many guys looking up to you and once they see the panic on your part, then all of a sudden they start getting nervous. I have a lot of respect for Peyton Manning but this is a guy at times that needs to control his emotions and not allow these things that should stay in house, get outside of those walls.”

There’s no doubt NBC sports chief Dick Ebersol had a big smile on his face with that response.

Harrison is a breath of fresh air in the analyst business. Too many times former coaches or players are afraid to ruffle feathers. Especially of their peers. Harrison isn’t one of those lightweights. If he has something to say, he’ll say it. Just his addition makes “Football Night in America” worth watching. Well, at least until the game starts. Then you have to put up with Cris Collinsworth. Then again, it wouldn’t be worth watching if John Madden was still in the booth.

One other change for the NBC broadcast will be Tiki Barber serving as an onsite reporter at games. No, that won’t even help overcome Collinsworth in the booth.

Tags: Bill Belichick, Cris Collinsworth, Dick Ebersol, Football Night in America, Indianapolis Colt, John Madden, NBC, New England Patriots, Peyton Manning, Rodney Harrison, Sunday night football, Tiki Barber, Tony Dungy