A local restaurant owner will have a unique perspective when watching the Super Bowl.
Antwan Harris played for the New England Patriots from 2000 to 2005 and is a two-time Super Bowl champion.
He played in the Super Bowl against the St. Louis Rams in 2002 and the Panthers in 2004.
“I was so excited -- it wasn't crying, it was tears of joy because I had made it,” he said.
"You always remember the field goals, because that's what won the games in both of them. The first one, I caused a fumble with Ricky Proehl, me guarding Marshall Faulk, me guarding the ‘Greatest Show on Turf’, that was exciting,” Harris recalled. “The second one, I think we knew we were going to beat Carolina. They ended up coming back at the end. But just beating them because I'm from here, and able to come back here to wear my ring was more exciting than anything.”
He plans to watch this year’s big game while working at Zydeco Sunday. The restaurant is hosting a free buffet and watch party.
“It doesn’t bother me running around and working on Super Bowl day because I’m giving back to the people,” Harris said.
“If I’m not at Zydeco having a party, I’m not going to be in person seeing it. I can’t stand traffic, I can’t stand crowds, I can’t stand lines, so that cuts me out of all of them,” he said.
"I've been there, I've played in it,” Harris said. “I could care less to go see it. I'd rather see it on TV so I can see the replays, the hits.”
"Probably my first two years , the anxiety of wanting to go out and hit somebody was in me. But after that, third- and fourth-year, it sort of died down,” he said.
Harris may not want to hit anyone on the field, but already, the rivalries have become as spicy as the Cajun food he serves at the restaurant.
“We even have a Giants skully that they put over there. And I actually turned it upside down. Not accidently -- I turned it upside down because I don't even want to see their name,” Harris said.
He added, "Nobody wants the Patriots to win, so they can talk junk to me because they know I've been running around here with my hands up talking junk the whole year.”
These days, the father of two risks taking hits with money, not on the field. In addition to the restaurant, he works with real estate and insurance.
He said he’s bought one new car and that was while he was still in New England. Harris said he also monitors the ups and downs of his 401K.
“Everything’s risky and that’s how I look at life, because you don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow,” Harris said.
“I try to keep everything in perspective and just think about, ‘What do I need to get to the next day? What do I need to get to the next day?’ And that’s how I live my life.”
Harris played for Ravenscroft High School in Raleigh and the Unviersity of Virginia before turning professional. He also played with the Cleveland Browns for a season after leaving the Patriots.
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