Foxboro, Mass. ? Mike Vanderjagt’s mouth still is causing trouble, even though he’s criticizing his opponents and not his coach and quarterback.

Tuesday, New England Patriots safety Rodney Harrison fired back at the Indianapolis kicker.

“He has to be a jerk, Vanderjerk,” Harrison said.

Many of Harrison’s teammates brushed off Vanderjagt’s remark, made shortly after Indianapolis dominated Denver, 49-24, in the first round of the AFC playoffs. Speaking about the Patriots, he said, “I think they’re ripe for the picking” in Sunday’s playoff matchup with the Colts.

Vanderjagt also said on WISH-TV in Indianapolis that, “I think they’re not as good as the beginning of the year and not as good as last year.”

Those comments stirred little controversy in Indianapolis. That’s a sharp contrast to his comments two years ago when he said after the Super Bowl that Peyton Manning should show more emotion and coach Tony Dungy was too mild-mannered to be effective.

Manning then called Vanderjagt an “idiot kicker.” Manning and Vanderjagt later apologized to each other, and Vanderjagt met with Dungy.