James HarrisonJames Harrison is a risk taker and is he ready to take his chances on the open market? Ed Bouchette of the Post-Gazette reports the chances have increased of the Steelers releasing Harrison as the two sides can’t agree to a reworked deal of their liking.
Sources told Inside Pittsburgh Sports.com on Tuesday that the Steelers are looking to reduce Harrison’s salary to around $4.5 million, which would amount to approximately a $2 million pay cut. Harrison is due $6.57 million in 2013 and carries a $10.030 million cap hit.
Bouchette confirms today the Steelers are asking Harrison to take a paycut, indicating the “sides cannot agree on just how that would work in a new deal.”
Cutting Harrison would save the Steelers over $5 million.
Word earlier this week was that the Steelers wanted to have the Harrison situation resolved by Friday but the sides could take negotiations up until Tuesday March 12, for when the new league year begins.
Free Agency begins on Tuesday but teams can begin talking to players on Saturday at 12:01 a.m.