Could James Harrison end up being a thorn in the Steelers side this season? Possibly. The 34 year old Harrison is on the verge of signing with the Cincinnati Bengals. Adam Schefter of ESPN reports the deal should be signed this week. The Steelers will be seeing Harrison twice this season and the Bengals will be getting a motivated player. Sources in Harrison’s camp have said that Harrison has been determined to sign with an AFC North team so he could “stick it to the Steelers.” An NFL source on how Harrison’s visit with the Bengals this week went said “they could see the fire in his eyes.”
james harrison
James Harrison hopes to land with an AFC North team and stick it to the Steelers
The free agent market for linebacker James Harrison has been dead but Harrison is making his first visit of the off-season, visiting the Cincinnati Bengals today, Joe Reedy reports. Harrison previously had a visit setup with the Baltimore Ravens who were interested in him as a situational pass rusher but on the day Harrison was traveling to Baltimore the team signed star linebacker Elvis Dumervil ending their interest in Harrison which was lukewarm. Harrison last month declined a 30% paycut from the Steelers in what looks like a catastrophic mistake by Harrison and his agent Bill Parise. The reason Harrison wouldn’t accept a paycut is due to his pride being hurt, those close to the situation say. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin pushed hard for the Steelers to keep Harrison and was a driving force to the Steelers still guaranteeing Harrison around $4.5 million in salary as they wanted toRead More »
Ravens looking at James Harrison as a situational pass rusher
LATEST ON JAMES HARRISON James Harrison has clearly played his hand wrong. The 34 year old linebacker this week turned down an opportunity to return to the Steelers for around $4.5 million in 2013, but the Steelers asking Harrison to take a paycut hurt his pride too much and he made the decision that he would be willing to accept less money elsewhere than take a paycut with the Steelers. That’s how things are playing out and in the realm of things it’s a dumb decision by Harrison. While agent Bill Parise has held preliminary discussions with a number of teams, including the Saints, Eagles and Ravens, a lot of these discussions have been the agent reaching out to the team, not the team reaching out to the agent. However, the Ravens continue to emerge as a possible landing spot. The Ravens have expressed interest in bringing Harrison in forRead More »
Have the chances suddenly increased of the Steelers releasing James Harrison?
James 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 upRead More »
NFL: Source: Steelers want to reduce Harrison’s salary to around $4.5 million
The Steelers coaching staff strongly wants James Harrison back as they are not believers in Jason Worilds, and many expect Harrison back, but it’s going to be decision time for Harrison later this week. Discussions are on-going between agent Bill Parise and Steelers officials on reaching a compromise that works for both sides. Harrison carries a $10.035 million cap hit and is due a $6.57 million salary in 2013. “We are talking and we have been meeting,” Parise said when reached for comment. The Steelers and Parise will continue talks over the next 48-72 hours as the Steelers hope to have a new deal worked out by Friday, a source says. Information from both sides indicate the Steelers are against restructuring Harrison’s contract and Harrison’s camp has expressed a desire in reworking the final two years of the deal in a way to guarantee Harrison’s $6+ million salary for thisRead More »
James Harrison’s agent reaches out to Steelers about helping their cap
LATEST ON JAMES HARRISON Last week making the media rounds, GM Kevin Colbert hinted that big changes could be in store for the Steelers. Will James Harrison be one of them? Sources say there is an internal battle brewing inside the organization between the coaching staff and upper management about Harrison’s future with the team. The coaching staff has strongly made their intentions known they want Harrison back but management is not fully on board with some believing they are leaning in the direction of moving on from Harrison who has two years left on his deal and giving Jason Worilds a chance to move into the starting lineup opposite LaMarr Woodley. Worilds is entering the final of his deal in 2013 and is an unrestricted free agent at seasons end.
Steelers coaches want Harrison back and Harrison plans to work with team on cap
Following the Steelers exit interview with star linebacker James Harrison, all indications from both sides is that Harrison will likely be back with the team in 2013. The big issue regarding Harrison’s future with the team has been his $10.035 million cap hit in 2013. For now, that’s an issue Harrison’s agent is indicating they will be working with the Steelers on, if approached by the front office.
NFL: James Harrison out until October?
Sunday’s Camp Buzz: With Harrison’s age, tenous health, it’s fair to wonder if Steelers days of boasting NFL’s “top” OLB duo could be over
By Chris Adamski LATROBE — Last season, the Steelers ranked No. 1 in the NFL in total defense and No. 1 in the NFL in scoring defense. Toss in a No. 1 ranking in pass defense, too, if you’re so inclined. Pretty good, right? Many of the principles who are part of that unit take a markedly different view. “I just think overall we played bad as a defense, ” linebacker LaMarr Woodley said. “All the way up front and in the back.” An NFL-worst 15 turnovers forced, a middle-of-the-pack 35 sacks and, most tellingly, a poor performance during a playoff loss in Denver leaves a sour taste that a shiny ranking can’t overcome. Still, Woodley is heartened by the fact Pittsburgh’s defense was hampered by injury last season. “I think having everybody back this year will go a long way,” he said. A reasonable position to take… but willRead More »
Steelers Post-Practice Report: Harrison back with a purpose; Hines staying positive; Moore a fast healer
By Dale Grdnic PITTSBURGH — Even though the Pittsburgh Steelers had a glorified walkthrough for a regular Wednesday practice leading up to Saturday’s game against the St. Louis Rams at 1 p.m. at Heinz Field, James Harrison appeared to have an edge. No, the Steelers veteran outside linebacker wasn’t hitting every player that came in his area, but Harrison practiced with a purpose. And his two-minute talk with the media afterward was short and sweet as well. Yes, Harrison definitely is ready to come back after his one-game suspension for an illegal hit on Cleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy, and while he watched parts of the game Monday night it wasn’t the first time he watched the Steelers on television. And it was no more difficult than the four games Harrison missed earlier this season due to a fractured orbital bone. But don’t expect him to be angry.
Headlines
Fleury gets rocked in return to Pittsburgh
Marc Andre Fleury’s return to Pittsburgh didn’t just not go well, it was a downright disaster for the 2021 Vezina Trophy Winner. Pittsburgh scored 15 seconds into the game and the route was on as Fleury was pulled 11:25 into the first period after allowing 4 goals on 10 ...
Rumors: Juju Smith-Schuster likely out for the year
The Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac reports Pittsburgh Steelers WR Juju Smith-Schuster suffered a likely season ending shoulder injury in Sunday’s 27-19 win over the Denver Broncos. Returning to Pittsburgh on a one year contract, Smith-Schuster faces an uncertain futu...