James Harrison has been cut by the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday. Harrison reportedly won't take a pay cut, and without any kind of pay cut the Steelers really had no choice but to release Mr. Harrison and wish him their best on his future endeavors.
“James has been an integral part of our success during his years in Pittsburgh and helped us win two Lombardi Trophies during that time,” Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert said in a team-released statement. “We appreciate all of his efforts and wish him the best.”-http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/pittsburgh-steelers-release-james-harrison-030913
"Silver back" was supposed to make $6.57 million this coming season and $7.57 million in 2014 next year, which is the last year on his contract.
Now we just saw a bunch of Steelers help the organization save money in terms of cap room. Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown, Lawrence Timmons all restructured their deals. But Harrison couldn't do that? The Steelers signed William Gay but they couldn't figure out how to keep Harrison? This is actually a dumb move on their part.
So to recap the Steelers are losing Rashard Mendenhall, Mike Wallace, Heath Miller might miss most of the next season, and now Harrison. But they signed Gay though so I guess they're going to be fucking great....
I understand that Harrison is a cap casualty but where's the Polamalu cut? He makes more $ and is constantly injured. Cut him. He got commercial money. At least Harrison plays sometimes.
The Steelers have to do what's best for them and Harrison has to do what's best for him. Welcome to America.
From a organizational perspective, the Steelers need to fix their cap. They need to sign a lot of players, especially cornerback Keenan Lewis. Him leaving might mean William Gay being your number 2 starting corner. Oh Hell no.
Harrison's stats have continued to decline the past few seasons, he's 35, and he's had back and knee problems. Harrison had just six sacks last year. He was makingway too much money for a 35 year-old linebacker with that kind of background.
No Harrison and agent had said that they want to be in Pittsburgh. That's just good PR. Harrison and his agent want to play wherever they can get the money they want and I don't think that's with the Steelers.
Also, you have to consider the headaches that Harrison has caused. All of the talking, calling out his running back and most importantly his quarterback/captain, saying homophobic slurs about the NFL commissioner, and getting in trouble with the law.
And this is a team that is trying to fix it's leadership problems. They need to get rid of all of the talkers. Mike Wallace is leaving, Osama Bin Mendenhall as well, Harrison leaving will be a good thing in that area.
That being said I was still hoping that they would've found a way to keep him. HIm leaving will now most likely have them take a outside linebacker in the first round and I don't think they can afford to do that. They need a wide receiver and a running back badly. If they keep Harrison for at least one more year they can delay taking a linebacker until the later rounds and focus on their more important needs.
I also don't think they can afford to go into next year with Jason Worilds as their starter. Good backup, but replacing Harrison with Worilds a big downgrade.
What I think will happen....I think it's easy to see, Joey Porter left, Clark Haggans, Chad Brown, etc...Harrison will be gone by Tuesday morning. He was a Hell of a player. Defensive player of the year, Pro Bowls, All-Pros, helped them get to two Super Bowls, winning one of them. Harrison has the second most forced fumbles in Steeler's history and the second most sacks and Steeler's history.
It also sucks that Harrison acts the way he does. I don't know him personally although I did meet him in person twice but from the times I met him to the things I have heard him say, I think he's a big douche bag.
That being said, I think this is a mistake. Should have kept him for one more year.
Now for a finale, here's a link to watch James do a magic trick
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=547527835279353
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