mesaSteeler
10-20-2010, 11:35 PM
Upset Harrison expected back for Steelers
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_705368.html#
By Mark Kaboly
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Is James Harrison really contemplating retirement?
The former NFL Defensive Player of the Year felt so strongly about not being permitted to play football the way he always has, thanks to fallout from knocking out receivers Joshua Cribbs and Mohamed Massaquoi, Harrison arrived early at the team's practice facility Wednesday for a meeting with Mike Tomlin to talk about his future.
After that, Tomlin sent his starting outside linebacker home for the day.
"He didn't go home. I asked him to," Tomlin said. "At that time, I thought it was beneficial for him and us if I give him a little time to cool off. I'm sure he'll be back in the building and ready to play football (today)."
Harrison was fined $75,000 for the hit on Massaquoi — one that Tomlin still believes was legal — and faces a suspension with any future helmet-to-helmet incidents.
After the game, Harrison said he did nothing wrong. Tuesday, Harrison announced on a pair of national radio shows that he was thinking about quitting.
"James is a very good athlete, and he takes pride in what he does," Steelers tackle Max Starks said. "It is not unexpected, but everybody deals with things differently."
Harrison was fined for unnecessarily striking a defenseless receiver in the head and neck area and, according to the NFL's vice president of football operations Ray Anderson, he didn't give Massaquoi enough time to protect himself after making the catch.
Anderson's reasoning has confused players in the Steelers locker room.
"We all have the same concerns of what is legal and what is not legal," team captain James Farrior said. "I don't think it is defined right now."
Harrison, who rarely talks openly to the media, was upset enough to pitch his "retirement" story to Fox Sports Radio and Sirius XM, which led to his meeting with Tomlin yesterday.
"Very productive conversation," said Tomlin, who declined to discuss specifics of the meeting. "He's a very disciplined and regimented guy who is passionate about playing football. It bothers him that maybe he's being perceived as a dirty player. He doesn't want to be. He simply wants to play the game and play it extremely well."
Harrison had two sacks and 11 tackles against the Browns and leads the team with five sacks. Being in the prime of his career, playing at a high level and in the midst of a lucrative $51.175 million deal that he signed before the start of last season makes it a long shot that he would follow through on retirement.
"But you never know," Steelers linebacker LaMarr Woodley said. "I expect him here (today). He loves the game too much."
While a large contingent of defensive players such as Casey Hampton, Larry Foote, Ryan Clark and Aaron Smith refused to talk about Harrison's fine or absence, Farrior said he doesn't believe Harrison will retire.
"Nah, I am sure he just needs some time to calm down," Farrior said. "He is an emotional guy. You can imagine how he feels now."
In Harrison's absence at practice, Lawrence Timmons moved to right outside linebacker with Foote replacing Timmons on the inside.
Harrison is expected back for today's noon practice.
"I hope so," quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said. "I love as him as a friend and a teammate, and we need him back."
And when Harrison returns, no change in the way he plays is expected.
"At the end of the day, no," Tomlin said. "We just have to take a conscious effort in terms of safeguarding players as much as we can."
Mark Kaboly can be reached at mkaboly@dailynewsemail.com or 412-664-9161.
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_705368.html#
By Mark Kaboly
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Is James Harrison really contemplating retirement?
The former NFL Defensive Player of the Year felt so strongly about not being permitted to play football the way he always has, thanks to fallout from knocking out receivers Joshua Cribbs and Mohamed Massaquoi, Harrison arrived early at the team's practice facility Wednesday for a meeting with Mike Tomlin to talk about his future.
After that, Tomlin sent his starting outside linebacker home for the day.
"He didn't go home. I asked him to," Tomlin said. "At that time, I thought it was beneficial for him and us if I give him a little time to cool off. I'm sure he'll be back in the building and ready to play football (today)."
Harrison was fined $75,000 for the hit on Massaquoi — one that Tomlin still believes was legal — and faces a suspension with any future helmet-to-helmet incidents.
After the game, Harrison said he did nothing wrong. Tuesday, Harrison announced on a pair of national radio shows that he was thinking about quitting.
"James is a very good athlete, and he takes pride in what he does," Steelers tackle Max Starks said. "It is not unexpected, but everybody deals with things differently."
Harrison was fined for unnecessarily striking a defenseless receiver in the head and neck area and, according to the NFL's vice president of football operations Ray Anderson, he didn't give Massaquoi enough time to protect himself after making the catch.
Anderson's reasoning has confused players in the Steelers locker room.
"We all have the same concerns of what is legal and what is not legal," team captain James Farrior said. "I don't think it is defined right now."
Harrison, who rarely talks openly to the media, was upset enough to pitch his "retirement" story to Fox Sports Radio and Sirius XM, which led to his meeting with Tomlin yesterday.
"Very productive conversation," said Tomlin, who declined to discuss specifics of the meeting. "He's a very disciplined and regimented guy who is passionate about playing football. It bothers him that maybe he's being perceived as a dirty player. He doesn't want to be. He simply wants to play the game and play it extremely well."
Harrison had two sacks and 11 tackles against the Browns and leads the team with five sacks. Being in the prime of his career, playing at a high level and in the midst of a lucrative $51.175 million deal that he signed before the start of last season makes it a long shot that he would follow through on retirement.
"But you never know," Steelers linebacker LaMarr Woodley said. "I expect him here (today). He loves the game too much."
While a large contingent of defensive players such as Casey Hampton, Larry Foote, Ryan Clark and Aaron Smith refused to talk about Harrison's fine or absence, Farrior said he doesn't believe Harrison will retire.
"Nah, I am sure he just needs some time to calm down," Farrior said. "He is an emotional guy. You can imagine how he feels now."
In Harrison's absence at practice, Lawrence Timmons moved to right outside linebacker with Foote replacing Timmons on the inside.
Harrison is expected back for today's noon practice.
"I hope so," quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said. "I love as him as a friend and a teammate, and we need him back."
And when Harrison returns, no change in the way he plays is expected.
"At the end of the day, no," Tomlin said. "We just have to take a conscious effort in terms of safeguarding players as much as we can."
Mark Kaboly can be reached at mkaboly@dailynewsemail.com or 412-664-9161.