Deserei90
12-30-2010, 01:11 AM
By Nate Ulrich
Beacon Journal sports writer
POSTED: 04:52 p.m. EST, Dec 29, 2010
BEREA: If the Browns have their way, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison's homecoming will be spoiled when he returns to Northeast Ohio on Sunday.
Harrison, an Akron native, knocked wide receivers Josh Cribbs and Mohamed Massaquoi out of the Steelers' 28-10 win over the Browns on Oct. 17 at Heinz Field. Both players left the game in the second quarter after suffering concussions at the hands — or helmet — of Harrison.
Now the Browns (5-10) are hoping to play the role of a spoiler against the Steelers (11-4), who can capture the AFC North title and a first-round postseason bye with a win in the regular-season finale at Cleveland Browns Stadium. The Browns insist their rivalry with the Steelers is as intense as ever, and Harrison's hits have certainly added some fuel to the fire.
''You won't see it right now, but when the lights come on, you'll see a lot of pissed-off guys,'' Cribbs said Wednesday. ''We've got to practice good this week and show that we can win the football game.
''This will be our one ticket to be forgiven from our fans for the disappointing season that we had. We're gonna give it our best. They're gonna come with their best, and we're at our home, so we've gotta put [out] the best showing of the year.''
Harrison's devastating blows to Cribbs and Massaquoi, along with a few other vicious collisions throughout the league during Week 6, sparked widespread debate about the safety of players. The NFL announced it would begin cracking down on dangerous and flagrant hits by levying substantial fines and even suspensions. The league also sent videos to teams, outlining the differences between legal and illegal hits.
Just about everyone involved questioned whether professional football would be changed forever.
''I still don't think we have an answer to that,'' Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. ''I think those answers are long-term answers, particularly when you're talking about it from an initiative standpoint, in terms of what the league is trying to get done from a long-term standpoint. I think those are only going to be measured over an extended period of time — and I'm talking years because what we're talking about is changing the nature in which people play and see the game of football.''
Although Harrison was not penalized for his hits against the Browns, the league fined him $75,000. In response to the controversy, Harrison said he contemplated retirement. Cribbs, who was Harrison's teammate during their days at Kent State University, defended Harrison, encouraged him not to alter his style and said he believed he was instrumental in dissuading Harrison from cutting his career short.
However, Cribbs also said he couldn't wait to hit Harrison back. When asked Wednesday if he still wants retribution, Cribbs said, ''Of course, but I'm not gonna talk about it. I'm gonna do my talking on the field.''
Some believe Harrison has adjusted his techniques since Week 6. He has accumulated $125,000 in fines for four separate infractions this season.
''He's still trying to hit people the same way he has been, but maybe he's trying to lower his target and not hit guys in the head quite as much,'' said Browns left tackle Joe Thomas, who, like Harrison, recently received his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl selection. ''The NFL tried to send him a message, and it seems like he got it.''
In the aftermath of Harrison's hits, Cribbs missed two days of practice but played the next week against the New Orleans Saints. Massaquoi, though, missed one game before returning Nov. 7 against the New England Patriots.
On Wednesday, Massaquoi declined to answer questions about Harrison, but he said the rivalry between the Browns and the Steelers remains bitter. The Steelers have prevailed in 13 of the past 14 meetings, though the Browns pulled a 13-6 upset last season in Week 14.
''It's Pittsburgh. I don't know how else to put it,'' Massaquoi said. ''It's not like we're good friends. It's not like there's good blood between the two teams.''
http://tinyurl.com/33nwpz7 Basically, Cribbs wants revenge:popcorn:
Beacon Journal sports writer
POSTED: 04:52 p.m. EST, Dec 29, 2010
BEREA: If the Browns have their way, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison's homecoming will be spoiled when he returns to Northeast Ohio on Sunday.
Harrison, an Akron native, knocked wide receivers Josh Cribbs and Mohamed Massaquoi out of the Steelers' 28-10 win over the Browns on Oct. 17 at Heinz Field. Both players left the game in the second quarter after suffering concussions at the hands — or helmet — of Harrison.
Now the Browns (5-10) are hoping to play the role of a spoiler against the Steelers (11-4), who can capture the AFC North title and a first-round postseason bye with a win in the regular-season finale at Cleveland Browns Stadium. The Browns insist their rivalry with the Steelers is as intense as ever, and Harrison's hits have certainly added some fuel to the fire.
''You won't see it right now, but when the lights come on, you'll see a lot of pissed-off guys,'' Cribbs said Wednesday. ''We've got to practice good this week and show that we can win the football game.
''This will be our one ticket to be forgiven from our fans for the disappointing season that we had. We're gonna give it our best. They're gonna come with their best, and we're at our home, so we've gotta put [out] the best showing of the year.''
Harrison's devastating blows to Cribbs and Massaquoi, along with a few other vicious collisions throughout the league during Week 6, sparked widespread debate about the safety of players. The NFL announced it would begin cracking down on dangerous and flagrant hits by levying substantial fines and even suspensions. The league also sent videos to teams, outlining the differences between legal and illegal hits.
Just about everyone involved questioned whether professional football would be changed forever.
''I still don't think we have an answer to that,'' Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. ''I think those answers are long-term answers, particularly when you're talking about it from an initiative standpoint, in terms of what the league is trying to get done from a long-term standpoint. I think those are only going to be measured over an extended period of time — and I'm talking years because what we're talking about is changing the nature in which people play and see the game of football.''
Although Harrison was not penalized for his hits against the Browns, the league fined him $75,000. In response to the controversy, Harrison said he contemplated retirement. Cribbs, who was Harrison's teammate during their days at Kent State University, defended Harrison, encouraged him not to alter his style and said he believed he was instrumental in dissuading Harrison from cutting his career short.
However, Cribbs also said he couldn't wait to hit Harrison back. When asked Wednesday if he still wants retribution, Cribbs said, ''Of course, but I'm not gonna talk about it. I'm gonna do my talking on the field.''
Some believe Harrison has adjusted his techniques since Week 6. He has accumulated $125,000 in fines for four separate infractions this season.
''He's still trying to hit people the same way he has been, but maybe he's trying to lower his target and not hit guys in the head quite as much,'' said Browns left tackle Joe Thomas, who, like Harrison, recently received his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl selection. ''The NFL tried to send him a message, and it seems like he got it.''
In the aftermath of Harrison's hits, Cribbs missed two days of practice but played the next week against the New Orleans Saints. Massaquoi, though, missed one game before returning Nov. 7 against the New England Patriots.
On Wednesday, Massaquoi declined to answer questions about Harrison, but he said the rivalry between the Browns and the Steelers remains bitter. The Steelers have prevailed in 13 of the past 14 meetings, though the Browns pulled a 13-6 upset last season in Week 14.
''It's Pittsburgh. I don't know how else to put it,'' Massaquoi said. ''It's not like we're good friends. It's not like there's good blood between the two teams.''
http://tinyurl.com/33nwpz7 Basically, Cribbs wants revenge:popcorn: