Releasing James Harrison

Steelers cut him. He signs with the Bengals. He retires.
Steelers ask him to come out of retirement. He does and ends up being their best OLB.
Steelers draft Dupree and sit Harrison behind Jarvis Jones and Dupree. James sits. Dupree gets injured. James plays and ends up being their best OLB.
Once again James works hard to be game ready. They sit him and sit him. Nobody gets injured. Dupree plays below average. James sits. Tomlin says the role of OLB has evolved and more pass coverage is required. Dupree can't stop the run and has one whole pass break up all season.
James is sick of this coaching staff disrespecting him and saying he's to old to be effective. He voices his feelings. They release him.
He still wants to play. Patriots area contender and have a legit need for a pass rusher. Harrison signs there.
I do not blame James Harrison at all. This coaching staff has disrespected him since 2013!

 

Since I'm a Steelers fan rather than a James Harrison fan, I have to respectfully disagree with every inch of what this post stands for.

You make it seem like Harrison was some type of Superman the Steelers had no right to release. He hasn't reached double-digit sacks in a season since 2010 and only reached 5 last season while playing in every game except the meaningless Browns contest at the end. Dupree has six this season (more than Harrison has had since 2011) and somehow he's "below average." If Harrison is supposed to be the pass-rushing beast his fans say he is then why isn't he on Terrell Suggs's level? To use a linebacker with a comparable career, of course. Suggs has 11.5 sacks this season and 4 forced fumbles. Those should be Harrison's 2016 numbers based on how much his fans say he deserved more playing time.

Sure, Harrison hasn't actually "started" a full 16 game season since 2010. He didn't in 2008, either, when he was the NFL's defensive MVP. He hasn't been that player in a very long time. Even in 2012, he wasn't the same, so the Steelers released him. I assumed that when they brought him back in 2014 that he understood what role he would play and accept that he isn't the same player he used to be. The fact that he was the best linebacker the Steelers had for a couple of years was a sad state of affairs. When, finally, the Steelers have a great starting pair of young OLBs, Harrison gets so pissy about his lack of playing time that the Steelers basically grant his wish and release him.

The Steelers didn't treat him wrong. They acted in the best interest of the team by allowing the young talent to sharpen as they play and gain experience. Watt and Dupree make a great tandem for rushing the passer on less than half of their snaps. They're the best we've had since Harrison/Woodley were in their primes. I'm fairly certain as well that those two rushed the passer more frequently than Watt/Dupree, what with our defense changing from two-gap to one-gap and the defensive linemen making more of their own plays.

Harrison is stubborn and was never really a leader in the first place. Because of that, he possibly just pushed his way out of another ring. I fully believe Pouncey and Dupree when they insist Harrison was the thorn in the team's side and not the other way around. It might just be better this way.

 

This is becoming more of a “distraction” than I thought it would be. Dupree’s allegations (if true) of Harrison leaving the stadium as soon as he found out he was inactive, not practicing, not attending meetings, not visiting Shazier in hospital, etc etc doesn’t make Harrison look good.
On the flip side Harrison is saying he wanted to stay but wanted playing time, was asking to be released from the start of the season, and hesitated signing with the Patriots.

Who knows what to believe.

 

Appreciated Harrison but he became a malcontent based on his pride . One positive is that Harrison will be NE’s best pass rusher and he couldn’t even get on the field for Pittsburgh.

If Steelers play the Pastry Meats again I’d love to see if TJ Watt could cover Gronkowshit being a former TE and near his size. Hell I’d put Brian Allen on the field and double him in obvious passing plays . Pull a Bellishit and eliminate Tammy’s best option

 

2017 Season filled with Distractions:

- Bell’s hold out
- National Anthem fiasco in Chicago
- Brown’s Gatorade theatrics
- Bryant’s Twitter Shenanigans
- Gilbert’s Suspension
- Shazier injury
- Techheart attending the Balt game in Pittsburgh
- Catch/no catch abomination vs NE
- Harrison release and subsequent signing with Patriots

Did I miss any?

 

Exactly all of the above. Please post more often.

 

Jujus bike?

 

I’m rolling with DuPree. I’ve come full circle based on these revelations:

Dupree “I don’t know how many secrets about the playbook Harrison could give to (the Patriots) because I never saw him in meetings.”

Dupree “He signed with the Patriots to spit in the face of the Rooney’s. That’s basically what he did.”

He also said Harrison didn’t serve as a mentor to any young guys or help them at all.

All indications are he was hated in the Steelers locker room.

http://www.steelersdepot.com/2017/1...visit-shazier-hospital-didnt-attend-meetings/

 

If what the players are saying about Harrison this year is true, then I'm glad they released him. You can handle a malcontent if he's valuable to the team (aka Martavis Bryant), but when the 53rd man on the roster is causing problems in the locker room its not worth the headaches. I respect Tomlin for making the move and for not throwing Harrison under the bus when he did it. He took the responsibility for the decision and has taken a beating from alot of fans for it.

As long as there is no rash of injuries at that position over the next few weeks, Harrison was a waste of a roster spot.

 

Pouncey told it like it is...I hope they see each in other a few weeks..gonna b good

 

Please pouncey was full of crap. First he sad if Finney took his job it woukd beokay he said that cause he knows there is no way Finney is catching him. Also if someone took Pounceys job next year and he still thought he was one of the top linemen inthe league he too wouod be looking to go elsewhere so he could start.

 

Well Pouncey is regarded as one of the top C's in the league.....Harrison can barely touch the field and make plays

 

Correct and the point Pouncey was trying to make was that he wouldn’t have turned it on the team making it look like they didn’t want him, he said he would come out right away and say it was him wanting to leave, Harrison only came out saying he wanted to leave after Pouncey and Dupree’s comments.

Regardless, The main question is “can Harrison still rush the passer”; we’ll find out soon enough if he can. Sure he may not fit the Steelers scheme but this move may have “possibly” improved a weak spot for the Patriots. Lord help Steeler nation if the Steelers and Patriots end up playing because all it will take for Facebook and message boards around the world to blow up is if Harrison makes 1 key sack in that game that helps the Patriots win even if he only plays 10 plays in the game.

 

ESPN was talking about us Pittsburgh fans being stupid for comments regarding Harrison while smooching all things Patriots this morning against backdrop of video clips of Harrison in NE uniform and warming up in the cold with his new team.

 

Lets be honest. Thats just about the inverse of here.

 

Our secret weapon: Ashley Roethlisberger - she is raising awareness and making sure Harrison doesn’t know the no huddle signs and signals ....

She is very smart and accomplished herself from what I’ve read.

Obviously my tongue is kind of in cheek in saying the above, but with so many concerned about everything Harrison could be sharing with the Pats and plenty of time to ensure that is of no impact and to game plan with different signs and signals, I am confident it will have no impact on the game. I mean, seriously, how hard is it to switch up the signs and signals and change stuff up to use what a team thinks they know about you against them. In the post spy gate era, I’m sure it’s standard operating procedure.

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/ben-ro...eelers-secrets-patriots-204830001.html?exp=vv

 

IMHO, I would have to believe that hand signals and key words for play changes at the line would have to change on a frequent basis. I can’t see how they would remain the same every week, especially if you’re playing a team for a second time. I think too much worry, or emphasis, is placed on this. It’s all about execution.

 

Steelers cut him. They should have released him when he originally asked earlier this season.

The Steelers cut him in 2013. He played a year with the Bengals and retired. Then the Steelers asked him to come out of retirement. He never asked to return. They needed him. They asked him to stick around the next season because Worilds quit and Jarvis Jones the man who was supposed to replace him sucked. Porter let it be know during 2015 and 2016 training camps that Harrison was old and would be coming off the bench. Harrison never complained but did tell everybody he didn't need a snap count. Both seasons Harrison played limited snaps and was far and away their best OLB. He didn't get snaps in 2017 after he once again proved himself far and away their best OLB in 2016.

Go ahead and compare the 2017 stats of Suggs vs the 2016 stats of Harrison on limited snaps. Suggs started 30 games between 2016 and 2017. Harrison started a total of 8 games between 2015 and 2016. Then compare how the Ravens have handled Suggs as he's aged and experienced injuries that limited production at different times to how the Steelers have handled Harrison.

From PFF re 2016
https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/pro-james-harrison-still-a-one-man-wrecking-crew-at-38-years-old

Harrison wasn’t even a starter at OLB for the Steelers to begin the year. The team has already tried to replace him on multiple occasions, but he just keeps outplaying those drafted to take his place. This season, he has the same number of sacks (five) as both of the most recent former first-round draft picks the Steelers have used to address the outside linebacker position (Jarvis Jones and Bud Dupree) put together, and 12 hurries more than the pair combined. Injuries have limited the play of the other two, but even so, they have 125 more snaps rushing the passer than Harrison this season, and have been significantly out-produced by the veteran.

Tomlin says that the position has evolved and the OLBs drop in coverage more. How was Harrison able to be so effective last season? Did the whole scheme change that much this off season? Harrison always dropped into coverage 25-30 percent of the time under Lebeau.

How was the old guy who couldn't drop in coverage and needed his snaps limited able to dominate a playoff game against the Dolphins in 2016?

Re that playoff game.

Even if we look at raw numbers, Harrison effectively doubled Dupree’s contribution across the board. In fact, Harrison came pretty close to matching the output of the rest of the Steelers linebackers corps all by himself, especially when it comes to pass-rushing.



James Harrison got better and better last season. He was never given an opportunity to play in 2017. Supposedly pass coverage is why he didn't play. Dupree has one flipping pass defense all season. Once again the Steelers tell everybody what Harrison can't do without letting him play. He's proven them wrong over and over. He worked hard to be ready at 39 to play football. His 2016 season proved he could still play. From the few statements Harrison has made so far about this situation is pretty clear Mike Tomlin told him he'd have a role.

James didn't get paid big money the past three seasons. For his production he played cheap. He was there for the organization when they called on him. This coaching staff has continually written him off since 2013 and he proved them wrong every time.

People calling him selfish and prideful aren't looking at the whole picture. James forced his way out and I don't blame him. I'm a Steelers fan as well but it doesn't mean they are always in the right. James Harrison deserved better. He deserved what Suggs has had from the Ravens. I suspect Tomlin knows it.

 

It’s an ugly situation and JCSteelfan makes good points above.

I’m still rolling with Tomlin and the young guys though bc imo (and I’ve always said it) they have to make developing the young guys the priority over playing aging veterans....admittedly a tough call this time around bc Harrison is special.

Funny that the Pats are known for getting rid of veterans for the sake of young up and comers’ development and now they seem to be desperate and grabbing our scraps.

I have a feeling we can beat their team in a rematch even at Gillette in Foxborough. The real question is can we beat them, their shenanigans, and the refs?

 

True, but this is a place for biased Steelers fans. ESPN should be non partial. I doubt that's possible though.