Report: Bengals, James Harrison break off talks

[hawaiiansteel]

Report: Bengals, James Harrison break off talks

By Larry Hartstein | CBSSports.com
April 17, 2013

http://24.media.tumblr.com/a3820f8198c8dab8284804d75094f882/tumblr_mleyh4lOHm1rge74zo1_500.jpg

James Harrison might have overestimated his market value.

The Bengals need a linebacker and James Harrison needs a team.

But after reports suggested they would hammer out a deal this week, those talks have broken off, NFL.com's Ian Rapoport tweeted Wednesday. Cincinnati also is interested in former Dolphins linebacker Karlos Dansby, a slightly younger option.

It's possible nothing will happen until after the draft, when the Bengals also could address their need.

Harrison, who turns 35 in May, is not known to have any other suitors. He reportedly refused to take a 30 percent pay cut from the $6.57 million he was scheduled to earn in Pittsburgh this season, prompting the Steelers to release him.

The five-time Pro Bowler with 64 sacks and 29 forced fumbles might have to reduce his price substantially to end his free-agent limbo.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/blog/eye-on-football/22091455/report-bengals-james-harrison-break-off-talks

[squidkid]

lol..................i wonder if james hates the bengals now?

[SanAntonioSteelerFan]

Keep lifting and doing sit ups James, eating right, and working out ... ain't nobody else been given B&G #92 yet ...

[thor75]

ryan clark said in an interview today that he calls JH every day to try to get him to return. If Woirlds gets hurt in TC, I wonder what the FO does?

[Big Ern McCracken]

ryan clark said in an interview today that he calls JH every day to try to get him to return. If Woirlds gets hurt in TC, I wonder what the FO does?

Take a gamble like they did with Starks the last few years and try to sign him late in the summer.

[squidkid]

ryan clark said in an interview today that he calls JH every day to try to get him to return. If Woirlds gets hurt in TC, I wonder what the FO does?


whats he call him, dumbass?

[thor75]

whats he call him, dumbass?

That would be Sir Dumbass.

[Sugar]

I'm just glad not to have him going to a team in the AFCN. The funny thing is that according to reports, the Bengals weren't going to use him properly anyway. Now they can pursue Dansby, a younger but lesser player who will cost them more. They may have a leg up on paper going into the season, but they still do things to remind everyone why they have sucked for so very long.

[Chadman]

Actually finding it hard to believe that there is NO market for Harrison, it's not like he stopped being able to play last season.

[Captain Lemming]

ryan clark said in an interview today that he calls JH every day to try to get him to return. If Woirlds gets hurt in TC, I wonder what the FO does?

Can we get Worilds on the field a bunch with Gilbert? .....Just a thought :)

[Captain Lemming]

Actually finding it hard to believe that there is NO market for Harrison, it's not like he stopped being able to play last season.

Must be a price thing.
Given a reasonable price ANY TEAM would do well to sign him. He just aint gonna get the premium he expects

[Shoe]

Must be a price thing.
Given a reasonable price ANY TEAM would do well to sign him. He just aint gonna get the premium he expects

You have to be a pretty optimistic Harrison fan (which I am), to have watched him play last year and think he has much left in the tank. He can no longer bull rush Tackles (bad back). He lacks that body lean to get around the end (i.e. bad knees). And even his signature rip under move, was pedestrian last year. And no, I'm not ignoring his supposed late season surge... I believe much of that was just circumstance (i.e. right place, right time). Put him in our scheme next year, and even injury free, I think you only see 5-8 sacks, 40-60 tackles...

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

I see him retiring when this off season is done. He seems to be content to tell teams to pay his price or he is not playing. He seems like the type of guy who will walk away and never be heard from again.

[JUST-PLAIN-NASTY]

Must be a price thing.
Given a reasonable price ANY TEAM would do well to sign him. He just aint gonna get the premium he expects

I agree with that. Harrison & his agent may be using the Steelers offer as a bench mark and teams are offering less.

[Sugar]

I see him retiring when this off season is done. He seems to be content to tell teams to pay his price or he is not playing. He seems like the type of guy who will walk away and never be heard from again.

That. OR- he's not willing to just sign with someone for little money when he doesn't seem to have much leverage. If a team loses an OLB and needs a stop-gap player he can ride in like a hero and possibly make a little more than he could now.

[Oviedo]

Must be a price thing.
Given a reasonable price ANY TEAM would do well to sign him. He just aint gonna get the premium he expects

Obviously the entire NFL sees what the Steelers saw. A fading star who is at risk for an injury that could keep him out of the lineup for a long time. You don't pay much for that. Everyone seems to get that except for Harrison.

[Oviedo]

You have to be a pretty optimistic Harrison fan (which I am), to have watched him play last year and think he has much left in the tank. He can no longer bull rush Tackles (bad back). He lacks that body lean to get around the end (i.e. bad knees). And even his signature rip under move, was pedestrian last year. And no, I'm not ignoring his supposed late season surge... I believe much of that was just circumstance (i.e. right place, right time). Put him in our scheme next year, and even injury free, I think you only see 5-8 sacks, 40-60 tackles...


Right on the mark. The sacks may not even reach more than 5 if he signs with a 4-3 team like the Bumgals.

It appears that based on market value we should be very happy he rejected out $4M because it appears we would have been way overpaying.

[feltdizz]

age... that is the only thing holding teams back.

[Oviedo]

age... that is the only thing holding teams back.

That is what I say the reason I'm not President is too.

[Captain Lemming]

You have to be a pretty optimistic Harrison fan (which I am), to have watched him play last year and think he has much left in the tank. He can no longer bull rush Tackles (bad back). He lacks that body lean to get around the end (i.e. bad knees). And even his signature rip under move, was pedestrian last year. And no, I'm not ignoring his supposed late season surge... I believe much of that was just circumstance (i.e. right place, right time). Put him in our scheme next year, and even injury free, I think you only see 5-8 sacks, 40-60 tackles...

Lets dismiss the late sack surge when he had 5 sacks in less than half a season.

You talking tackles?
Harrison had SEVENTY tackles after MISSING the month of September.
Clay Matthews also missed 4 games- 43 tackles
Demarcus Ware had 56 tackles- 16 games

You can talk SACKS and make a case. And He DID come on strong at season end in that regard didmiss it if you must.

But please dont dare dis the man as a run stopper.
Harrison missed a month and bested Clay Mathews career best numbers (Matthews had 60 in 2010) when it comes to tackles.
Our TEAM run defense was AWFUL when he was injured, among the best after his return.

RIGHT NOW, old and all Harrison is ELITE when it comes to stopping the run as a 3/4 OLBer among his peers.

[flippy]

Harrison only has value to the Steelers. Most FAs need time to adjust to a new team. It typically takes a couple years to settle in. By then James is too old. His window is closing. The only place he could have made a real impact is Pittsburgh. So he'll probably end up the new Charlie Batch. We'll call him up if someone gets hurt. And in a couple games he'll put up out of this world numbers as his FU to the Steelers for letting him go.

[Sugar]

Harrison only has value to the Steelers. Most FAs need time to adjust to a new team. It typically takes a couple years to settle in. By then James is too old. His window is closing. The only place he could have made a real impact is Pittsburgh. So he'll probably end up the new Charlie Batch. We'll call him up if someone gets hurt. And in a couple games he'll put up out of this world numbers as his FU to the Steelers for letting him go.

Actually, I thought he could be valuable to NO too. They are moving to a 3/4 and could use a short-term killer who knows the ropes as they are establishing their D.