James Harrison might be released by Steelers

[papillon]

Harrison still has value to the Steelers but at their price. Harrison has unearned money in his pocket from the Rooneys...People forget that. If you were the owner of a franchise you want return on your investment. Just because it isn't money's due doesn't mean it isn't monies that needs to be earned. They aren't talking to Harrison because of lack of confidence in Worilds. They are talking to Harrison because he isn't playing to his contract and they can ask him to take a pay cut because they have leverage and his replacement.

What unearned money? Because he wasn't the defensive player of the year? I think the steelers wouldn't mind paying him, they just can't afford it. There were a lot of underperforming players with a lot less heart than Harrison. If they all played with half of his intensitye steelers wouldn't have been on the outside looking in.

Pappy

[hawaiiansteel]

Harrison’s tenure with Steelers could be coming to end

By Staff and Wire Reports
Published: Friday, March 8, 2013



The Steelers might be ready to see if there is life beyond James Harrison.

With the NFL free agent signing period set to begin Tuesday, the Steelers and Harrison have been unable to work out a deal that would keep the five-time Pro Bowl linebacker in Pittsburgh but at a reduced cost.

Bill Parise, Harrison's agent, didn't want to get into specifics Friday, but shortly after talking to Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert, he said, “It's not going good.”

The Steelers do not comment on contract negotiations.

The Steelers, who are only several million dollars below the salary cap, could be asking Harrison to take a substantial reduction from his scheduled salaries of $6.57 million in 2013 and $7.575 million in 2014 — the final two seasons of a $51.75 million, six-year contract.

Players nearing the end of their careers — Harrison will be 35 next season — typically renegotiate the final years of a such a contract.

“I know where we are, but I don't think it's appropriate to say anything yet,” Parise said.

Parise expects the situation to be resolved shortly. He said Harrison wants to stay with the Steelers but is prepared to move on if necessary.

The question for Harrison is whether a team would give him a two-year contract at his age.

Cutting Harrison — even if it frees up more than $5 million of salary cap space in 2013 — would be risky for the Steelers given that Jason Worilds never has been more than a part-time player, and Chris Carter did not play well during Harrison's absence early last season.

Despite injuries, Harrison had 70 tackles and six sacks last season and graded out as the NFL's 10th-best outside linebacker in Pro Football Focus' rankings.

While teams cannot sign free agents until 4 p.m. Tuesday, a newly created three-day window, which starts Saturday, allows teams to talk with agents in advance of the signing period. No signing can be announced until the opening of free agency if a deal is reached.

STEELERS TALK WITH FOSTER

The Steelers had contract discussions with Ramon Foster's agent, Joel Segal, on Thursday and could make the unrestricted free agent offensive lineman an offer after the organization gets a better idea of their finances, a source with knowledge of the meeting said.

However, an offer may come too late and under market value. Arizona, Chicago and Tennessee have shown interest in the 27-year-old guard.

[URL]http://triblive.com/sports/steelers/3625436-74/harrison-steelers-million#ixzz2N15DwhAP[/URL]

[NorthCoast]

The Steelers can only offer Harrison a backup's salary due to their cap situation and maybe they would also ask him to split significant time with Worilds as a way to extend his career a few years? Seems this would benefit both sides.

[Slapstick]

no doubt that helped cowher's success but noway near what it has done for tomlin. tomlin never would have even been competitive if he had bubby, miller, tomzak and kordell. he's leading this team to mediocrity with an elite qb and the best organization in the sport.

Right. Cowher never went 8-8 with Ben...

[Siggy00]

He's gone. Tweeted goodbye just now.

[hawaiiansteel]

[JUST-PLAIN-NASTY]

What unearned money? Because he wasn't the defensive player of the year? I think the steelers wouldn't mind paying him, they just can't afford it. There were a lot of underperforming players with a lot less heart than Harrison. If they all played with half of his intensitye steelers wouldn't have been on the outside looking in.

Pappy

His signing bonus Pap. The money he got up front.... He had two years left.

Gonna miss him. Hope he hangs them up.

[Snatch98]

"Harrison" is walking TOWARDS the "camera" in that picture but his name and number are on his chest. Pretty rough photoshop from whomever did it.

[flippy]

What a shame. Now we're down to 2 star players in Ben and Troy.

If I was James, I'd try to go to Baltimore, Cincy, or Cleveland and get 10+ sacks against Ben each year.

[Snatch98]

What a shame. Now we're down to 2 star players in Ben and Troy.

If I was James, I'd try to go to Baltimore, Cincy, or Cleveland and get 10+ sacks against Ben each year.

Why? I agree that it's a shame BUT it's not like the Steelers didn't try and keep him around. I sincerely doubt he's harboring any kind of ill will. He had a great run with the Steelers and I agree with others that I hope he hangs them up. Although I doubt he does. Who knows maybe he'll test the market, not get the interest he wants and still sign with the Steelers.

[NJ-STEELER]

Who knows maybe he'll test the market, not get the interest he wants and still sign with the Steelers.

thats what im hoping too. unrealistic most likely, but i hope the FO gave him a number and if he cant beat it elsewhere, comes back to the black and gold

[Oviedo]

What a shame. Now we're down to 2 star players in Ben and Troy.

If I was James, I'd try to go to Baltimore, Cincy, or Cleveland and get 10+ sacks against Ben each year.

Is Troy really still a "star?"

[squidkid]

thats what im hoping too. unrealistic most likely, but i hope the FO gave him a number and if he cant beat it elsewhere, comes back to the black and gold

i hope they take the 30% reduction with incentives to earn it all off the table if he cant find it better elsewhere.
F him.

[flippy]

Is Troy really still a "star?"

Of course. And we seem to win SuperBowls every season he stays completely healthy. Let's hope he can remain healthy these next couple of years.

[hawaiiansteel]

2013 NFL free agents: Where will James Harrison land?

By Adam Stites on Mar 9 2013

While he's turning 35 in May and saw a drop in production in 2012, there are teams that can benefit from the addition of James Harrison.

After 10 seasons with the team, the Pittsburgh Steelers cut ties with outside linebacker James Harrison in a salary cap move to avoid paying him $6.57 million for the 2013 season. The move came one day after the two sides reportedly met in an attempt to re-work his contract so that he could finish his career with the Steelers; however, no deal was made.

Harrison, 34, was elected to five consecutive Pro Bowls between 2007 and 2011, and was named the 2008 AP Defensive Player of the Year, accumulating 54 sacks during the five-year span. However, he fell off that double-digit average in 2012, finishing the year with only six sacks.

That drop in pass-rushing ability, combined with his age, makes Harrison a risky free agent to go after. However, Khaled Elsayed of Pro Football Focus says that his run-stopping ability is still up to par:

In essence, the worst case scenario with Harrison is you've still got a player who can operate relatively productively on early downs. The upside being that his 2012 was an aberration and not the start of a trend.

That is why a lot of teams, perhaps focused on names like Paul Kruger and Cliff Avril, might be wiser to look at a cheaper and more proven pro like Harrison

It's unlikely that Harrison gets more than a year or two on a new contract with a team, but prototypical 3-4 outside linebackers that can make an instant impact in the starting lineup aren't easy to find. Several teams have a need at the position, particularly those that have made recent switches to the 3-4 defense.

The Cleveland Browns are one team that is expected to switch to that scheme in 2013. While the team is in prime position to take a pass rusher like Dion Jordan or Barkevious Mingo with the sixth pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, it can ease that transition for a rookie with a player like Harrison.

Another team making the switch to a 3-4 is the New Orleans Saints, which has holes all over its defense. While the Saints don't have the cap space to go after a top pass-rushing free agent like Cliff Avril or Paul Kruger, they could afford to bring Harrison as a stop-gap in the starting defense.

[URL]http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2013/3/9/4084066/james-harrison-steelers-2013-nfl-free-agents-linebackers/in/3847997[/URL]