Pats sign Harrison

[Steelhere10]

I said all along that he was disgruntled, and got for cursed for saying it.

[JAR]

Here are some tweets of what Dupree said on his show.

https://twitter.com/PaulZeise

[SteelBucks]

Sheesh. Crazy week and it’s only Wednesday.

[Slapstick]

Sometimes, I don’t like finding out how the proverbial sausage is made...

[Slapstick]

If what Bud said about missing practices and meetings is true, it certainly explains why his playing time was so limited...Tomlin would never reward that behavior with playing time...he would reward it with being inactive...

[Eddie Spaghetti]

if all that was true, which i have no reason to believe BD would lie, then it never should have made it to week 16

james looks really bad on the way out the door

[Ernie]

if all that was true, which i have no reason to believe BD would lie, then it never should have made it to week 16

james looks really bad on the way out the door

I guess the million dollar question is.... Why?

Why would an outstanding leader and teammate (for well over a decade) do a complete 180 in the twilight of his career??

[Ernie]

James Harrison is finally opening up about what really led to his abrupt departure in Pittsburgh.

Harrison, who was released by the Steelers on Saturday before signing with the Patriots on Tuesday, told Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that he had asked for his release three times during the course of the 2017 season.

“I have to assume when they say you’re going to get 25 percent of the snaps and you get 25, safe to say things didn’t go as planned,” Harrison told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Wednesday.

“After the first week of the season, I said to them, it’s clear you want to play your younger guys and I understand, so why don’t you release me. You go on your way and I’ll go on mine. They said, ‘No, no, no, we got a role for you.’ ”

He added that, after not playing in New England's 27-24 victory over Pittsburgh in Week 15, it was time for him to go.

“If I didn’t play in the biggest game of the year, that told me I wouldn’t get any more snaps. So all that lip service you gave me before didn’t matter.”

After (reluctantly) being granted his release, Harrison said that Mike Tomlin told him to stay in shape in case the Steelers needed him moving forward.

“I can’t sit there on ‘ifs,’ and I’m not playing," Harrison said. "I wasn’t upset, I’m not mad, it’s a business. But at the end of the day, I have to make a business decision.

“I cleared waivers, New England had called and said they wanted me to come up and we talked. At 4:30 that afternoon, I flew to Boston and there was no communication from the Steelers about anything.”

Harrison, who admitted that there was a little bit of hesitation, called former teammate and position coach Joey Porter to ask him his thoughts about signing with the Patriots.

“I explained the situation to him and he said, ‘I’m not going to sit here and tell you not to do something when you’re making a business decision,’ “ Harrison said. “I made a decision based on what was best for me.”

Harrison's admission helps explain why many of his former teammates in Pittsburgh lashed out at him on Tuesday and Wednesday. Bud Dupree, who shared Harrison's position, has been the most vocal Steeler with regard to Harrison's situation.

The only current Steeler to defend him on Wednesday was Ben Roethlisberger, who won two Super Bowls with Harrison during the 2000s.

“I’ve been blessed to play with one of the best guys, football players, defensive football players, a friend for a long time," Roethlisberger said of Harrison. "We’ve played in a lot of games together, the biggest games, he made one of the biggest plays in Super Bowl history. It’s truly been an honor to call him a friend and a teammate.

"I’ll miss him. I’ve only had to go against him a few times when he was in Cincinnati. It won’t be the same in here without him, especially because he was the oldest and now I’m the oldest.

"I count my blessings for all the time I got to share with him."

Author
Bryan DeArdo  @nfl_steelers247

[Ernie]

Here ya go. JH's side of the story, and I am inclined to believe him. I can see them telling him he'd get 25% of the snaps.

[buccoray61]

Unfortunate all around,but this happens in the business of sports. There aren't always happy endings.

[pittpete]

There is no I in team...Go fack yourself Harrison.

[SteelBucks]

Here ya go. JH's side of the story, and I am inclined to believe him. I can see them telling him he'd get 25% of the snaps.

I hate when players bitch about their role during the season. I didn’t like it when Bryant complained and I don’t like it that Harrison aired his grievances. Maybe I’m old school but I guess handling personal issues after the season no longer applies. I’m glad the distraction is gone.

And f*** the Pats!

[Ernie]

I hate when players bitch about their role during the season. I didn’t like it when Bryant complained and I don’t like it that Harrison aired his grievances. Maybe I’m old school but I guess handling personal issues after the season no longer applies. I’m glad the distraction is gone.

And f*** the Pats!

Sounds to me like they discussed Harrison's role with him prior to the season (after last season). What did you think about AB throwing his fit on the field with the water cooler in front of millions? Should that "Distraction" be gone also, or is that different?

[SteelBucks]

Sounds to me like they discussed Harrison's role with him prior to the season (after last season). What did you think about AB throwing his fit on the field with the water cooler in front of millions? Should that "Distraction" be gone also, or is that different?

I don’t like any of it. I’m done talking about Harrison. It’s time to start curb stomping opponents and keeping an eye on the prize. I want this championship BAD!

[Steelwolf]

Yep....Harrison who? Steelers have a super bowl to win!