James Harrison Delivers Vicious Hit On Colt McCoy
Late in the fourth quarter of the Steelers-Browns game on Thursday night, Pittsburgh linebacker James Harrison delivered a brutal hit on Cleveland quarterback Colt McCoy. The tooth-loosening blow may have resulted in a concussion for the quarterback and could very well cost Harrison some money if an NFL fine is forthcoming.
James Harrison Following Eye Surgery
ARRGHHH!
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison tweeted out that he feels like an actual pirate after his recent eye surgery. Harrison sporting the eye patch due to right orbital bone fracture he suffered in Sunday’s game against the Houston Texans.
“I feel a like a pirate. Lmao”
Warren Sapp Says Pittsburgh Steelers Are Old, Slow & Over
Hey Now
After watching the rival Baltimore Ravens put a 35-7 beatdown on the AFC champs Sunday, Warren Sapp puts a fork in the Pittsburgh Steelers chances for 2011 on last night’s edition of Showtimes Inside the NFL. Sapp declares:
The Pittsburgh Steelers. I have three things: old, slow and it’s over. It’s just that simple.
James Harrison told us that he was 70-to-75%. It looked more like 40% to me if you are looking at the ballgame I was looking at. And Hines Ward, Mercedes Sapp can cover Hines Ward right now. You have to be kidding me…Mercedes is my 13-year-old daughter. She will cover Hines Ward in a heartbeat. And Troy Polamalu, Ed Dixon runs this crossing route. Troy Polamalu is trying to grab him to have a pass interference and he can’t even get close enough to grab him. It looked like he was dragging a wagon behind him. Touchdown Baltimore. Pittsburgh Steelers done.
James Harrison Says His Words Were Twisted
You Go Ahead & Mess With This Dude
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison attempted some damage control last night in the wake of comments attributed to him in a interview with Men’s Journal. ESPN reports that Harrison told network analyst Merril Hoge, a former Steelers running back, that he told quarterback Ben Roethlisberger some of his comments were “twisted” by the article’s writer Paul Solotaroff and that it was not his intention to criticize the two-time Super Bowl winner.
In the interview, Harrison was quoted as criticizing Roethlisberger’s performance in Super Bowl XLV, a 31-25 Steelers loss to the Green Bay Packers.
“Hey, at least throw a pick on their side of the field instead of asking the D to bail you out again. Or hand the ball off and stop trying to act like Peyton Manning. You ain’t that and you know it man; you just get paid like he does,” Harrison was quoted as saying.
Hoge also added that Roethlisberger was taking Harrison at his word and that their relationship is fine.
Harrison though did not take back any comments he said about commissioner Roger Goodell, whom he called “the devil” and a “crook.”
James Harrison Calls: Roger Goodell Is A Devil & A Crook
You Go Ahead & Mess With This Dude
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison calls NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell a “crook” and a “devil,” among other insults, in the August issue of Men’s Journal. The 2008 AP Defensive Player of the Year hasn’t been shy about ripping the league after he was docked $100,000 for illegal hits last season.
“If that man was on fire and I had to piss to put him out, I wouldn’t do it,” Harrison told the magazine. “I hate him and will never respect him.”
His other descriptions of the commissioner include an anti-gay slur, “stupid,” “puppet” and “dictator.”
If the Steelers had defeated the Green Bay Packers in the Super Bowl, Harrison said, he would have whispered in Goodell’s ear during the trophy ceremony: “Why don’t you quit and do something else, like start your own league in flag football?”
Harrison also criticizes other NFL execs, New England Patriots turned commentators Rodney Harrison and Tedy Bruschi “clowns”, Houston Texans Brian Cushing as “juiced out of his mind” and even teammates Rashard Mendenhall and Ben Roethlisberger for their performances in the Super Bowl loss. Harrison questions whether a black player is punished more for a hard hit on a white player than the opposite.
Pittsburgh Steelers James Harrison Calls NFL Owners ‘Idiots’
You Go Ahead & Mess With This Dude
In their continual effort to turn the NFL to a flag football league, the NFL has new policy in the works that has been immediately dubbed, “The Steelers Rule”. This rule would not only fine a player for a hit that is deemed illegal by the league, the team itself would be fined for it as well. That set off Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison.
“I’m absolutely sure now after this latest rule change that the people making the rules at the NFL are idiots,’’ Harrison wrote on Twitter.
The NFL owners, though, sent a clear message with their 32-0 vote on Tuesday: This is not Roger Goodell’s mission alone, it is the entire league’s intent to make the game safer if not softer.
Pittsburgh Steelers James Harrison Mocks NFL Commissioner
Pittsburgh Steelers James Harrison took to mocking NFL Commissioner Roger “Godfather” Goodell’s and his policy for fining players for rough hits which has caused the linebacker to lose $125,000 this season.
NFL Pro Bowl Roster
Est. 1920
Michael Vick will start for the NFC in the Jan. 30 Pro Bowl in Honolulu as he was selected in a leaguewide vote by NFL players, coaches and fans.Besides Vick, the Philadelphia Eagles had DeSean Jackson, tackle Jason Peters, cornerback Asante Samuel and placekicker David Akers selected
Atlanta, which leads the NFC with a 12-3 record, had the most Pro Bowlers with seven, including quarterback Matt Ryan, receiver Roddy White and defensive end John Abraham, tight end Tony Gonzalez, fullback Ovie Mughelli, running back Michael Turner and special teamer Eric Weems.
New England (13-2), the AFC leader, had six Pro Bowlers, led by quarterback Tom Brady, the league’s top passer who will make his sixth trip to the game, Devin McCourty; guard Logan Mankins, who missed a portion of the season in a contract dispute; linebacker Jerod Mayo; safety Brandon Merriweather; and nose tackle Vince Wilfork.
Starting for the NFC with Vick will be White and Detroit’s Calvin Johnson at wide receiver, Dallas TE Jason Witten, Atlanta’s Turner and Mughelli in the backfield, Peters and Carolina’s Jordan Gross at tackle, the Giants’ Chris Snee and Saints’ Jahri Evans at guard, and Dallas center Andre Gurode.
On defense for the NFC will be ends Julius Peppers of Chicago and Abraham, tackles Suh and Jay Ratliff of Dallas, linebackers Clay Matthews of Green Bay, DeMarcus Ware of Dallas and Patrick Willis of San Francisco, cornerbacks Samuel and Charles Woodson of Green Bay, and safeties Nick Collins of Green Bay and Adrian Wilson of Arizona.
The NFC punter is Dallas Mat McBriar, while Chicago’s Devin Hester is the kick returner.
Backup quarterbacks for the NFC are Ryan and Drew Brees.
Joining Brady on the AFC’s starting offense will be WRs Reggie Wayne of Indianapolis and Andre Johnson of Houston, TE Antonio Gates of San Diego, Jacksonville running back Maurice Jones-Drew and Houston fullback Vonta Leach, tackles Joe Thomas of Cleveland and Jake Long of Miami, guards Mankins and Kris Dielman of San Diego, and Jets center Nick Mangold.
The AFC starting defense features Indianapolis ends Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis, Wilfork and Baltimore tackle Haloti Ngata, linebackers Ray Lewis of Baltimore, James Harrison of Pittsburgh and Cameron Wake of Miami, cornerbacks Darrelle Revis of the Jets and Oakland’s Nnamdi Asomugha, and safeties Troy Polamalu of Pittsburgh and Ed Reed of Baltimore.
Baltimore’s Billy Cundiff is the placekicker, Oakland’s Shane Lechler the punter, Mariani the kick returner and Montell Owens of Jacksonville the special teamer.
Colts quarterback Peyton Manning made his 11th Pro Bowl as a backup to Brady and San Diego’s Philip Rivers is the other AFC quarterback.
Baltimore, Green Bay and Dallas also had five players voted in Tuesday.
Four rookies were chosen, with DT Ndamukong Suh of Detroit a starter for the NFC. Cornerback Devin McCourty of New England, kick returner Marc Mariani of Tennessee and center Maurkice Pouncey of Pittsburgh made the AFC squad.
Altogether, there were seven first-timers on the NFC squad, 14 newcomers for the AFC.
The only teams not represented were Buffalo, Cincinnati, Seattle and Tampa Bay.
Baltimore Ravens Terrell Suggs Says NFL Gives Special Treatment To Star Quarterbacks
Motivation 101
Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs accused the NFL of giving special treatment to quarterbacks Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, according to Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
“The league has their favorites,” Suggs reportedly said. “One being in Indy and one being with that other team up north. Besides those two, everybody is fair game. Some quarterbacks are getting the calls right away. Some quarterbacks they don’t care.
The 28-year-old went on to say that he thinks Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison has been “red-flagged” by the referees.
Chicago Bears Brian Urlacher Takes Issue With NFL Fines
Big Bad Brian
Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher lashed out at NFL fines this morning on ESPN Radio.
“I think it’s bull, the way they’re doing it. The thing I don’t like about it is, if they say it, you pay the fine. That’s all there is to it,” Urlacher reportedly explained. “And I don’t know who makes the decision. I don’t know if there’s one guy, two guys, but I don’t think it’s fair. I think we should have a panel of guys who look at those hits and go over them.”
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison was fined $25,000 on Tuesday for a hit on Buffalo Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. He has been fined four times this season totaling $125,000.
Urlacher went on to say that he thinks the money is “outrageous,” suggesting that there should be different levels of fines. He has not been fined this season.
Pittsburgh Steelers Hines Ward Blames Quarterbacks For Big Hits
Crunch Course
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward, the master of the blind-side jaw-breaking ear-hole de-cleater, spoke out in favor of the new focus on the enforcement of the rules regarding hits to the head against defenseless receivers. Ward blames the quarterbacks.
“It’s funny, I was talking to [Browns receiver Mohamed] Massaquoi about quarterbacks pregame,” Ward said. I told him it’s rough playing with three different quarterbacks. It’s especially tough playing with a rookie. If he considers you his go-to guy, he’s going to watch you run your route the whole way. That’s what happened on that play when Massaquoi was hit. McCoy followed him with his eyes the whole way. James saw that and knew that pass was coming.”
Ward offered a similar take regarding the hit that knocked out Philadelphia Eagles wideout DeSean Jackson.
“His quarterback [Kevin Kolb] didn’t see the cornerback there and led him right into him,” Ward said. “What was Dunta Robinson supposed to do? He led with his shoulder. That’s a good football play. If he tackles him low, he blows out his knees and ends his career. Is that what the league’s trying to tell us it wants?”
Robinson though didn’t lead with his helmet instead drops his helmet and rams it into Jackson’s upper chest/neck area.
Miami Dolphins Player Vows To Keep Using Helmet To Helmet Hits
How Much Will You Get Fined For This
Miami Dolphins linebacker Channing Crowder said that he will keep using his helmet despite the new rules and is furious about the league’s decision to start suspending players for the dangerous hits.
“If I get a chance to knock somebody out, I’m going to knock them out and take what they give me,” Crowder said. “They give me a helmet, I’m going to use it.”
Crowder also suggested that all players wear pink every game if the league continues to make football look more like a “feminine sport.”
“They can complain, they can suspend, they can fine and they can do whatever they want, but you can’t stop a man from playing football the way he’s been playing since high school,” said Crowder.
Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher bashed the new rules on Wednesday, saying that the league should put flags on players and change the name to the “National Flag Football League.”
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison, who was fined $75,000 for two violent hits against the Cleveland Browns, was excused from Wednesday’s practice and thought about retiring but has since returned.
Pittsburgh Steelers James Harrison Tries To Hurt People
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison stood in front of reporters saying what a lot of other linebackers in the league have in their mind but won’t say. That he tries to hurt people on the football field, tries to send a message, to intimidate, he plays mean.
“I don’t want to injure anybody,” Harrison said following Pittsburgh’s 28-10 victory over the Cleveland Browns. “There’s a big difference between being hurt and being injured. You get hurt, you shake it off and come back the next series or the next game. I try to hurt people.”
Harrison’s style of play is raising questions about whether it’s possible to stay within the rules, yet also play dirty.
