James Harrison Men’s Journal interview seems to be raising hell throughout social networks, the media and certainly within the confines of the NFL offices.
In the interview, the controversial Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker and 2008 Defensive Player of the Year said Texans linebacker Brian Cushing is “juiced out of his mind.” He also referred to teammate QB Ben Roethlisberger and the Super Bowl loss against Green Bay, saying Ben should “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.”
Now he may have a point about Cushing, the 2009 defensive rookie of the year who was suspended for several games at the start the 2010 season for violating NFL policies regarding PEDs but to hit a Pro Bowl QB teammate below the belt after that same guy led the Steelers to two Super Bowl wins early in his career, well that may need to be addressed…and it might.
After hearing bits about the interview, Steelers’ president Art Rooney II released a statement to the media saying: “I have not yet seen the article in Men’s Journal nor have I spoken to James Harrison about his comments. We will discuss the situation at the appropriate time, when permitted once the labor situation is resolved.”
Harrison is a guy who pulls no punches on or off the field and after setting a record of over $100,000 in fines levied for violent hits on the field, he seems to have gone on a campaign to smear NFL Commish Roger Goodell and the league for singling him out.
“Up until last year, there was no word of me being dirty until Roger Goodell, who’s a crook and a puppet, said I was the dirtiest player in the league. I hate him and will never respect him.”
Harrison also referred to Goodell as a dictator and a devil and is sure to hear from the league once the lockout is over. If Harrison really wanted to play football on time in September, you would think he would know to avoid getting into the media at this level.
Yeah Harrison may have threatened to retire over the fines and change of attitude by the NLF regarding hard hits, especially to the head, but he should realize that every season, a few new guys come in and can fill his spot imposing fear in running backs and quarterbacks around the league if he does retire. (Google Suh and Cushing).
Harrison also commented on the 2004 AFC Championship loss to the New England Patriots, the same year the Pats were later proven to have cheated in “VideoGate”.
“I should have another ring. We were the best team in football in 2004, but the Patriots…stole our signals and picked up 90% of our blitzes. They got busted for it later, but, hey, they’re Goodell’s boys, so he slapped ’em $500,000 and burned the tapes. Was he going to rescind their Super Bowls? Man, hell no!”
So how badass is James Harrison?
When asked about the incident when he grabbed a rattle snake by the tail and heaved him over a fence, Harrison replied:
“Had to. My son was here visiting, so that bitch had to bounce out. ASAP.”
To see the rest of the interview on line at Men’s Journal Magazine here.
Used with permission of the author.
Jay Donetelli is a Tampa-based freelance sportswriter and contributor to Sports Climax. With an opinion sharper than an Ovechkin skate blade with the sting of an Ali jab, Donetelli has a loyal cult of readers who have found a way to love him.
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