James Harrison Returns To Steelers, Still Not Happy He Can’t Hurt People

Added on Oct 22, 2010 by Jason Kearney in

NFL

The Steel City can all breathe a collective sigh of relief–linebacker James Harrison is not going to retire. Following a week of soul searching about whether or not he wanted to keep playing football for eight figures a year if he couldn’t hurt people without any type of repercussions, Harrison is back with the team. He’s not happy about it, apparently, and he’s still acting all sulky and wouldn’t talk to the media. He did release a ‘statement’ through the team that attempted to do some damage control, basically saying that he still thinks both of his big hits last Sunday were clean but apologizing for his now infamous ‘I like to hurt people’ comment:

“After having some time to think about the situation, talk to my family, friends and the Steelers organization I have come to the decision that I cannot and will not let the league office stop me from playing the game that I love. I am all for player safety and I agree that some of the rule changes that have been made are good for the game. As far as my situation, I believe the hit against Massaquoi for which I was fined was legal and well within the scope of the rules.

I feel the real reason for the fine was the statement I made after the game wherein I said that I try to hurt people not injure them. In the same sentence I attempted to clarify my meaning but I understand that my comments leave a lot open to interpretation. The statement was not well thought out and I did not adequately convey my meaning.

I apologize for making that statement and I want it to be known that I have never and would never intentionally try to injure any player. I believe that my statements along with the hits that happened in other games this past Sunday and the subsequent media storm are the reasons I was fined on what I know was a clean hit.

I will not retire from the NFL. I will continue to play the game with the same passion, intensity and focus with which I have always played and let the chips fall where they may. I have never given up, quit or walked away from anything in my life and I am not about to start now. I will not let down my family, friends or the Steelers Nation.”

All righty then….I have nothing against Harrison personally and he’s a hell of a football player. The concept that he’s some sort of ‘victim’ because he’s expected to play within the rules set forth by the NFL for a mere $10 million per is downright comical though.

Harrison may have fit in better with the NFL culture in the 1970′s–no one would argue that it was a better time or a better game, but it was definitely a *tougher* game. Team trainers doubled as experts in pharmaceuticals legal and illegal and some NFL teams put out buckets of amphetamines in their locker room before games. It was not only tolerated for defensive players to deliberately try to injure offensive players but practically a job requirement, with many salaries tied to the number and severity of injuries dished out. Since NFL salaries for all but the biggest stars were not much more than these guys could make in a gas station, they did what was expected of them without question.

Things are different now–depending on who’s numbers you look at the average NFL salary is somewhere between seven fitty large ($750,000 US) and $1.8 million. The NFL has transformed itself from one of the few places a psychotic sadist could live a productive life outside of prison walls and playing to a fan base of drunken degenerates to ‘America’s Game’ who has built their billion dollar business on positive public relations. Players make a lot of money now and it’s no longer a fight for survival as it was for an earlier generation of pro football player. Harrison needs to wrap his mind around this fact–show up at the yard, play hard, collect your check and everyone goes home to their families happy and healthy.

The best line about Harrison’s return was delivered by Pittsburgh safety Ryan Clark who articulated the obvious when he noted that he’s not a ‘fluffy person’ even when he’s in a *good* mood. Not that a lack of ‘fluffiness’ is a bad thing for a NFL linebacker and Clark is glad to have him back:

“He’s fine. Obviously it’s a tough situation and he was able to handle it the way he needed to. We’re glad to have him back.”

Nose tackle Chris Hoke gave props to his teammates and disputed the notion that Harrison is a ‘dirty player’:

“That’s not James, that’s a misunderstanding. He goes out and plays hard. There’s not a dirty ounce in his body. … It’s all about hard work for him. He’s one of the first guys in here in the morning and one of the last to leave. He’s a class act. It’s good to see him back because he’s a humongous part of our team.”