Burning Bridges in the Burgh

[dbsfgyd1]

While there will always be a large number of disgruntled former employees, I find it somewhat annoying when former Steelers get on nation media and trash their former employer, especially after said employer paid them tens of millions of dollars.

Jame Harrison’s latest rants about the abuse he suffered at the hands of the Steelers after he came back from retirement to be a fill in is the latest player to inform the world just how dang gum horrible his situation was. First he griped about playing too much the first year, then griped about not playing enough in the second, disclosing that he tried to force a release until he finally got his way.

Now he’s saying he wanted to help the Patriots win two more Super Bowl wins out of spite. Of course the fact that he was old and slow and wasn’t offered a contract, not to mention, offered so little value to the Steelers that they would let him walk had nothing to do with how things played out. What is ironic,  while he wanted to win the Patriots their 6th and 7th Super Bowl, apparently the Patriots came to the same conclusion as the Steelers. At this point in he career he was little more than Babe Ruth as a Boston Brave and was deemed not worth his stink.

While we enjoyed his best years as one of the best OLB of his generation, and loved his less than sunny disposition as a player,  as a former player his words come off as the musings of a has been wallowing in his own fantasies of former glory and import to the game. Thanks for tarnishing your legacy Mr. Harrison.

[Chucktownsteeler]

While there will always be a large number of disgruntled former employees, I find it somewhat annoying when former Steelers get on nation media and trash their former employer, especially after said employer paid them tens of millions of dollars.

Jame Harrison’s latest rants about the abuse he suffered at the hands of the Steelers after he came back from retirement to be a fill in is the latest player to inform the world just how dang gum horrible his situation was. First he griped about playing too much the first year, then griped about not playing enough in the second, disclosing that he tried to force a release until he finally got his way.

Now he’s saying he wanted to help the Patriots win two more Super Bowl wins out of spite. Of course the fact that he was old and slow and wasn’t offered a contract, not to mention, offered so little value to the Steelers that they would let him walk had nothing to do with how things played out. What is ironic,  while he wanted to win the Patriots their 6th and 7th Super Bowl, apparently the Patriots came to the same conclusion as the Steelers. At this point in he career he was little more than Babe Ruth as a Boston Brave and was deemed not worth his stink.

While we enjoyed his best years as one of the best OLB of his generation, and loved his less than sunny disposition as a player,  as a former player his words come off as the musings of a has been wallowing in his own fantasies of former glory and import to the game. Thanks for tarnishing your legacy Mr. Harrison.

Whenever you discuss James Harrison my mind immediately snaps back to the photo of you meeting him at breakfast on a gameday. Was it at the Wafflehouse?

[dbsfgyd1]

Even then he was a first class bad A**.. had me intimidated. Well like they say, they aren’t hired for their sunny dispositions. Can’t remember the name of the restaurant. The waiter probably shouldn’t have mentioned Harrison was there, but....I remember the other Dave was an OK sort.

BTW, I ran in to Dave Mason ( former Mac and Wife alumnus ) a year or so ago at a gig I was playing in Richmond. Good guy. Had him over for diner one time.

[mcmillenandwife]

I hear 'ya, Dave. But you know what? As far as I'm concerned, James Harrison can say anything he wants now that he's retired. Despite how it ended, he's a Steeler for life to me. He played the game the way it should be played. Greatest defensive play in NFL history in Super Bow XLIII. 

If he was still a player behaving this way? That would be a problem. But he's retired, so... whatever. 

He left his mark in Pittsburgh, and it was BIG mark at that. He was a huge part of one of the truly GREAT defenses in NFL history ('08). He was easily the most intimidating player in the NFL while he was playing. No one else even comes close. He would beat Ray Lewis like a red-headed stepchild. 

Defensively speaking, only Troy Polamalu holds place of higher regard for me over the last 15 years.

I agree with you that what he's saying right now is annoying. But for me, it doesn't tarnish his legacy as a Steeler at all. I don't find his current behavior particularly surprising. James like to stick a finger in your eye. I think, even if James "likes" you, you're at risk of getting punched in the face at any given moment. 

#92 is Hall of Fame worthy, IMO. If he would've run his mouth more as a player, he would've gotten more media coverage, enhanced his notoriety and probably increased his chances for the HoF. But mostly, he was quiet off the field -- other than his feud with Roger Goodell. And even that was fairly subdued by today's hyped-up media standards.  

So I'm okay with with him talking smack now. Not sayin' I agree with anythin he's spouting, but... Viva Silverback.   

[dbsfgyd1]

I hear 'ya, Dave. But you know what? As far as I'm concerned, James Harrison can say anything he wants now that he's retired. Despite how it ended, he's a Steeler for life to me. He played the game the way it should be played. Greatest defensive play in NFL history in Super Bow XLIII. 

If he was still a player behaving this way? That would be a problem. But he's retired, so... whatever. 

He left his mark in Pittsburgh, and it was BIG mark at that. He was a huge part of one of the truly GREAT defenses in NFL history ('08). He was easily the most intimidating player in the NFL while he was playing. No one else even comes close. He would beat Ray Lewis like a red-headed stepchild. 

Defensively speaking, only Troy Polamalu holds place of higher regard for me over the last 15 years.

I agree with you that what he's saying right now is annoying. But for me, it doesn't tarnish his legacy as a Steeler at all. I don't find his current behavior particularly surprising. James like to stick a finger in your eye. I think, even if James "likes" you, you're at risk of getting punched in the face at any given moment. 

#92 is Hall of Fame worthy, IMO. If he would've run his mouth more as a player, he would've gotten more media coverage, enhanced his notoriety and probably increased his chances for the HoF. But mostly, he was quiet off the field -- other than his feud with Roger Goodell. And even that was fairly subdued by today's hyped-up media standards.  

So I'm okay with with him talking smack now. Not sayin' I agree with anythin he's spouting, but... Viva Silverback.   

Great post Tim. Trust me, it was with much trepidation I agreed to the photo. LOL. Talk about an intimidating presence. When the other Dave wished him good luck the next day in San Francisco, a game which Goodell suspended him for a non penalized hit that was legal under current rules, a game he was losing a game check due to the suspension , I though he was going to explode. Man, I ducked for cover.

 While Mr. Harrison has the right to say what he wants, whether it’s true or not, it is totally poor form, not to mention holding yourself liable for legal action for slander in this case. Just saying. 

Since Mr Harrison has  almost immediately  been retracting much of what he said, I’m sure this time he did get a letter handed to him. It wasn’t from Tomlin, it was from the Steelers legal team in the form of a cease and desist order, or else!

As for his legacy, no doubt an all time great player, and no, I don’t expect all players to be choirboys. There is no excuse for his statements, and frankly, actions have consequences. Right now IMO, all he is to me is former player in disgrace with a team and fan base that took him in with open arms, and to the same he offers a social finger. I don’t deserve that, neither do you not the team, and or team ownership.

We have had lots of great players over the years, and frankly from a historical perspective, and to your point, the immaculate reception was the greatest play in NFL history. Hearing any bad raps from  Franco Harris? Either  Greene? Lambert? Ham? Bettis?  Swann? Stallworth? Ward? Miller? 

Keep in mind Tim, as you said, you were not a fan until the dynasty took hold. Believe me, there was football before the 70s. It was rare when any player squawked about their experience on the team. The Rooney’s from it’s inception to today has played square which just about everybody that crossed their threshold. There’s hasn’t been a team in this league that has bent over backwards to do the right thing as consistently as  the Rooney’s have. What Harrison stated was an afront to to fans everywhere the team and the league. 

I love smack, so have at it. LOL. I hope all is well with you and yours, and please stay safe.

Dave

[Chucktownsteeler]

I hope Harrison makes the HOF but his longevity may hurt him in the voting. That and all the holding calls he never got. His sack totals could have been off the charts if the tackles were called for their "holds". The man was mugged on 70% of his rushing attempts. He just couldn't be stooped.

I hope Ola is studying film of Silverback.

[Barney]

"He just couldn't be stooped." - To be fair the Browns did hire Tonya Harding but that didn't go as planned.

[dbsfgyd1]

"He just couldn't be stooped." - To be fair the Browns did hire Tonya Harding but that didn't go as planned.

They should have hired her boyfriend/bodyguard...lol!

[Barney]

They should have hired her boyfriend/bodyguard...lol!

They've never been good at drafting or evaluating talent. Always going for the big names.

[Cali-Steeler]

> regardless of an ass he made of himself with the Cheatriots. > The Minute James Harrison's INT went for 7 "Cards" at halftime superbowl. My guess was, he will be in Hall someday.

[dbsfgyd1]

>  regardless of an ass he made of himself with the Cheatriots.  > The Minute James Harrison's INT went for 7 "Cards" at halftime superbowl. My guess was, he will be in Hall someday.

At the time, I agree. Today? Not a chance. Maybe 10 years from now from the veteran’s committee invite.

[mcmillenandwife]

Keep in mind Tim, as you said, you were not a fan until the dynasty took hold. Believe me, there was football before the 70s. It was rare when any player squawked about their experience on the team. 

I guess maybe you missed the part where Mel Blount sued Chuck Noll for $5 million for defamation, held out of camp and demanded to be traded?  

It obviously never went to court, but still... that's not exactly towing the company line.

[dbsfgyd1]

Keep in mind Tim, as you said, you were not a fan until the dynasty took hold. Believe me, there was football before the 70s. It was rare when any player squawked about their experience on the team. 

I guess maybe you missed the part where Mel Blount sued Chuck Noll for $5 million for defamation, held out of camp and demanded to be traded?  

It obviously never went to court, but still... that's not exactly towing the company line.

I think once might be considered rare...lol.

[mcmillenandwife]

I guess maybe you missed the part where Mel Blount sued Chuck Noll for $5 million for defamation, held out of camp and demanded to be traded?  

It obviously never went to court, but still... that's not exactly towing the company line.

I think once might be considered rare...lol.

Right. There were others. Lambert held out and asked for a trade the same year.

I guess the bigger question is, do you also view Mel Blount as having a tarnished legacy and a disgrace to the Steelers? Because what he did eclipsed James Harrison's comments. 

For the record, I'm 100% fine with both these players. I pretty much only hate Kneel O'Dollar and LeGarrette Blount.   Just because. 

[dbsfgyd1]

I guess maybe you missed the part where Mel Blount sued Chuck Noll for $5 million for defamation, held out of camp and demanded to be traded?  

It obviously never went to court, but still... that's not exactly towing the company line.

I think once might be considered rare...lol.

Right. There were others. Lambert held out and asked for a trade the same year.

I guess the bigger question is, do you also view Mel Blount as having a tarnished legacy and a disgrace to the Steelers? Because what he did eclipsed James Harrison's comments. 

For the record, I'm 100% fine with both these players. I pretty much only hate Kneel O'Dollar and LeGarrette Blount.   Just because. 

Asking to leave what Blount #1 or Lambert did is a far cry from Brown, and Harrison said about the team and other players on it after they left. 

Lambert and Blount asked to leave for business reasons, remember the WFL? White and Greenwood signed contracts with that league for big bucks as they were not under contract at the time. Blount and  Lambert were.

[mcmillenandwife]

I guess maybe you missed the part where Mel Blount sued Chuck Noll for $5 million for defamation, held out of camp and demanded to be traded?  

It obviously never went to court, but still... that's not exactly towing the company line.

I think once might be considered rare...lol.

Right. There were others. Lambert held out and asked for a trade the same year.

I guess the bigger question is, do you also view Mel Blount as having a tarnished legacy and a disgrace to the Steelers? Because what he did eclipsed James Harrison's comments. 

For the record, I'm 100% fine with both these players. I pretty much only hate Kneel O'Dollar and LeGarrette Blount.   Just because. 

Asking to leave what Blount #1 or Lambert did is a far cry from Brown, and Harrison said about the team and other players on it after they left. 

Lambert and Blount asked to leave for business reasons, remember the WFL? White and Greenwood signed contracts with that league for big bucks as they were not under contract at the time. Blount and  Lambert were.

Dude... Blount flippin' SUED his head coach.  Talk about a finger in the eye.  But in the end, it didn't matter. 

Can you IMAGINE what that time period would've been like with social media???   First, Dwight White would've been a household name. And can you imagine what Ernie Holmes' Twitter feed would've looked like. 

It's different times. There's a financial side to what Harrison has said, too, IMO. Having people talk about you, follow you, interview you... all those things can be monetized in various ways now. I think James is just trying to keep his name out there. It's a bad way to do it, but he's far from alone in being an internet douche. 

To me, always and forever, it comes down to this. James has a special place in my heart forever. He will be a Steeler forever.