james harrison to the Ravens ?

I thought you might get the religious implications there, BFT. I'm kind of old school in many areas myself.

 

I hear you loud and clear my friend!

 

Someone alluded to different eras and that has a lot to do with this.

I don't blame Harrison for searching for another opportunity to play. Heck, we FIRED HIM. Him looking for other work? That doesn't bother me. Him going to play for a bitter rival? That bothers me. Of course it does. But I wouldn't BLAME him. If he is shooting off at the mouth saying he wants to play for our most hated rival, that does bother me. He can accomplish the same result without telling his fan base -- his ONLY fan base (he's one of the most reviled players in the NFL) -- what his intentions/desires are.

Regarding different eras, I can't see Jack Lambert going to the Raiders. They were hated. I've read dozens of books/articles from the 70s about the Steelers and a great deal of it focuses on the Steelers/Raiders rivalry. They hated each other. Even in the 80s, Magic wouldn't go to Boston. Bird wouldn't be a Laker. It is what it is. Athletes had more loyalty back in the day. Probably because it was more about the game than the contract back then. They enjoyed competing. Now the priority is a sneaker deal. That has changed.

At some point loyalty should come into play. A Pepsi/Coke reference is a joke. Millions of people aren't filling stadiums to watch the Pepsi Challenge. They aren't buying up Coca-Cola t-shirts and investing a great deal of their time chatting about cola in message boards and spending eight hours every Sunday watching cola commercials. Apples and oranges? Grapes and watermelons. A Pepsi/Coke employee only has loyalty to their company. Not to the tens of millions who consume their company's product and have no idea who any of the employees are. We don't walk around wearing a replica jersey of a Pepsi truck driver complete with a 'Jim' nametag.

Yes, it's a business. No shlt. That isn't lost on anybody. BECAUUUUUUUUUUUUSE it's a business, James needs to shut his mouth. As I mentioned earlier, James has gone out of his way to build a brand for/of himself. From his demeanor to his gun-riddled photography sessions to his head-hunting reputation to his calling out Goodell in public to his extensive social media efforts. If he was smart (and nobody is going to accuse James of this), he would say the same old Bull Durham 101 media bullshlt about "wanting to play for a contender", "hoping to help out in any way he can", "it's out of his hands, his agent takes care of the business side", "he's preparing and working hard to be ready for training camp", blahblahblah b.s. b.s. . . .

You wouldn't see Derek Jeter do something as utterly moronic as say he wants to play for the Red Sox. Jeter isn't an idiot.

I didn't actually read the link. I scanned it and then read the remarks on here. If his agent is saying these things, I have no problem with it. If James is saying, "I want to play for Baltimore!" then he is dumber than I thought.

 

I'm not saying he's doing it to get back at the fans. I don't know what his motivation is and he can do what he wants to do. It's his life. But as a fan, it bothers me that he seems to be courting a couple of teams that we consider our biggest enemy combatants. Guess I just can't be as objective as you about it.

One last question, let's say he signs with the Pats or Rats for essentially what the Steelers offered him to stay. How would you feel then?

 

Well considering he already has a stint on the Ravens on his job resume I won't get upset. Ultimately he has to do what is right for his family and himself. I think the lower pay they wanted him to take is going to happen anyway T.E. because I don't think anyone is in a position to match what he would be making if the Steelers hadn't released him. He is going to be playing for less so that is just something we have to live with. My only concern is that even though he has changed his play a bit there is still enough of the real Silverback in there that if he does play in the AFC or god forbid the AFC North that he can still lay a hurting on any member of the Steelers and hurt the playoff chances. So I am kinda pulling for him to make a switch to an NFC team.

 

But what about that over there?

 

In the interview I heard, it sounded like his number one priority was money, and his number two priority was a tie between a competitive team and a team with good weather. There might be some other stuff he didn't mention, like someplace close to Pittsburgh, or someplace in the middle of the country for shorter flights. He's not out to get the Steelers. He genuinely wanted to stay, but couldn't get the number he wanted. He has been appreciative to the team and the city and the fans. He will go to the team that gives him the best situation with the factors I mentioned, with probably 90% of the weight going to how much guaranteed money he can get, and that's it.

 

You know what very well might happen if he DOES go to play for them. We might say now "it's just a business decision", "he did what was best for his family", "he's a shell of his former self", yada, yada, yada, BUT the moment we see him take the field in that purple uniform I think we might really get a sense of betrayal and truly wish that he'd fall flat on his face. Maybe it would be like the girl you thought you didn't really care anything about but then when you seen her with another dude you then were ready to rip his head off because your heart was so broken and your pride was shattered and you just had a jealous bone altogether. I really think that's probably what would happen if he went to the Rats. But I could be wrong. That actually happened once in 1987. So it IS possible folks.

 

exactly.
I don't know where people are getting that he's shooting his mouth off or going hat in hand and asking to play for the Ravens, but if you read the article it's pretty clear that the agent simply answered a question that he was asked by a Baltimore reporter the exact way that an agent should.

 

I disagree James has said he would like to play for every team the media has asked about.....
James would you like to play in Cleveland? I'd love to....James would you like to be on the same team as Tom Brady? Sure who wouldn't. James would you like to be on the same team a Peyton? Yeah i'd like that.....hmmmmmm sound's to me like he's said he would like to play with everyone he's been asked about so far...

I really hope he signs outside our division because we cannot afford to lose him and Ben in the same season!

 

I don't know if you are aware but James is Shhhhhhhhhh James is a former Raven..EEEEEEK

 

The Coke/Pepsi reference may be joke to you but it is spot on. Much to your dismay, to the players football is just a job. The celebrity that goes with it will be there regardless of what uniform he puts on.

I know a guy whose good friend played for various teams: the Giants, Lions, 49ers and a few others. He's from Uniontown. He grew up there. He loves the Steelers and wouldn't mind playing for them but it never worked out. When he was a FA near the end of his career his agent reached out to Pittsburgh but they weren't interested. He didn't care he just wanted another year and another paycheck from anyone.

 

Im with you on this. I can not, in all honesty, say it isnt bothering me to hear "James" say he wants to play with Brady or the Ravens...

 

you can be sure that whoever he signs with will be on the steelers' schedule this upcoming season

 

True. Good point...its all about the ratings.

 

The schedules were set long before Harrison was released so I'm not sure what one has to do with the other.