Can Jason Worilds make the leap if we release Silverback?

I thought this coming year was his last year. I stand corrected then.

If that is the case, the only way Harrison stays is if he flat out takes a pay cut....period.

 

with the regiment he keeps and if he regains his knee to a 90% level without surgery, he could easily play 2 more good years and possibly a 3rd at a high level.

james is our mean. he may not be the proper vocal lockeroom leader that alot of guys have been, but he's a good example to follow for being a good tough football player that takes the game seriously. who else is mean on this team?

i remember green and greene and earl holmes, and lambert and that whole crew. they were not just leaders, but mean. we need that as much as we need some veteran leadership. players have become alot more passive in the way they play. more of a finese game, like their playing soccer. where's our mean going to come from now?

 

In each of those situations, James Harrison was only concerned about James Harrison. That is the very definition of "selfish."

 

Common, standard definition of "Selfishness": devoted to or caring only for oneself; concerned primarily with one's own interests, benefits, welfare, etc., regardless of others.

Harrison's actions in each of the examples I gave, with possibly the exception of #4, is a textbook definition of selfish behavior: James is all about making himself the story, promoting himself, no matter what damage he does to the team or individual players in the process. That Men's Journal interview and photo shoot was all about "LOOK AT ME, JAMES HARRISON."

 

"Letting go of one of your best players because he said something stupid would be asinine"

Where did I argue that the Steelers should release Harrison because he is selfish or because he said something stupid? These threads start to splinter off into a bunch of different arguments. I argued that the Steelers should release Harrison because his best days are behind him. Someone else argued that he was a leader; I responded to that by saying I didn't think he was a leader because he was selfish. And so here we are.

 

you said he should have been released immediately in #2 of your selfish post.

would jack lambert have altered his game because the commish was using him as an example? would lambert ever say anything about another position? qb's should wear skirts or something? just asking?

 

Good point. But let me clarify. There are two issues here. The statement you are referring to has to do with his statements THEN, and I'm not suggesting his release then be a result of WHAT he said, not WHY said it. In either case, the current debate is about his status TODAY. I did not argue that his release NOW should occur as a result of selfish behavior.

As for Lambert:I don't recall him ever publicly lambasting teammates or doing anything that embarrassed the organization.

 

People calling athletes selfish is sort of hypocritical. Put yourself in James' shoes...

* You've played in 3 Superbowls (2 as a starter).
* You have 2 Superbowl Rings.
* You're a 5 time pro bowler, and 4 time all-pro.
* You have a DPOY award.
* You were a late bloomer, which means your rookie contract was basically peanuts by NFL standard.
* You've received one big payday from the Steelers.


Do you...

A. Play 1-2 more seasons on a rebuilding Steelers team for 1-2 million per year.

B. Play 1-2 more season on a (probably) rebuilding, or basement dweller roster like Philly, New Orleans, Cleveland, Dallas for 3-5 million per year?

C. Latch onto a team like New England, Green Bay, etc. for a chance at a ring for probably 1 mil or less.




If you asked me, I'm taking option B, because I've won rings and awards, now I want to cash in. The ONLY scenario I might see you could argue is choosing where he's going to produce the most to put up some numbers to maybe get him in the HOF, which would probably be in Lebeau's system. However, I think even with 2 more good years Harrison is on the fringe, and his constant battles with the NFL front office don't help his case.

 

what's the scenario if we try to trade harrison? we still have dead money, but isn't this the only way we would get something in return? with teams going 3-4 harrison would fit them for a couple more years.

 

But couldn't you also argue that Harrison already "cashed in" here? I mean I'm a die hard capitalist myself but when I hear guys talk about how they need to provide for their families and they've already made millions it really makes me wonder how their families could ever worry about being destitute ever again. We make it on WAY less than what they do. But I'm sure that even if you do have millions it would be hard to turn down a few more millions. Man I bet he really hates tax day. Maybe THAT'S why he didn't wanna go to the White House. LOL.

 

blount, to say he's already cashed in is what I'm talking about as far as being hypocritical.

Do I make enough money to get by? Yes. Do I try to promote myself for a raise any chance I get? Yes.




Sure James Harrison makes more than I will in my life, but I don't think it matters what you do or how much you make, you always want more. James also knows that he gets a 10 year window (like most players) to make essentially all the money he's ever going to make. Let's face it, he's not a rocket scientist and he's not very personable...

It's easy to say they're all millionaires so they should just be happy, but I'm being realistic that if I was in the same spot I'd be grabbing all the cash I can WHILE I still can.

 

Yeah it's an odd position to be in. But what's sad is that so many of these dudes will wind up bankrupt anyway. I mean there was a time when Mike Tyson could make more money than all of us put together will ever see for just ONE FIGHT and he STILL went bankrupt. Although I'm sure buying multiple mansions, tons of sports cars, and collecting exotic animals might've helped. I really don't see Harrison doing that though because he seems like he's a guy that would be pretty content to just have a nice house and a car and not really go overboard buying ridiculous things.

 

That's really what it comes down to. What has James done the past two years except shoot his mouth off, criticize teammates, and get fined/suspended?

 

if you don't like him that's one thing but jeeeeez man the guy played with a bad knee, a broken eye socket and a surgicly repaired back. our defense plays when he's in there. he outplayed troy and woodley that's for sure. yea he's selfish and the two cheerleaders are getting their money. whats worse is , HE IS playing with all that stuff at 35 years old as compared to the younger two sitting out half the year. that's selfish? c'mon man.

 

I guess my wording of 'leader' was a bad choice. No hes not a leader per say like Hines or Smith or the Bus. But the others feed off him. Timmons sometimes is on that edge and then James makes a big hit or tackle. Its like it kicks Timmons in the ass and you just wait for him to do something. Foote was the same way, like he wouldnt like James show him up.

Its not time to give up on James and the bases most are going off of, are his age. His poor play last year, if you want to call it that, was caused by injuries. Same thing with Troy, he was still nursing injuries that werent allowed to heal from 2 yrs ago. He was finally forced to sit out.

I ll take James, Foote, Worilds, and Timmons over Woodley. Woodley has the ability, hes just not performing. Maybe he ll pull his head out of his arse this year.

 

You're making me sad.