May 24
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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It is more than four months before the start of the NFL season, but James Harrison appears to be in midseason form when it comes to tweaking his frequent foil. The Steelers outside linebacker took a couple of subtle swipes at Roger Goodell on Wednesday, calling the defamation lawsuit that Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma brought against the NFL commissioner last week a "win-win" for the players. "If (Vilma) loses, it shows Goodell does have too much power," Harrison said following an offseason practice, "and if he wins, it opens up the floodgates.""
February 15
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Two of the Steelers' highest-paid players are apparently willing to help the team with the salary cap. The agents for quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and outside linebacker James Harrison said their clients are agreeable to restructuring their contracts before the start of the NFL's new year. Teams have to be under the 2012 salary cap by 4 p.m. March 13. The Steelers don't expect the ceiling to increase much from the $120.375 million that clubs were allowed to spend on player salaries in 2011. They entered the offseason roughly $25 million over the salary cap. The Steelers have trimmed a little more than $14 million off that number by restructuring the contracts of linebackers LaMarr"
January 23
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Another Steeler is headed to Hawaii. Linebacker James Harrison will replace Baltimore's Terrell Suggs on the AFC roster for the Pro Bowl next Sunday at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu. Suggs will not play in the game because of an injury. This marks Harrison's fifth straight berth in the Pro Bowl. He played in just 11 games this season, missing four due to injury and one for a suspension, but still amassed nine sacks and forced two fumbles."
December 22
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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James Harrison returned to the practice field on Wednesday for the first time since serving a one-game suspension for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Cleveland quarterback Colt McCoy. Harrison was unapologetic for the hit that forced him to miss Monday night's loss to San Francisco, cost him a $73,529 game check and brought a week away from his teammates. Harrison returned to the facility for the first time on Tuesday afternoon. "It happened, oh well," Harrison said following practice Wednesday. "Deal with it. Move on. When it came down to it, my helmet hit his. Oh, well.""
December 17
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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The NFL's decision to uphold James Harrison's one-game suspension came as no surprise to Steelers free safety Ryan Clark. Clark reiterated Friday that the Steelers have to "play within the rules." He also directed a few pointed comments at the league, which banished Harrison for a helmet-to-helmet hit that left Cleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy with a concussion. "They're trying to make players that play with a physical nature extinct," said Clark, the Steelers' union representative. "They want everybody to average 35 points a game, and we have to find a way for that not to happen. Defense still matters to us here." Harrison won't play Monday night in San Francisco after Ted Cottrell"
November 8
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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On a night in which the Steelers came within 8 seconds of vaulting atop the AFC power rankings, linebacker James Harrison proved once again that he's among the most-feared linebackers in the NFL. Harrison, with scar tissue still visible near a mending right eye, played arguably his best game in two seasons. He tormented Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco by consistently collapsing the pocket. He overpowered the left side of the Ravens' offensive line. He hurdled a blocking back and rushed through the backfield like a tornado, then swept up Flacco like loose debris. "Whenever you have (Harrison) back in the lineup, it's going to give you a boost," safety Troy Polamalu said."
November 7
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Steelers linebacker James Harrison didn't hold back in his first game since being sidelined for four weeks with an eye injury. Harrison couldn't work himself back into the flow slowly, partly because the Ravens challenged him throughout the first half by running left nearly 80 percent of the time. Harrison's timing was slightly off, particularly on blitzes. He jumped offside on a third down, but redeemed himself by tackling Ray Rice on a third-and-2 run. Harrison forced a 43-yard field goal that put the Ravens up 6-3 with 9:28 left in the first half. Harrison picked up the pace late in the second half. He had a sack and two quarterback hits on Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco."
November 3
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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James Harrison has yet to be cleared for game action, but that could change later this week when the Steelers' outside linebacker will undergo another evaluation on his surgically repaired right orbital bone. The Steelers will then make a determination whether Harrison will play Sunday against the Ravens at Heinz Field. "I hope so, but that's up to the doctors to clear me for game play," Harrison said. "If they say I can go, I'll be out there (playing). If not, then I'll wait another week.""
November 2
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Steelers linebacker James Harrison has been cleared to practice this week. The 2008 NFL Defensive Player of the Year suffered an eye injury Oct. 2 at Houston. "Of course, it's an awesome step for (Harrison)," coach Mike Tomlin said during his Tuesday news conference. Tomlin said Harrison will be evaluated during the week as the Steelers (6-2) prepare for their rematch with the Baltimore Ravens (5-2) on Sunday at Heinz Field."
November 1
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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James Harrison delivered some good and bad news Monday. On Twitter, the Steelers outside linebacker wrote that he was cleared to return to practice for the first time since suffering an orbital fracture Oct. 2 at Houston. But Harrison also wrote that he doesn't anticipate playing Sunday night when the Baltimore Ravens visit Heinz Field for a pivotal AFC North game. "Looks like I won't be playing this weekend but at least I'm cleared for practice," he tweeted after a doctor's appointment. "Worst-case scenario I'll be back after the bye for sure.""
October 27
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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James Harrison is getting antsy being a spectator. Asked Wednesday if he had circled a date for returning from an eye injury that kept him out the past three games, Harrison said: "Today, last week, the week before, the week before that." The Steelers All-Pro linebacker likely will have to wait at least a few more weeks to get on the field after having facial surgery to repair a fractured right orbital bone about three weeks ago. "When the doctor tells me I can come back, I'll come," Harrison said. "I am going on doctors' orders.""
September 29
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Don't look for James Harrison to seek out Brian Cushing anytime during Sunday's game and explain his comments in a July article of Men's Journal in which he said the Texans' linebacker "is juiced out of his mind." It's not going to happen, Harrison said. "I don't need to," he said after practice Wednesday. Harrison ripped teammates Ben Roethlisberger and Rashard Mendenhall along with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and others in the article. Harrison has apologized to Roethlisberger, Mendenhall and Goodell but to Cushing when the Steelers and Texans meet at Reliant Stadium. "It's not on my mind," Harrison said."
September 14
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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The Steelers got some good news on the injury front following their 35-7 loss to the Ravens. Outside linebacker James Harrison, who sustained a right knee contusion in the fourth quarter, is "fine," coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday at his weekly news conference. Harrison is expected to play Sunday against the visiting Seattle Seahawks. Less certain for the 1 p.m. game are the statuses of wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery and outside linebacker Chris Carter. Hamstring injuries prevented either from playing against the Ravens. "We'll see where they are in terms of participating for practice (today)," Tomlin said."
September 11
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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James Harrison didn't beat his chest or stomp his feet after smothering a running back. There was no dance of self-adulation. While his teammates lathered him with praise, Harrison walked toward the huddle unmoved, as if such violent hits were routine. He dominated every game this way. He was 9 years old. "The hitting he's doing now is nothing new to him," James Harrison Sr. said of the Steelers' All-Pro linebacker. "He's been hitting like that since Day 1. ... He wakes up in the morning wanting to hit somebody." At 33, Harrison hasn't changed much."
September 7
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Steelers linebacker James Harrison and strong safety Troy Polamalu played only sparingly during the preseason. But Tomlin expects both to log far more playing time at Baltimore. "I imagine (Harrison) is sandbagging," coach Mike Tomlin said when asked if Harrison's two offseason back injuries will limited his playing time in the season opener. "James Harrison likes to play." Tomlin added that right cornerback Ike Taylor had the pin removed Tuesday from his left thumb, which was broken in the exhibition opener at Washington."
August 19
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
columnist Dejan Kovacevic
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There was a whole lot to like about the Steelers' first-teamers in the 24-14 domination of Philadelphia's self-proclaimed Dream Team Thursday night, not least of which was Ben Roethlisberger in peak playground form, the Rashard"
August 2
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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The players may have been off Monday, but the Steelers still had a busy day. The team restructured the contracts of three players, including quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and outside linebacker James Harrison, as it tries to get in compliance with the salary cap. The Steelers also re-signed nose tackle Chris Hoke and added to the competition behind Roethlisberger when Dennis Dixon signed the one-year deal he had been offered as a restricted free agent. Both Hoke, who also signed a one-year deal, and Dixon are not allowed to practice until Thursday because of the rules this year regarding free agents. Thursday is also the day in which teams must not exceed the salary cap, which is $120.375"
August 1
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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James Harrison didn't throw his body around much during the Steelers' first contact drills in pads Sunday at St. Vincent College in Latrobe. The veteran linebacker hasn't completely healed from two offseason back surgeries. But the four-time Pro Bowler is eager to unleash the pent-up fury stored since a 31-25 loss to Green Bay in Super Bowl XLV. "You look forward to getting a little contact in, because that's what the game is about," Harrison said before yesterday's practice. "It's going to be a good test, especially for the young guys. There's been a lot of barking, but now we'll see who's going to bite. "I may step away from some of contact. So, the changes (shorter practice sessions)"
July 30
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Outside linebacker James Harrison offered a sweeping mea culpa - and included NFL commissioner Roger Goodell in it - for cutting comments he made earlier this month. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who got hit with some of the shrapnel from Harrison's interview with Men's Journal, said no apology was necessary when it comes to him. Yep, Friday was just another day at Steelers training camp, where Harrison, Roethlisberger and receiver Hines Ward, who was arrested on a drunken driving charge earlier this month, spoke for the first time since the team convened preseason practice. Harrison, surrounded by reporters following a morning walkthrough, tried to put more distance between himself and"
July 29
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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While Steelers players all but laughed off controversial comments made by outside linebacker James Harrison in a recent Men's Journal magazine story, coach Mike Tomlin was in no joking mood. "What he said regarding the commissioner (Roger Goodell is inappropriate)," Tomlin said Thursday during his first news conference at training camp. Harrison bashed Goodell and called him a homophobic slur, among other things. Harrison also was critical of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and running back Rashard Mendenhall. Harrison didn't talk to reporters, but teammates said his comments won't cause any problems in the locker room. "I'm sure it's something James has said to those guys to their face,""