Marvin Harrison News: Pro Sports Daily

Gonzalez looks to improve game, not replace Marvin

Comment

September 9

Indianapolis Star

"Marvin Harrison is gone, and Anthony Gonzalez can't begin to fill the future Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver's shoes. Harrison, the Indianapolis Colts' career leader in virtually every receiving category, wore size-13 cleats. Gonzalez, the 2007 first-round draft pick, wears size 101/2, and isn't easily drawn into such comparisons. "I don't know. That's a little deep," Gonzalez said recently. "It might be a reach. How do you fill Marvin Harrison's shoes? I don't think you do." Yet the Colts must replace Harrison's spot in the starting lineup -- generally, that's split wide right -- and must compensate for the lost productivity. Not the 100 receptions, 1,300-plus yards and ..."

Accuser of ex-Colts WR Marvin Harrison is shot again - seven times

Comment

July 22

New York Daily News

"The man who sued Marvin Harrison, contending that the former Colts wide receiver had shot him last year, was in critical condition Tuesday after being shot seven times in Philadelphia. Dwight Dixon, 33, told officers that he believed that Harrison was behind the latest shooting, according to a Philadelphia police source. According to the source, authorities are investigating whether Harrison, currently a free agent, is linked. "Mr. Dixon told officers on scene that he had a dispute with Marvin Harrison," the source said of yesterday's shooting. "And Marvin Harrison probably hired someone to do this." Dixon was shot in the arm, chest and stomach while sitting in a rental car yesterday in ..."

Agent: Harrison healthy, not planning to retire

Comment

May 8

NFL.com

"Former Colts WR Marvin Harrison, now a free agent, said he has no plans to retire and that he wants to play in 2009, according to his agent, Tom Condon. The problematic knee that has limited some of Harrison's speed and overall effectiveness the past two seasons hasn't been an issue either, Condon said. "I played in 15 games last year and a playoff game, and I intend to play again this season," Condon said Harrison told him in a conversation Thursday afternoon. Harrison, who turns 37 in August, was released by the Colts after the 2008 season, in large part for salary-cap relief. Harrison, who didn't agree to a restructured contract, was scheduled to count more than $13 million against the ..."

Harrison can't find a taker so far

Comment

April 8

Indianapolis Star

"Marvin Harrison's first venture into the NFL's free-agent market has entered its seventh week, and there are no indications the former Indianapolis Colts standout receiver is close to a deal. "I'm not surprised," said Charley Casserly, a former general manager with the Houston Texans and Washington Redskins who is an analyst with NFL Network. "When I watch him as a player and look at the package, he's not going to get any better at this point in his career. "He's been injury-prone the last two years. He's missed time. That has to be a consideration when you're going to sign a guy." If teams have any interest in Harrison, they are keeping it to themselves. In a media environment rife with ..."

Colts great Berry admires Harrison

Comment

March 1

Indianapolis Star

"Team president Bill Polian was succinct in defining Marvin Harrison's standing in Indianapolis Colts lore. "He takes his place with Raymond Berry as the two greatest receivers in this club's history," Polian said Tuesday, when the Colts granted Harrison his release after 13 standout seasons. That's company Berry is happy to keep. The 1973 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee is a longtime admirer. He holds Harrison in high regard for his devotion to his craft, his quiet zeal and dignified comportment on the field, and his unflagging consistency. Berry wonders how long Harrison can maintain the latter. "My 12th year in the National Football League, I had a very good year and physically I was ..."

Without Harrison, someone must step up or step in

Comment

February 26

Indianapolis Star

columnist Mike Chappell

"Now that the Indianapolis Colts have bid farewell to their career receiving leader, how will they replace him? "There never will be another Marvin (Harrison), at least in my lifetime,'' team president Bill Polian said Tuesday as the Colts announced they had terminated the 13-year player's contract. Indeed, his diminishing productivity notwithstanding, the void Harrison leaves is huge -- especially considering who's left. Reggie Wayne returns. He's coming off a third straight Pro Bowl appearance and already had supplanted Harrison as quarterback Peyton Manning's No. 1 option. Anthony Gonzalez returns. He's coming off his second and best year in the NFL: 57 receptions, 664 yards, four ..."

Irsay: Marvin Harrison will leave the Colts

Comment

February 24

Indianapolis Star

"The Indianapolis Colts released Marvin Harrison this afternoon, ending a 13-year relationship with their record-setting wide receiver. Owner Jim Irsay made the announcement during a media conference at the team's West 56th Street complex. "It's a day as an owner you know will eventually come but not a day you look forward to," Irsay said. The owner said there will be a time for Harrison to be inducted into the Colts Ring of Honor and the Pro Football Hall of Fame but noted that Harrison wants to sign with another team and continue to play. Irsay joked about Harrison, who seldom addressed the media, not being present for the announcement. "There will be a time for the ceremonial aspect of ..."

Agent: Colts agree to release Harrison

Comment

February 24

Indianapolis Star

"Marvin Harrison's 13-year tenure with the Indianapolis Colts will end as anticipated with his release -- unless Jim Irsay can engineer a last-minute agreement. The Colts owner insisted late Monday that Tom Condon, Harrison's agent, was "premature" when he said the Colts had agreed to release the veteran receiver. Condon told the Associated Press that the team had agreed to the move after Harrison declined to restructure his contract. "Marvin and I are talking (today) at mid-afternoon and we'll see where we go from there," Irsay said. "I'm not going to start talking like he's not here, because nothing's been determined officially by any stretch." Asked if it still was possible for Harrison ..."

Report: Harrison asks Colts to release him

Comment

February 23

Indianapolis Star

"Receiver Marvin Harrison has asked the Colts to release him after the two sides could not agree on a restructured contract, NFL.com reports this morning citing a league source. One other report said Harrison had not made the move but was leaning toward leaving Indianapolis. Harrison is close to asking the team for his release, a source told ESPN.com. The Associated Press reported a person familiar with the negotiations, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the team has not made an announcement, said Harrison "probably would not be interested in" taking a pay cut. Harrison accounts for $13.4 million against the Colts salary cap. NFL.com blogger Adam Schefter speculated that ..."

Harrison asks Colts to release him

Comment

February 23

NFL.com

"After the two sides couldn’t agree on a restructured contract, WR Marvin Harrison asked the Colts to release him, a league source said Sunday night. As much as the team would rather not — and Colts president Bill Polian acknowledged Sunday that it’s a tricky situation — Harrison is a luxury that Indianapolis can no longer afford. Now that Harrison has declined to restructure his contract, the Colts have little choice but to let him and his $13.4 million salary-cap number go. It will mark the end of an illustrious 13-year career in Indianapolis, where Harrison and QB Peyton Manning formed one of the greatest quarterback-receiver tandems in NFL history."

Will Harrison be back with Colts? Or in NFL?

Comment

February 22

Indianapolis Star

"Two questions are paramount regarding Marvin Harrison. Will he stay with the team for which he has caught 1,102 passes and played all of what will surely end up a Hall of Fame career? If not, if the Indianapolis Colts jettison him and his huge contract, where would he end up? Is there a role -- a significant role -- in the NFL for a player who is coming off the two least productive seasons of his 13-year career and turns 37 in August? The Colts insist no decision has been made, but team president Bill Polian must make one by Friday. That's when the NFL year starts in terms of salary-cap accounting, so teams make any cost-cutting moves beforehand. Releasing Harrison would free $6 million in ..."

Harrison’s Indy days are done

Comment

February 19

NFL.com

"Everyone keeps focusing on WR Terrell Owens‘ future with the Cowboys. But the more pressing issues surround Colts WR Marvin Harrison. It’s no longer a question of if Harrison, 36, will be let go. It has become a question of when. It will happen in the coming days, certainly before the new league year starts a week from Friday, but few are sure exactly when. But make no mistake: It is happening. The Colts no longer can afford to carry Harrison, who is scheduled to have a $13.4 million number for an Indianapolis team that is starving for more salary-cap room to deal with free-agents-to-be such as CB Kelvin Hayden. If the Colts were to release Harrison, his $13.4 million number instantly ..."

Second witness points to Harrison

Comment

January 13

ESPN.com

"The Philadelphia district attorney who decided last week against charging Marvin Harrison in connection with an April 29 shooting that left three people wounded did so despite being in possession of a statement from a second victim who claimed he saw the Indianapolis Colts wide receiver gripping a gun during the altercation, a law enforcement source told ESPN The Magazine. The statement by Robert Nixon would apparently corroborate the statement of Dwight Dixon, another shooting victim, and contradict Harrison, who admits that he was in a fistfight with Dixon but insists he was unarmed when gunfire erupted outside his North Philadelphia car wash, Chuckie's Garage, following the altercation. ..."

Philadelphia shooting case involving Harrison stalls

Comment

January 7

Indianapolis Star

"The Philadelphia district attorney said Tuesday her office is unable to proceed with charges in an April 2008 shooting involving Indianapolis Colts receiver Marvin Harrison because of conflicting accounts from witnesses. "We have nine or so versions of what happened. Obviously, we haven't heard the truth. We've heard pieces of the truth," District Attorney Lynne Abraham said at a news conference. Abraham said it's possible her office could bring criminal charges in the future based on depositions given under oath in a civil lawsuit against Harrison. "I have no idea how this is going to proceed or if it's going to proceed," Abraham said. The shooting occurred April 29 in Harrison's North ..."

D.A. set to air Harrison probe

Comment

January 6

Philadelphia Inquirer

"District Attorney Lynne Abraham has scheduled a news conference at 11 a.m. today to announce the results of the investigation of a shooting outside a North Philadelphia auto repair shop owned by Indianapolis Colts receiver Marvin Harrison. Harrison's season came to an end Saturday night when the Colts lost in the opening round of the playoffs, 23-17, to the San Diego Chargers. Harrison, who starred at Roman Catholic High and was Donovan McNabb's teammate at Syracuse, was not charged in the April 29 incident, which left three people injured. However, Harrison is being sued by the shooting victim, Dwight Dixon."

Somber players pack their bags

Comment

January 5

Indianapolis Star

"Marvin Harrison sat in front of his two lockers at the Indianapolis Colts complex Sunday afternoon, putting gear in cardboard boxes. The eight-time Pro Bowl receiver was less than 24 hours removed from the Colts' 23-17 overtime loss Saturday night in San Diego, in which he had three catches for 20 yards. Asked if he thought he would be back with the Colts, Harrison, 36, glanced up, smirked, then went back to folding sweats. Asked if he was going to comment at all on his future, Harrison said, "No sir, I'm not." Harrison, who hasn't spoken with the media all season, has teamed with Peyton Manning for 112 touchdown receptions, a record for a quarterback-receiver tandem. He has three years ..."

Harrison mum on return to Colts

Comment

January 5

Indianapolis Star

"Marvin Harrison gave no indication this afternoon if he thought he would return to the Colts. The 36-year-old wide receiver sat in front of his two lockers in the Colts' complex this afternoon, putting gear into cardboard boxes as he and his teammates packed up after Saturday night's 23-17 overtime playoff loss at San Diego. Harrison has three years remaining on a seven-year extension that began with the 2005 season, but his past two seasons have seen the fewest receiving yards of his career. He had 247 in an injury-slowed 2007and 636 this year. Moreover, Harrison would count $13.4 million against the salary cap next season. Asked if he felt he'd be back, Harrison glanced up, smirked, then ..."

Harrison out tonight with hamstring injury

Comment

December 18

Indianapolis Star

"Indianapolis Colts receiver Marvin Harrison will miss tonight's game with a hamstring injury suffered in Sunday's win over Detroit. He did not travel to Jacksonville. The injury initially was listed as being to a knee, but Colts coach Tony Dungy said Wednesday it was a hamstring. Harrison underwent an MRI test but the results have not been released. Harrison has played in every game this season after missing a career-high 11 last year with a knee injury. Safety Bob Sanders (knee) and running back Joseph Addai (shoulder) will be game-time decisions, but Dungy was optimistic both would play."

Harrison questionable for Thursday game

Comment

December 17

Indianapolis Star

"Marvin Harrison's availability for Thursday night's Indianapolis Colts game at Jacksonville is in doubt due to a hamstring injury that kept the veteran receiver out of practice this week. The injury, suffered in Sunday's 31-21 home victory over Detroit, prompted a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test, Colts coach Tony Dungy said this morning. Harrison is listed as questionable but would be ruled out if he does not make the trip. A 13th-year pro and holder of every major receiving record in franchise history, Harrison has not missed a game this season after being sidelined for a career-high 11 games with a knee injury last year."

Harrison catches up

Comment

December 14

Indianapolis Star

"The countdown should continue for Marvin Harrison this afternoon at Lucas Oil Stadium. The player with the fourth-most receptions in NFL history should move past No. 3 Tim Brown and could leapfrog Cris Carter into second place and trail only the unreachable Jerry Rice. Harrison takes 1,093 career receptions into the game against the Detroit Lions. Brown has 1,094 and Carter 1,101. Rice is in his own universe (1,549). Quarterback Peyton Manning has aided Harrison's ascension since 1998. He and Harrison have collaborated on 949 receptions, a league record for a quarterback-receiver duo. They also hold league marks for touchdowns (112) and yards (12,738). "Marv's caught passes from other ..."

Legacy in the making

Comment

October 17

Indianapolis Star

"Peyton Manning has a very reliable, if decidedly unscientific, method of gauging Marvin Harrison's speed. "I see it every day and kind of judge it on how far I need to throw it," the Indianapolis Colts quarterback said. "Two crow hops and throw it as far as I can to see if I get it out there to him. It's been that way pretty much ever since I've been here." That's 11 years and counting, and the crucial thing for the Colts is that Harrison still checks out at 36. Manning said the veteran receiver hasn't lost so much as a half-step, testimony supported by Harrison's 67-yard touchdown reception against Baltimore last week. He ran alone. Harrison caught three passes for 83 yards and two ..."

Marvin dusts off Ravens, columnists with equal ease

Comment

October 13

Indianapolis Star

columnist Bob Kravitz

"That was the old Marvin Harrison, as opposed to an old Marvin Harrison. That was the old Marvin, just like those were the old Indianapolis Colts, piling up gaudy numbers on offense, playing with warp-speed fury on defense and special teams, unleashing the manic style that earned them the 2006 title. After four uneven performances, Sunday's 31-3 dismantling of the Baltimore Ravens was the Colts' get-well performance. They played more good football in one game than they did in the previous four games put together. By a lot. The natural order of the universe has been restored: The Colts won at home, just the way they always used to win at home. It's finally safe to tear down the RCA Dome. The ..."

Civil suit filed against Colts' Harrison

Comment

October 9

Indianapolis Star

"Indianapolis Colts receiver Marvin Harrison is being sued by the alleged victim of an April shooting in Harrison's hometown of Philadelphia. Harrison has not been charged or called a suspect in the April 29 incident which happened after he and the alleged victim, Dwight Dixon, reportedly fought near an auto repair shop Harrison owns. Harrison has acknowledged owning the gun used in the shooting but denies having anything to do with the incident, police have said. Law enforcement officials told the Philadelphia Daily News that shell casings found at the shooting scene had been fired from a gun owned by Harrison, a Belgian-made FN5.7 firearm. Dixon claims "serious and permanent injuries to ..."

Report: Colts Harrison sued over shooting

Comment

October 8

Indianapolis Star

"Indianapolis Colts receiver Marvin Harrison is being sued by the alleged victim in an April shooting in Harrison's hometown of Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Daily News reported this morning. Harrison has not been charged in the April 29 incident, which happened after Harrison and the alleged victim, Dwight Dixon, fought near an auto-repair shop Harrison owns, according to what the Daily News attributed to police sources. Police told the newspaper that the case still is open. The paper said Harrison has admitted being in a fight and owning the gun but denies having anything to do with the shooting. Law enforcement officials told the Daily News that the shell casings found at the shooting ..."

Harrison sued over shooting

Comment

October 8

Philadelphia Daily News

"Marvin Harrison's life just got more complicated. The NFL star, who was linked to a springtime North Philadelphia shooting that left one man wounded, is being sued by the alleged victim, Dwight Dixon. Harrison was never charged in the April 29 shooting, which occurred after he and Dixon exchanged blows near an auto-repair shop that Harrison owns on Thompson Street near 25th, according to police sources. The case is still considered an open investigation, said Assistant District Attorney Christopher Diviny. Although Harrison, 36, admitted to members of Central Detectives that he had been in the fight, he insisted that he had nothing to do with the shooting, the sources said. His handlers ..."

Look who's talking: Harrison

Comment

August 20

Indianapolis Star

"Marvin Harrison, the Indianapolis Colts' reticent receiver, broke his silence Tuesday afternoon, but offered little personal insight into his return from knee problems or any other Marvin-related matters. Speaking to the local media for the first time since the Colts' Jan. 13 divisional playoff loss to San Diego -- and speaking only to The Star -- Harrison made it clear from the outset there wasn't much he cared to share. A Colts official ended the interview when Harrison was asked about an April 29 shooting in his hometown of Philadelphia that involved a gun he owned. Before that, Harrison was asked about football. He said he had no comment when asked whether the recent camp in Terre ..."

Marvin Harrison all set to start tonight

Comment

August 9

Indianapolis Star

"No. 88 should be back tonight for the Indianapolis Colts. Eight-time Pro Bowl receiver Marvin Harrison wants to make his 2008 preseason debut against Carolina -- he practiced twice in a day at training camp Thursday for the first time and is cleared to play, coach Tony Dungy said. The decision is a change in plans from Thursday night, when Dungy suggested Harrison, 35, would not play until the next week or possibly Aug. 24 in the receiver's return from offseason knee injury. "He actually wanted to work those two practices, made it through OK, felt good (and) wants to get a little bit (of game action) in," Dungy said after Friday's one-hour camp workout at Rose-Hulman Institute of ..."

Harrison won't play against Redskins

Comment

August 2

Indianapolis Star

"Fans eager to see Marvin Harrison test his knees in game conditions will have to wait at least another week. The eight-time Pro Bowl wide receiver will not play Sunday night when the Indianapolis Colts open the preseason against the Washington Redskins in Canton, Ohio. Coach Tony Dungy insisted Friday there are "no issues'' regarding Harrison's knees. He has practiced without incident at least once a day during training camp, but team physicians aren't ready to allow him to play in a game. "He's right on schedule in terms of practicing and running,'' Dungy said Friday. "He's doing great, but we'll see what the doctors have to say, when they want him to actually go live.'' Dungy said ..."

Harrison likely won't play in Hall of Fame game

Comment

August 2

SI.com

"Even with his strong recovery from surgery on both knees, Indianapolis Colts receiver Marvin Harrison likely won't play Sunday in the Hall of Fame preseason game against the Washington Redskins. The 13-year NFL veteran will make the trip to Canton, Ohio, but is expected to watch from the sideline, Colts coach Tony Dungy said Friday. "We'll see what the doctors have to say, when they actually want him to go," he said. An eight-time Pro Bowl selection, Harrison injured his left knee early last season, causing him to miss 11 games. He also had surgery on his right knee during the offseason to clean out old scar tissue, but he has appeared to be rounding back into form since reporting to ..."

Harrison picks up where he left off

Comment

July 27

Indianapolis Star

"Marvin Harrison is back on the practice field, back to doing what he does better than just about anyone in NFL history not named Jerry Rice. He's running routes, finding creases, catching passes for the Indianapolis Colts. "He's ready to rock, you could tell,'' center Jeff Saturday said after watching Harrison glide effortlessly through Friday morning's first training camp practice at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. But one question persists: Will Harrison be all the way back? Can he not only put an injury-plagued 2007 season behind him, but defy Father Time and regain the form that made him an eight-time Pro Bowl selection, one of the most feared offensive players in the league and ..."

Harrison looks fit, happy, comfortable

Comment

July 26

Indianapolis Star

"Mum was the word after Marvin Harrison took the latest step on his comeback from knee problems. But while the Colts' eight-time Pro Bowl receiver declined interview requests following the first training camp practice Friday at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, looks spoke volumes to coach Tony Dungy. "For me, I try to read his face," Dungy said. "When he's smiling and doesn't have that worried look, then I think things are pretty much normal. "And that's how it was today. He had done a lot of work one-on-one, but hadn't done a lot of 'team' work and he got in there and made his cuts and caught the ball and just looked like he felt comfortable. So that was good to see." Harrison missed ..."

Marvin Harrison returns to the field as Colts start training camp

Comment

July 25

Indianapolis Star

"Mum was the word after Marvin Harrison completed his first training camp practice this morning at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. The Indianapolis Colts%u2019 eight-time Pro Bowl receiver declined interview requests after the two-hour practice, but looks spoke volumes to coach Tony Dungy. %u201CFor me, me, I try to read his face,%u2019%u2019 Dungy said. %u201CWhen he%u2019s smiling and doesn%u2019t have that worried look, then I think things are pretty much normal. %u201CAnd that%u2019s how it was today. He had done a lot of work one-on-one, but hadn%u2019t done a lot of %u2018team%u2019 work and he got in there and made his cuts and caught the ball and just looked like he felt ..."

Harrison expected at Colts training camp

Comment

July 22

Indianapolis Star

"It will be full speed ahead for Marvin Harrison when the Indianapolis Colts hold their first training camp practice Friday morning at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute. The team’s eight-time Pro Bowl selection and career leader in every receiving category has been cleared for practice, according to coach Tony Dungy. “The last I heard from our doctors’ meeting was Marvin would be ready to go when we get there,’’ Dungy said this afternoon. “He’s been running and feeling good and everybody, including Marvin, is really enthused and optimistic about how that’s gone.’’"

Colts' Harrison, 35, facing questions on his future

May 25

Philadelphia Inquirer

"It was a powerful and revealing, if relatively innocent, comment that surely could creep under the skin of the man who has caught more passes than all but three players in NFL history. "I guess I'm Marv now," Reggie Wayne said last weekend. If Wayne, the Indianapolis Colts' eighth-year wide receiver, who had his best season in 2007, is now "Marv," where then does that leave Marvin Harrison, the 35-year-old Philadelphia native with more than 1,000 catches in 12 seasons? On the downhill arc of his career? As the "other option" in the Colts' offensive arsenal? One more tweak away from becoming Mr. Irrelevant? A successful rehabilitation away from regaining his status as The Man?"