A simple Instagram story sent a portion of the Pittsburgh internet into a tizzy Thursday.
But there is no reason to believe there’s any fire to the smoke on the possibility of James Harrison coming out of retirement to play for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“He’s a pretty busy guy these days,” Harrison’s longtime agent, Bill Parise, said by phone Thursday, “so I don’t know. I haven’t heard that (Harrison returning to play). No one’s talked to me about it.”
Parise, technically, is not currently Harrison’s player agent. Then again, Harrison isn’t a player anymore, either, and individuals who aren’t NFL players don’t exactly need agents for the purposes of negotiating NFL contracts.
“I retired when he did,” said Parise, a Butler native who practiced in Pittsburgh’s South Hills.
Harrison announced his retirement in April 2018, two weeks shy of his 40th birthday and 2 ½ months after the completion of his 15th NFL season. Parts of 14 of those seasons were spent with the Steelers, for whom he amassed 80 ½ sacks, was five times named to the Pro Bowl, twice an All Pro and won the 2008 NFL defensive player of the year award.
But Harrison’s retirement 2 ½ years ago was his second – he previously had said he was done in 2014. The Steelers of six years ago, though, lured him out of retirement weeks later after injuries struck their linebackers corps.
The 2020 Steelers have lost two linebackers – Devin Bush and Bud Dupree – to season-ending injuries. Dupree’s came Wednesday late in a 19-14 win against the Baltimore Ravens. Dupree was placed on injured reserve Thursday, and coach Mike Tomlin said his season is over.
So, when Harrison posted images on his verified Instagram account from the practice of longtime Steelers’ physician Dr. James Bradley (Burke and Bradley Orthopedics), Steelers fans took notice. There is a still shot of Harrison in front of a Steelers mural and a video of Bradley evaluating Harrison’s right knee as he lied in an examination room.
“Checking the leg out,” Harrison says in the video. “Gotta see. Gotta see if this is going to work.”
Never mind that Harrison is 42 and hasn’t played a down of competitive football for 34 months.
Forget that Harrison has a history of teasing the public.
Set aside that the relevant portions of Harrison’s post come only after an opening part of his Instagram “story” in which he promotes apparel he is trying to sell…
Some still took it as a sign the Steelers were putting Harrison through a physical for the purposes of perhaps signing him for the stretch run.
“I haven’t heard a word about it,” Parise said with a hint of both amusement and bemusement.
Parise, though, quickly added: “I think he could still play. He’s healthy enough and he definitely keeps himself in good enough shape, no doubt.”
The idea was even given a sliver of legitimacy when longtime former Harrison teammate (and Steelers backup quarterback) Charlie Batch floated the idea during the Steelers Radio Network postgame show.
The final eight games (including playoffs) of Harrison’s career were with the New England Patriots, with whom he signed in December 2017 hours after being granted a requested release from the Steelers following a dispute over playing time during a final season in which he barely played.
Harrison’s final game was playing 91% of the defensive snaps for New England during a 41-33 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LII. Harrison had two tackles and two QB hits in the contest.
He has since reconciled with the Steelers after the somewhat-messy divorce.
But none of that means the 2020 Steelers have interest in a player born in the 1970s. Rookie Alex Highsmith is expected to take over for Dupree as the Steelers’ starter at right outside linebacker, the spot Harrison manned for 107 games.
Hey, Steelers Nation, get the latest news about the Pittsburgh Steelers here.
Chris Adamski is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Chris by email at cadamski@triblive.com or via Twitter .
Categories: Sports | Steelers/NFL
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