James Harrison #92 of the Pittsburgh Steelers is introduced prior to the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Heinz Field on September 28, 2014 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
(Source: Justin K. Aller/Getty Images North America
This time, James Harrison need not agonize over his decision, need not feel compelled to return out of a sense of loyalty to team or teammates. The linebacker's desire to play a 12th NFL season really wasn't all that difficult says Bill Parise, Harrison's Beaver County-based agent.
After the season that Harrison enjoyed in 2014, after coming out of a nine-month retirement and recording 5.5 sacks and 29 tackles in 11 games for the Steelers, why not give it another shot? Harrison, who will turn 37 in May, flew to Arizona early Monday morning to begin training just as he has in years past.
"I think there were a lot of factors (into his decision), certainly health is one of them," said Parise. "He went in to the year very healthy and came out of the year very healthy. That had a lot to do with it.
"He had an awful lot of success last year. I think that sharpened his appetite to continue. Certainly, being with the Steelers was something that was very, very positive. All that together, what you have is a year that ended with some very good feelings outside of that loss in the first playoff game, He had a good year. He was back home with his family, his boys. He was back with the Steelers, I think that was all good stuff."
Whether Harrison returns to the Steelers is the million-dollar question, or make that the $1,020,000 question. That's what Harrison earned last year on a one-year deal. With only one outside linebacker under contract and a need for an edge rusher, the Steelers would seem to have a need for what Harrison provided. But age and money, the two factors that the Steelers balked at in 2013 when Harrison ultimately signed a two-year deal with Cincinnati, could complicate matters again.
Parise says Pittsburgh remains an option, but not the only one for his client. Harrison is technically Steelers property until his contract expires on March 10 and the start of the NFL business year. Suitors can not pursue Harrison's services until three days before that time.
"(The Steelers) have some other things they need to do," Parise said. "Obviously they're trying to take care of Ben (Roethlisberger), I think that's a priority for them. I don't think we're going to do anything until then. Certainly we could hear sooner but I'm not real sure we're going to hear tomorrow morning."
If Harrison returns to the Steelers, some things will have changed. Most notably, Dick LeBeau is no longer the defensive coordinator. The 77-year-old resigned last month, and since took over as assistant head coach/defense in Tennessee under Ken Whisenhunt, with whom he served in Pittsburgh from 2003-06.
Also, there is no guarantee that Harrison would start as he did the final four games of last season. With 2013 first-round draft pick Jarvis Jones healthy and Jason Worilds' future undecided, to say nothing of free agency and the draft, Harrison might have to accept a lesser role to stay in Pittsburgh.
Harrison, who missed two late-season games at Cincinnati and Atlanta with a knee injury, will almost surely be in outstanding shape wherever he lands after a full off-season and training camp to prepare. Last week, the former defensive player of the year released a video of himself lifting a 135-pound barbell -- with one hand.
Whether Harrison puts that training to use in Pittsburgh, Parise wasn't tipping his hand.
"I don't think at this point that we're going to close the door to anything," Parise said. "We're going to be open to anything. We have definite desires but the NFL is a real strange business and I think only fools paint themselves in corners. We're not really interested in doing that."
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