2010 Player Breakdown: James Harrison

We are back on the defensive side of the ball in today’s 2010 Player Breakdown.  Our player of focus – #92 James Harrison.  Where does one begin with this guy?  He has had such a varied experience in the NFL – hitting the news headlines for anything from a huge game, to one amazing play, to controversy on the field and controversy off.

Harrison is the only other player since Jack Lambert to come from Kent State undrafted and play as linebacker for the Steelers.  Maybe the Steelers should find undrafted rookies from Kent State more often because those two dudes were/are beasts on the football field.  I don’t know what they put in the water in Kent, OH, but apparently it makes you mean and a bad ass on the football field.

Harrison signed as an undrafted rookie with the Steelers in 2002.  He was on and off with the practice squad and the team until 2004.  During that time he had short stints in Buffalo, Baltimore (ha ha ha, suckers!) and for NFL Europe’s Rhein Fire.  He was signed again to the Steelers during camp of ’04 after Clark Haggins injured himself lifting weights.  He’s remained on the roster ever since.  Harrison was mainly on special teams and as a backup linebacker until 2007 when he replaced salary cap victim Joey Porter as a starter.  That year was his breakout season where he amassed 98 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 7 forced fumbles and 3 recovered fumbles.  Since then he has been a monster and a nightmare for defenses.  He was named Defensive Player of the Year in 2008, and of course, you know him for the Super Bowl XLIII 100 yard interception return for a TD against the Cardinals.