October 28, 2012; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker James Harrison (92) straps on his helmet against the Washington Redskins during the fourth quarter at Heinz Field. The Pittsburgh Steelers won 27-12. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

This week James Harrison had his introductory press conference with the Cincinnati media and for me, the sting of losing Harrison came back to the surface again. I never thought I would agree with Bengals CB Adam “Pac Man” Jones about anything. According to NBC Pro Football Talk.com Jones said this about Harrison: “He gives you that swagger and that seal. When you mail out the letter you have to make sure you put a stamp on it. Well, he’s the stamp.” The Bengals were already good. The Bengals defense only lost Manny Lawson this off-season through free agency but replaced him with Harrison. In recent years the Bengals defense has been consistently one of the best defenses in the NFL but definitely seemed to be lacking something. Yes Harrison just may be that “stamp” the Bengals need to push through the wall the Bengals know as the Wildcard round.

The only good news in all of this for the Steelers and their fans is the Bengals run a 4-3 defense. Reports are the Bengals are moving Harrison to the left side in their 4-3 defense. Harrison has played his whole career at outside linebacker on the right side of Pittsburgh’s defense. It is hard to know at this point whether Harrison’s play at a new position, in  a new scheme with new terminology can be as effective as he was in the 3-4. Bengals Defensive Coordinator Mike Zimmer is one of the best in the league (and it is a mystery how he has not been offered a head coaching position) and surely will find ways to try and utilize Harrison effectively.

Overlooked Factors of Leaving Pittsburgh

Something else that comes into all of this that is often overlooked and to me, is one of the biggest reasons why free agent signings don’t work out, will be Harrison’s comfort zone. Right now his whole comfort zone has changed. It has been turned upside down. Most people don’t like change especially when things are going well. Particularly athletes. Never underestimate what these changes can do to psyche of any individual especially someone as regimented as Harrison. A new team, new city, new neighborhood/home, new locker room, new teammates, new coaches, new practice schedule, different way of practicing and new training staff are just some of the reasons why players are taken out of their comfort zone. Some players never make the adjustment thus the reason they fail after  leaving the team they had so much prior success with.  Add in learning a new position in a different scheme with new terminology. It will take Harrison some time to adjust, time which he may not have and the Bengals may not give him.

Harrison’s Presence In The Bengals Defense May Be More Intangible

The Bengals defense may be good but it is hard to name anyone outside of ILB Rey Maualuga or Geno Atkins who may be the best defensive tackle in the league and a player the Steelers have yet to contain. No player on the Bengals will outwork Harrison on or off of the field.  No one will prepare better than him. He has an ‘at all costs’ burning desire to succeed. Harrison was always a great teammate and played selflessly. He was not a “look at me” guy. He was not a showboat. He let his play speak for himself. Harrison brings to the Bengals a championship mentality and the work ethic it takes to achieve it. Harrison will be a leader by example. Adding Harrison and everything he brings to that locker room can only help the Bengals.

Harrison’s Intangibles                                                                                         

December 23, 2012;  Steelers Harrison (92) and  Roethlisberger (7). Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

James Harrison’s career is full of accolades. But this is about what he specifically brought to the Steelers that can’t be measured in statistics or awards. The loss of Harrison will linger for many reasons. What does is say that the 2 teams most interested in signing Harrison, the Ravens and the Bengals were the Steelers two biggest competitors? Harrison still has gas left in his tank and was one of the best defensive players the Steelers had last season. He was the Steelers intimidator. Just the site of him put fear into opponents, particularly quarterbacks. He played with a chip on his shoulder. He has an edge to him on and off of the field that not many people have. He is a physical force. He is mean. He is nasty. He is tough. He is feared and voted as such by his peers. Harrison kept alive Greg Lloyd’s “I wasn’t hired for my disposition” attitude the Steelers fans loved. Harrison has swagger and it was contagious to his teammates and the fans.

There is no one on the Steelers team capable of replacing the loss of James Harrison’s intangibles. If you doubt what I have been saying about James Harrison then listen to what his fellow NFL players and others have said  about him:

• In a 2009 ESPN player survey James Harrison was voted the AFC North’s Toughest Player.
• In November 2010 according to the website “Bleacher Report”, James Harrison was one of the NFL’s 10 hardest hitters.
• In October 2011 in a Sports Illustrated players poll James Harrison was voted as NFL’s meanest player. Harrison received 35% of the votes and was the easy winner over Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, who finished second with 15% of the vote.
• October 2011 on the ESPN television show “SporstsNation” Hulk Hogan proclaimed James Harrison as “The baddest dude in the NFL”.
• In January 2012 ESPN polled 20 Hall of Fame players who voted James Harrison to the “Any Era” team, players that were so tough they could play in any era.
• In August 2012 an ESPN poll that asked NFL players, “Who is the most violent, dangerous player in the NFL?” Harrison was the runaway winner, with 67.5 percent of the vote.

If Harrison is the Stamp For The Bengals Then He Was the Steelers Postman          

December 2, 2012;Baltimore, MD, USA;Baltimore Ravens running back Bernard Pierce (30) runs with the ball while being chased by Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison (92)

Harrison particularly played his best against the hated rivals. The Ravens always brought out the best in him. Harrison is a Raven’s killer. Besides being the author of the greatest defensive play in Superbowl and NFL history Harrison was also the author of the greatest defensive performance I ever witnessed in the NFL. Monday night November 5, 2007 Heinz Field against the Ravens, Harrison piled up 9 total tackles, 3.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, and 1 interception. That is a whole career for Ziggy Hood. He went on to be voted by his teammates to be the Steelers MVP that year. In 2008 he was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year.  Rain, snow, hot, cold, place, grass, field turf, mud, opponent, day or time James Harrison showed up to play and he delivered for the Steelers.

How Do The Steelers Replace What Harrison Brought?                               

Is it possible replace the leagues meanest, toughest, most violent and dangerous player?  No. During television interviews this off season I watched Troy Polamalu, Ryan Clark and Ike Taylor all express disappointment in the loss of Harrison.  All three expressed just how much Harrison meant to the defense as far as his play and the intimidation factor he brought to the Steelers defense. All three in a politically correct way said what Harrison brought could not be replaced.

As a fan I personally have not felt this way before about the loss of a player. It feels to me like some of the worst game losses I have suffered through as a Steelers fan. The ones that don’t go away like the Sunday night loss at home to the Ravens in 2011. I can’t watch anything that has to do with Super Bowl XLV against the Packers. Both New England AFC Championship games which are made even worse after the fact because they occurred during “Spygate’. The Broncos (97′) and Chargers (94′) AFC Championship games. The 82′ playoff game against the Chargers. The 76′ Raiders AFC Championship game. All games they either should have won or were the better team that cost them Superbowl appearances and victories. There are others but those are the ones that will never go away.

Those game losses are how I feel about losing Harrison. I may not carry it with me for the rest of my life but I will for several years to come. Harrison should have finished his career a Pittsburgh Steeler. It appears that he, his agent and the Steelers all are at fault for that.  They should have found a way to work it out.  He was one of their best players-ever. He was the epitome of what being a Pittsburgh Steeler is. Like the losses that still eat at me till this day, the loss of Harrison will be stamped on my soul and the soul of many in Steeler Nation.  Adam “Pac” Man Jones was right.

The return of Max Starks teeters on a wing and a prayer.
Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Since the draft ended I had been finally calming down from the Steelers off season moves that started with the release of James Harrison as free agency began in March 2013.  Then this week the Steelers signed Tackle Guy Whimper and my head exploded. I don’t understand the perceived dislike of Max Starks? I don’t understand the slamming of the door in James Harrison’s face when he came crawling back despite the opinion of most he would never do so. I, like many Steeler fans, don’t get a lot of things the front office has been doing this off season.

However these are just two examples of many questionable decisions that can be traced all the way back to personnel decisions made right after the Steelers 5^th game in the 2012 season. It all started with the release of TE Weslye Saunders after the Titans game in favor of 7 year veteran Leonard Pope who clearly had no long term future in the Steelers organization.  Saunders appeared to have upside as he was young, athletic and had good hands. Saunders only in his 2^nd year looked like a solid back up to Heath Miller with the potential to replace Miller when the time came. The Steelers traded youth for age. It was not a season-altering move, but the first in a long line of problematic decisions.

Next was the move to cut Brian Hoyer who they had signed on November 20, 2012 after injuries to starting Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (week 10 Chiefs) and backup Byron Leftwich (week 11 Ravens) in back to back games. I was excited that they had finally gotten a younger back up QB with NFL experience that had been successful in his limited playing time with the Patriots. Hoyer served as the backup in Weeks 12 and 13 and was released on December 8, 2012 in a move to add CB Josh Victorian to the roster a day before the San Diego Chargers debacle. Hoyer did not make it through waivers and was claimed by the Cardinals.  It was a foregone conclusion that Byron Leftwich was done in Pittsburgh and possibly Charlie Batch as well. Why the Steelers did not put an injured Leftwich on IR and keep Hoyer is another mystery. Leftwich never played another down for the Steelers. Particularly even more alarming is it was widely reported after the season ended the Steelers really wanted Hoyer to be the back up QB in 2013.

Did Rainey Pay For Ta’amu’s Mistakes?

The two off field incidents involving DT Alameda Ta’amu and RB Chris Rainey should have played out one of three ways: Both players permanently released; both players remained Steelers; Ta’amu permanently released with Rainey remaining. The Steelers front office baffled everyone by coming up with a 4^th way.

Alameda Ta’amu was arrested after a drunken rampage through the streets of Pittsburgh during the season. Ta’amu was sentenced after pleading guilty to 3 counts of recklessly endangering another person, resisting arrest and drunken driving. He also was ordered to pay nearly $11,000 in damages that he caused. County prosecutors withdrew felony charges of aggravated assault with a vehicle. Ultimately and for some unbelievably, Ta’amu remained a Steeler.

Shortly after the season ended Chris Rainey was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of simple battery following an argument over a cell phone with his girlfriend where he was alleged to have “slapped” her. Rainey was cut from the Steelers almost immediately. His girlfriend did not follow the Steelers lead as she was the leading advocate for the charges against Rainey to be dropped.  Rainey later pleaded no contest to disorderly conduct, was ordered to pay a $200 fine and imposed court costs of about $300 and is still with his girlfriend according to the latest reports. Disorderly conduct is the lowest form of a misdemeanor one can be charged with. The two incidents don’t compare.

James Harrison won’t be in the Steelers huddle the next time Pittsburgh takes on Cincinnati. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

What We Learned This Week in the NFL Offseason:

• Former Steelers DPOY LB James Harrison is now a Bengal
• Jets deal Revis to Bucs
• Weekend arrests include broadcaster Al Michaels and Ravens LB McClain
• Steelers 2013 Regular Schedule released

For those who were missing James Harrison already, he won’t be far away.  The former Defensive Player of the Year, the owner of the longest interception return in Super Bowl history, the man who said in an interview that if Roger Goodell was on fire he wouldn’t piss on him to put it out, our favorite often-fined linebacker has signed with the Cincinnati Bengals.  The idea of seeing Harrison in those god awful stripes is certainly stomach-turning, but not as terrifying as the fact that he will be lined up against our O-line trying to get to Ben twice this season.  I’m not one of those bitter Steelers fans who now hates him and wishes bad things fall upon them.  He signed with the Bengals, that’s bad enough.  I wish James success in the remainder of his career and hope that he didn’t plan on winning anymore playoff games because that’s just not a thing in Cincy.

The New York Jets completed their trade of former Pitt CB Darrelle Revis to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday evening.  The Bucs then signed Revis to a 6 year deal worth $96 million with no guaranteed money, making Revis the highest paid CB in NFL history.  The Jets received the Bucs 13^th pick in Thursday’s draft, as well as a conditional 4^th or 3^rd round pick next year.  My thoughts on this deal are that the Tampa Bay secondary just got markedly improved, while the Jets…well I just assumed the Jets will continue to be the circus side-show they have been even with a new GM.  Revis is coming off of an ACL injury, which could make this a risky move by Tampa, but after finishing last season with the worst pass defense in the league; this is a risk worth taking.

During the offseason there in inevitably a number of player arrests that occur for one reason or another.  My MMQB would look more like a police blotter if I mentioned each arrest every week, and remember the NFL and Roger Goodell does not suspend or punish players arrested for DUI’s or DWI’s; which is the most common arrest for NFL players.  This week a name hit the news with a DUI arrest that you wouldn’t have guessed; iconic broadcaster and SNF anchor Al Michaels was arrested on DUI Friday night in California.  Michaels’ breathalyzer was close to the legal limit so he was released on his own the next morning.  No word from NBC on whether or not Michaels would be disciplined at all for this misstep.  This next one was just too ridiculous, I couldn’t not mention it.  Newly acquired Ravens LB Rolando McClain was arrested for the third time in his hometown this weekend.  Apparently McClain’s hobbies include returning to his hometown of Decatur, Alabama and getting arrested for one thing or another.  This time it was disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.  The Raiders released McClain earlier this month and the Ravens scooped him up on account of their LB core pretty much just consisted of Terrell Suggs and his giant gums.  I’m sure McClain will stay out of trouble now that he’s in Baltimore.  You know, from now on.

The Steelers 2013 Regular Season schedule was released this week and the prime games include a Thanksgiving evening matchup in Baltimore against the Ravens and a Week 2 Monday Night Football early divisional matchup against James Harrison and the Bengals in Cincy.  Mike Wallace returns to Heinz Field as a Dolphin on December 8^th and the Steelers will travel to London to face the Minnesota Vikings on September 29^th.  All I can say is that if the Ratbirds Thanksgiving day game goes into overtime for the love of God someone make sure the ref hears the correct call on the coin flip.

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‘You’re going to regret those punches one day, Ben.’
Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Pro Football Talk reported early Friday night that James Harrison finally signed a deal with the Cincinnati Bengals.  The Steelers schedule just got a little more interesting in the ‘face off against former players’ category.  Harrison joins a team that is hurting in the linebacker area and was looking to sign either Harrison or Karlos Dansby to help fill the void.  The Bengals at one time appeared to go cold on Harrison, but then head coach Marv Lewis stepped up and said that they would sign one or the other.

I guess that was enough to get Harrison’s butt off the couch and get a deal done with the Bengals.  Terms of the deal have yet to be released as of late Friday night, but it is rumored to be a two year deal.  Better be worth more than $6 million a year for his sake.

Deep down I was a bit disappointed to see Harrison get jettisoned from the roster.  I was really hoping that he would just suck it up and take less money from the team.  You know the Steelers weren’t going to budge because they pretty much had their backs up against the wall early on in the salary cap puzzle, and had no leverage to deal with Harrison.  No matter how good a player is, I’ve always been of the mindset that no player is above the good of the team.  Harrison became a casualty of his own pride, and in the end I think he will regret it.

On one hand Harrison could argue that he wasn’t about to take a pay cut for a team that was skeptical at best in becoming a playoff contender in 2013 (and maybe even in 2014).  Mike Wallace going to Miami could have been the nail for him.  On the other hand Harrison could have been just a casualty of an agent and team that just couldn’t strike a deal before the team said enough was enough and cut ties with Harrison before reason and sensibility could settle in.

Either way you look at it, I think Harrison will regret the move to Cincy despite getting a potential raise (or the same amount he was owed in 2013 by the Steelers).  The Steelers may be on the fence as being playoff contenders, but the Bengals are barely better off.  Yes, in years past they have been an emerging team.  But, since 2008, they’ve been a 4 win team twice and barely squeaked into the playoffs another two times.  The last two seasons they have made it into the playoffs but have fallen to the Texans both times in the Wild Card round.  The team continually has on and off the field problems and Marvin Lewis has a hard time controlling that squad.

Yeah, I know – sounds kind of familiar doesn’t it?

Well here’s the biggest difference between these two squads that will eat away at Harrison – defense.  The Steelers defense is revered in a way that only one other team compares to, and it ain’t the Bungles.  The city of Pittsburgh loves its defense.  It’s a large part of the pride that makes up Steeler Nation.  Physical, mean, and relentless.  Every Steeler defensemen is programmed to live by those three facets.  Renegade instills an uneasy feeling for offenses – there is a lure that has been constructed that gives them an edge at times on that football field.

‘The Cincy Bengals have an amazing, good, physical, and mean defense,’ said no one ever.

This is something that Harrison will come to fully realize while he is a Bengal.  And, as he sits on the bench and watches his playoff hopes become dashed by Big Ginger Dalton and a mediocre offense, that stone face can only stare at the scoreboard and reminisce about the good ol’ days with the Black & Gold.  There’s a tradition here in Pittsburgh and history that always makes this team contenders even when it seems like they are out for the count.

Harrison goes from six rings to zero and from Big Ben to Andy Dalton.  The defense might be in good hands with Harrison taking the outside, but there are so many other problems he would have been better off staying in the Burgh.

Who Dey??? As Coach Cowher once said – We Dey.

Good luck down the Ohio, Debo.  You’re going to need it.

November 12, 2012; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Fireworks explode over the stadium as a salute to service men and women before the Pittsburgh Steelers and Kansas City Chiefs game at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Good morning Steelers Fans!  We comb through the Steelers news and present a few articles everyday with our comments.  Here’s what I found today:

While it looks like the Steelers have Emmanuel Sanders for another year, speculation has already started about if the Steelers can retain him after he becomes an unrestricted free agent.  Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette looks at that.  Bouchette wonders why the Steelers didn’t tender him as a restricted free agent earlier this year and save some money.  You have to think that Roethlisberger was getting a little frantic watching receivers leave.  I hope Sanders has a break out year, but the stats are a bit against him.

I posted on Monday that former Steeler Lineback James Harrison was likely to sign a deal with the Bengals, but according to ProFootball Talk, the negotiations have slowed down.  I tweeted that there were a lot of inflammatory articles about Harrison’s “hate” of the Steelers and that I wasn’t buying it.  Someone needed to get a quote directly from him.  Harrison tweeted out:

@hazel_44 Bingo!!! Its good to see that some ppl can still think for themselves. Just cause someone reports something doesn’t make it true!

— James Harrison (@jharrison9292) April 16, 2013

He also released a statement on his Facebook page.  I guess it is still a waiting game to see where he ends up.

Tyler Eifert, former Tight End for Notre Dame, is getting a little attention as a potential late draft pick for the Steelers.  Alan Robinson of the Pittsburgh Tribune Review quotes ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. about Eifert’s suitability for the Steelers and that he “would be a luxury” for a team who already has Heath Miller.  However, Robinson does acknowledge that Heath Miller’s health is still an unknown after his ACL injury.  The jury is still out on how well Heath Miller has recovered.  Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings was an anomaly and should not be the standard to judge recovery.

This morning’s huddle ends on a sad note as we say a fond farewell to Pat Summerall who may of us grew up with as one of the voices of sports, particularly calling NFL games.  According to an article honoring Summerall on NFL.com, he called a record 16 Superbowls on television and 10 others on radio.  Summerall not only called the game, but he played it too.  As a kicker, he was on several teams including some championship games with the NY Giants.  I’ve already missed his play-by-play style in the booth and hope he is an inspiration to future broadcasters.

So, what do you think Steelers fans?  Sound off about the articles here and any others you find!  Do you think the Steelers need to draft a TE to work with Heath Miller?