Steelers Center Explains James Harrison Wanted Out

If you thought last week’s controversial game against the Patriots was the wildest moment of the Steelers season, you have to hear what has transpired over the past few days.  The team announced shortly before Christmas that they would be releasing longtime veteran LB James Harrison to make room for offensive tackle Marcus Gilbert.  The move was stunning considering how much Harrison brought to this team despite only being active for five games this season. He is the franchise’s sack leader, racking up 80.5 during his fourteen-year career, all with Pittsburgh.  The team tried to downplay the move as strictly about football, but to say that this was unexpected when the team is just weeks away from potentially going on another Super Bowl run, would be putting it lightly.  What happened next, however, is just head spinning.

NFL insiders announced that Harrison would be visiting a team, but not just any team. He was visiting longtime rival New England.  ESPN reporter Field Yates broke the news yesterday afternoon that the LB would be signing with Tom Brady and Bill Belichick, two guys that he has faced off against many times in some of the fiercest battles.  Steelers Nation went into a frenzy when the news hit Twitter that their beloved strong man had signed with the enemy.  Seriously though, Steelers how did you not see this coming?  Do you not know how ruthless Belichick and company is?  It is true that he probably won’t add much production on the field, but a fourteen year veteran who has been in the playoffs multiple times has knowledge far more valuable that a young player can learn from.

Of course this story does not end without another twist.  During the Steelers’ players time with the media today after practice, center Maurkice Pouncey keep it all the way real about the situation with Harrison.  He dropped a bombshell that the team did not actually want to drop Harrison, but it was Harrison who wanted out of Pittsburgh.  He explained, “Like, if you didn’t want to be here, just come out and say it. Don’t make it seem like it’s the team’s fault and the organization. You think the organization wanted to get rid of James Harrison? Let’s be serious. C’mon now.”

#Steelers C Maurkice Pouncey just slammed James Harrison, saying he ruined his legacy in Pittsburgh by joining #Patriots. @937theFan pic.twitter.com/kpCeSHaMN4

— Josh Rowntree (@JRown32) December 27, 2017

When asked about the possibility of Harrison sharing secrets with his new team, Pouncey did not seem too worried.   “What’s he gonna tell ‘em? The line slides left, the line slides right,” Pouncey said. “That’s common sense.”  Pouncey continued up his shocking claims by saying that Harrison did not really enjoy his role of veteran backup who was basically grooming his replacements in T.J. Watt and Bud Dupree who have mainly split the responsibility of OLB for Pittsburgh all season.  You can listen to what else Pouncey has to stay by clicking the video above.  This story is absolutely madness and leads up to quite a storyline if these two teams face off once again in the AFC Championship game.