James Harrison

North Notes: Ravens, Jeffery, Harrison, Lions

June 15th, 2016 at 5:51pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The five-year, $37.5MM deal offensive tackle Eugene Monroe signed in 2014 is the worst contract the Ravens have ever given out, opines Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com. Monroe – whom the Ravens released earlier today – received $17.5MM in guaranteed money and, because of injuries, ultimately made just 17 starts after inking the contract. Hensley adds that the Ravens began souring on Monroe when he didn’t start their 2014 AFC divisional playoff game in New England because of an ankle injury. Monroe was healthy enough to be active for that contest, leading the Ravens to wonder about his toughness.

More from the NFL’s two North divisions:

Franchise-tagged Bears receiver Alshon Jeffery wants a long-term contract, but he’s content to play 2016 without one if an agreement isn’t reached by the July 15 deadline (via Jeff Dickerson of ESPN.com). “It really doesn’t matter to me. Like I said, that situation will take care of itself. I’m here to play football and to focus on football,” said Jeffery, who’s currently slated to rake in $14.599MM under the tag.
Steelers linebacker James Harrison is 38, but he hopes to play for another two years, as ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler writes. “If you ask me that now, yeah [I can]. But that’s something I’ll deal with. I don’t know if I want to go that far, even though it’s only a couple of years away,” he said. Harrison also discussed his role with the team in 2016 and indicated that he is willing to do whatever is asked of him. The five-time Pro Bowler will surely play a smaller role this year than he did in his heyday.
Ravens LB Elvis Dumervil told reporters – including Clifton Brown of CSN Mid-Atlantic, via Twitter – that he underwent a preventative procedure on his foot and is unable to participate in minicamp as a result, though he should be ready by training camp. Teammate Steve Smith, who missed most of last year with a torn Achilles, is expected to sit out the entire preseason; however, he’ll be ready in time for Week 1, tweets Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun.
It appears that Lions receiver Corey Fuller had surgery on his injured right foot, per Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com. That would help explain the Lions’ decision to sign Andre Roberts last week and also why the team hosted Anquan Boldin on a visit.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

Latest On NFL’s Investigation Into PEDs

May 25th, 2016 at 7:52pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Nearly five months have passed since an Al Jazeera America documentary linking several NFL players to banned substances came to the fore, but the league still hasn’t interviewed any of the individuals mentioned in the film. That could be on the brink of changing, reports Christine Brennan of USA Today.

“It’s our expectation that we will interview the players involved over the next month or so,” league spokesman Joe Lockhart told Brennan on Wednesday.

Lockhart added that the league is “in conversations with the union over the timing” of the interviews.

“The Dark Side,” a documentary centering on the global epidemic of performance-enhancing drugs in sports, was released in December. In that production, ex-Guyer Institute pharmacists Charlie Sly and Chad Robertson name now-retired quarterback Peyton Manning, Packers linebacker Julius Peppers, Steelers linebacker James Harrison and current free agent linebacker Mike Neal as players they supplied with PEDs. They also connect Packers linebacker Clay Matthews to the painkiller Toradol.

Sly alleges in the documentary that the Guyer Institute – an Indianapolis-based anti-aging clinic – supplied Manning and his wife, Ashley, with human growth hormone when he was recovering from a career-threatening neck injury in 2011. Neal, Peppers and Harrison are all linked to hormone supplement Delta-2, which is designed to stay ahead of drug tests.

Manning, whose Broncos defeated the Panthers in Super Bowl 50, stated after the documentary’s release that he would welcome a league investigation into the matter and added that he’d consider legal action. As it turns out, however, the 40-year-old will not sue, relays Brennan. He remains on the league’s interview list, though, because of the potential that he’ll someday end up in a front office.

As of now, Manning doesn’t want to spend significant money or time on a lawsuit that would publicize the private medical records of him and his wife, per Brennan, who notes that Sly’s allegation that Manning went to the Guyer Institute ultimately proved true. Further, the Mannings haven’t disputed the notion that Ashley Manning had HGH and other drugs shipped to her.

For now, Manning is in a strategic phase and keeping an eye on how the libel lawsuits filed against Al Jazeera America by Major League Baseball players Ryan Howard and Ryan Zimmerman fare. Howard and Zimmerman are also included in the documentary, and they elected to take legal action in January. If their cases end up dismissed, Manning will know his also would have been, writes Brennan.

As for the other players involved, Neal is still unsigned despite logging a few productive seasons in Green Bay. He attributes his unemployment, at least in part, to the documentary. Harrison decided against legal action in December for financial reasons, and he made news earlier this month when he tried to videotape his own drug test. Peppers – who does have a 2002 PED suspension on his résumé – called the documentary “irresponsible journalism” upon its release, and Matthews denied knowing Sly.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Extra Points: Harrison, Replay, Bucs, Beasley

May 21st, 2016 at 8:41pm CST by Sam Robinson

James Harrison‘s recent drug-testing mixup may have triggered more dissent between the NFL and NFLPA. The Steelers linebacker informed DeMaurice Smith of a drug-testing agent categorizing the taping of a test as an act that could ensure a positive result. The NFL’s explanation of the ban on taping drug tests was to maintain the process’ integrity, however, Smith’s response to Harrison — which he posted on his Instagram account (h/t Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk) — refutes that.

“Despite what the player was told, and what has been reported, our drug policy regarding specimen collection rules does not specifically prohibit the video taping of a drug test,” Smith wrote. “There are rules in place, however, that prohibit a player from carrying any item other than his collection cup into the restroom when providing a specimen. Additionally, some states may have rules limiting a person’s ability to videotape another person without their consent. If drug collectors desire to change the collection rules, they may not do so on their own as happened in this case. They need to obtain approval from both the NFL and the NFLPA before making any such changes.”

The veteran linebacker appears to be at the center of another controversy and the latest source of conflict between the league and its players’ union.

The competition committee will consider a proposal that will expand the use of replay, Jarrett Bell of USA Today reports. Although penalties won’t be up for review, referees under this concept would be permitted to speak with league representatives in New York similar to last season’s playoffs format. The rule will need 24 approval votes at the owners’ meetings Tuesday in Charlotte.
Another proposal on the table for the most recent set of meetings comes from the Redskins, who would prefer a late-summer format where teams did not have to perform two stages of roster cuts. Washington’s proposal would allow all 90 players to stay on the roster until the early-September cutdown to 53 is required instead of the initial trim to 75, Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer reports. That passing would flood the waiver wire and free agent market with more than 1,200 players in one weekend.
Although Vic Beasley will play a Bruce Irvin-like role with the Falcons after relocating from defensive end to linebacker, he’s still expected to return to a three-point stance on passing downs, D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. Atlanta’s coaches left the decision up to the 2015 first-rounder, though if it was their preference Beasley move to linebacker, this may have been a choice in name only.
Buccaneers offensive line coach George Warhop did not consider the team to have deployed a good offensive line last season. Although the Bucs employed now-retired Logan Mankins and potentially promising Day 2 pick Ali Marpet, the team allowed an NFL-high 124 quarterback hits. “Too many quarterback hits, regardless. I don’t care whose fault it is,” Warhop said, via Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. “We all have a hand in that. It’s one of our points of emphasis this year. First meeting, ‘Hey, listen, guys. Everybody’s telling me what a great job you did. I thought we were just average, really.” Pro Football Focus graded tackles Donovan Smith and Gosder Cherilus as two bottom-tier performers at the position, but now-healthy Demar Dotson and newly signed J.R. Sweezy should bring some much-needed reinforcements to the group.
Robert Mathis‘ Colts contract expires after this season, but Colts.com’s Kevin Bowen expects that if the former All-Pro can perform like he did during his age-34 slate in 2015 and is willing to work with the Colts financially, there’s a path for another Mathis contract for 2017. Mathis, Trent Cole and Erik Walden‘s contracts expire after this season, leaving Indianapolis bereft of pass-rushers after 2016. As part of an extension signed during Mathis’ PED suspension in Sept. 2014, the 35-year-old outside linebacker is due a non-guaranteed $5MM this season.

AFC North Notes: Williams, Steelers, Ravens, Browns

May 18th, 2016 at 9:05pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Bengals followed their model by signing safety Shawn Williams to a four-year extension, Paul Dehner Jr. of the Cincinnati Enquirer writes. The 25-year-old has only started four games in his career, serving as a backup to George Iloka and Reggie Nelson while chipping in on special teams. Still, Williams possesses serious upside and he is one of the key reasons why the team was willing to let Nelson leave via free agency.

“He keeps his head down, kept working,” defensive coordinator Paul Guenther said. “He came in and George and Reggie were in the spots there. He kept coming on. I kept saying this guy needs to get on the field for us. We have to find a way to get him on the field. You have something done like that, the organization gave a good offer and I’m happy for him. He deserves it.”

The Bengals have taken this kind of leap before and they’ve been rewarded for it. In 2013, the Bengals inked Carlos Dunlap to a six-year, $40MM extension before he truly broke out and he went on to rack up 21.5 sacks in two seasons. Ditto for defensive tackle Geno Atkins, who was signed to a five-year, $55MM deal prior to August of 2013, a deal that is extremely modest compared to deals given to top-end players at the position on the open market.

Here’s the latest from a busy news day in the AFC North.

Antonio Brown said finishing his career under another long-term extension with the Steelers would be “an honor,” and he’s not planning to hold out for a new contract just yet, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports. “I always want to be a Steeler for life. We will let those things take its course,” Brown told media, including Fowler. “I’m excited to get back on the field. … My focus right now is to show up and become the best player.” Following his stay in Los Angeles for Dancing with the Stars, Brown plans to return to Pittsburgh for OTAs. Playing on of the NFL’s best bargain contracts, Brown is set to make $6.25MM in base salary this season and occupy a $12.37MM cap hold in 2016. The latter figure is eighth among receivers. With Martavis Bryant now out for the season, Brown could have additional leverage in a potential contract standoff, which he didn’t necessarily deny was forthcoming — although Kevin Colbert recently said he does not expect to alter the Steelers’ policy of not extending players who have more than two years left on their deals. Brown’s 265 receptions over the past two seasons are an NFL record.
After announcing recently he’ll return for a 14th NFL season, James Harrison called NFLPA chief DeMaurice Smith regarding a drug test. Harrison was trying to videotape the drug test, but the drug-testing agent informed the linebacker that could result in a positive test, per Fowler. The ESPN.com reporter notes Harrison has filmed drug tests in the past, yet he didn’t do so this time as to not want to get the tester fired. All NFL players are subject to random testing in the offseason. Harrison was named in a highly scrutinized Al Jazeera report in December but succinctly denied any HGH use. At 38, he’ll be the oldest defensive player in the league this season.
The NFL does not appear to buy the Ravens‘ company line of not being aware rookie-camp practices fell under the no-pads policy that veteran offseason workouts do, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter reports. Baltimore is under investigation for suiting up rookies in pads during a non-contact punt-protection drill, and the league viewing the team as attempting to skirt the rules — albeit for a stretch that amounted to five minutes — could result in a loss of practice time.
Although John Urschel remains the favorite to replace Kelechi Osemele at left guard for the Ravens, Ryan Jensen, Alex Lewis and the newly signed Vlad Ducasse could challenge the 2014 fifth-rounder for the job, Jeff Zreibec of the Baltimore Sun reports. However, if the Ravens opt to keep Eugene Monroe, No. 6 overall pick Ronnie Stanley becomes the favorite to succeed Osemele at left guard, Zreibec writes. Monroe has three years left on his deal, one that pays him between $8.7-$8.95MM in each season, but has missed 15 games the past two seasons. Cutting Monroe this year would saddle the Ravens with $6.6MM in dead money.
Joe Haden is uncertain to return for Browns training camp after offseason ankle surgery, but the seventh-year corner insists he’ll be ready by Week 1, Nate Ulrich of Ohio.com reports. Haden, who missed 11 games last season due to concussion issues, admitted it was “a little upsetting” to hear Sashi Brown say it was too early to tell whether he’d play on Sept. 11 in the Browns’ opener. “I think I’m going to be back definitely for sure not to miss any regular-season time,” Haden said Wednesday after undergoing surgery March 16. “I don’t really know about training camp. … But I just know for sure that my whole thing is I’m not missing any games.”

Zach Links contributed to this report

James Harrison To Return In 2016

May 2nd, 2016 at 11:54am CST by Luke Adams

When James Harrison‘s agent suggested back in February that he expected his client to return to the Steelers in 2016, the veteran linebacker himself cautioned that he had yet to make any decisions. But two and a half months later, it seems Harrison has made up his mind.

On his Instagram account today, Harrison published a photo of himself with the caption “I’m back.” Within the post itself, the Steelers linebacker wrote: “I’ll be 38 on Wednesday and I’m feeling just like a fine wine. Getting better with age.”

Harrison, who will be the NFL’s oldest defensive player in 2016, had been expected to return. He’s under contract through the 2016 season, and in addition to agent Bill Parise expressing optimism about Harrison continuing his career, GM Kevin Colbert and head coach Mike Tomlin indicated this weekend that they anticipated another year from their stalwart linebacker. “He’s working out awful hard for a ‘retired’ guy,” Tomlin said.

In spite of his age, Harrison remains a solid contributor on defense. Last season, the former undrafted free agent logged 40 tackles, five sacks, two forced fumbles, and an interception. Pro Football Focus ranked him 14th out of 110 qualified edge defenders, assigning him strong grades as both a run defender and pass rusher.

The Steelers have Harrison on their books for 2016 for an affordable $1.25MM base salary and $1.5MM cap hit.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

North Notes: Kessler, Browns, Harrison, Bears

April 30th, 2016 at 9:23pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Browns reportedly did not promise a starting job to Robert Griffin III, and it sound as though rookie third-round pick Cody Kessler has a shot to win the quarterback job in Cleveland. “We truly believe in competition here,” Browns executive Sashi Brown said, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. “We’re realistic about where our roster is at that slot and we want to find a long-term answer. I think it’s as critical for everything we’re going to do here.”

Here’s the latest from the North divisions…

The Browns did not know cornerback Jamar Taylor would be available ahead of the draft, said Brown, according to Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal (Twitter link). Cleveland acquired Taylor today for a seventh-round pick.
Even if the Bears had drafted a quarterback today, they still would have signed backup quarterback Brian Hoyer, GM Ryan Pace told reporters, including Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun Times (Twitter link). Chicago wanted a veteran behind Jay Cutler, hence the signing of Hoyer to a one-year, $2MM deal.
Steelers GM Kevin Colbert and head coach Mike Tomlin both expect James Harrison to return for the 2016, per Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazetter (Twitter links). “He’s working out awful hard for a ‘retired’ guy,” said Tomlin.
Defensive tackle Vernon Butler contends the Lions told him they would draft him if he were available with the No. 16 pick, but Detroit ultimately chose offensive tackle Taylor Decker. Lions GM Bob Quinn denies that his club promised anything to Butler, who was chosen at No. 30 by the Panthers. Justin Rogers of MLive.com has the full details.

AFC North Notes: Harrison, Steelers, Ravens

April 5th, 2016 at 5:26pm CST by Luke Adams

Veteran outside linebacker James Harrison remains under contract with the Steelers for another season, and is due a $1.25MM base salary for 2016. However, it remains to be seen whether Harrison, who would be the NFL’s oldest defensive player, will return for one more year. Among those interested in Harrison’s decision on his future? His teammates in Pittsburgh.

Steelers guard Ramon Foster tweeted to Harrison today, asking whether he’s coming back for 2016, to which Harrison replied, “I can’t say for sure but it’s looking good for the home team!” Agent Bill Parise tells Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Twitter link) that his client has yet to make a final decision, suggesting that may not happen until camp, but it sounds like Harrison may not be ready for retirement quite yet.

Here are a few more items from out of the AFC North:

Alabama defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson is visiting Pittsburgh and meeting with the Steelers today, per Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (Twitter link). Even in a strong draft class for interior defensive linemen, Robinson projects as a probable first-round pick.
Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome says wide receiver Breshad Perriman and left tackle Eugene Monroe making good progress from their respective injuries, as Garrett Downing of BaltimoreRavens.com writes. Perriman, a 2015 first-round pick, has resumed running but is still working to get back to full strength.
Ravens assistant general manager Eric DeCosta says the team has talked extensively with Eastern Kentucky outside linebacker Noah Spence, as Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com writes. “We’ve studied him at length and we’ll make the best decision for the team,” DeCosta said.
As we detailed earlier, free agent wideouts Hakeem Nicks and Mike Williams worked out today for the Bengals.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

James Harrison To Return In 2016?

February 17th, 2016 at 4:34pm CST by Zachary Links

WEDNESDAY: Harrison said he’ll need six weeks of training to determine if his body will enable him to return next season, tweets Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. He’ll begin training in Scottsdale in mid-March and the six-week timeline will take him up to the start of OTAs (Twitter link via Dulac).

“I’m going to start the process of making sure that I can get back to where I need to be so I’m able to give 100 percent, Harrison stated. “If I get to that point and I’m feeling good, there’s probably a good chance – no, not probably – I will play” (Twitter links via Dulac).

TUESDAY, 5:50pm: Hold the phone. Despite his agent’s comments, Harrison told his business and PR managers that he’s not certain he will return in 2016, Dulac tweets.

5:08pm: Steelers veteran James Harrison will celebrate his 38th birthday in May but that doesn’t mean that he’ll be retired come September. On Tuesday, Steelers GM Kevin Colbert indicated that he anticipates the linebacker will want to continue playing (Twitter link via Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review). Colbert added that he doesn’t “see any reason” why he wouldn’t want to have the veteran linebacker back in the fold.

With that in mind, Harrison’s representation says that the plan is for the veteran to join the Steelers in camp this summer.

“I guess we will be there,” Harrison’s agent, Bill Parise, told Kaboly. “This is not a announcement or anything like that, but we are under contract and everything is going forward.”

When asked in late January, Harrison was on the fence about his plans. Now, all signs are pointing to Harrison returning to Pittsburgh for at least one more season. Of course, as Harrison’s agent cautioned, nothing will be for certain until Harrison personally addresses his NFL future.

Harrison is due a $1.25MM base salary in 2016. This past season, Harrison appeared in 15 games, racking up 40 total tackles, 5.0 sacks, 1 interception, two forced fumbles, and four pass deflections. Now that Charles Woodson has retired, Harrison stands as the NFL’s oldest active defensive player.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

AFC Notes: Jets, Rice, Chiefs, J. Harrison

January 22nd, 2016 at 4:51pm CST by Luke Adams

The Jets may undergo some changes at the running back position this offseason, with their top three backs all eligible for free agency. The team appears to be doing its homework in preparation for possible changes, and GM Mike Maccagnan acknowledged today during a WFAN appearance that Ray Rice is one veteran back whose name has come up, but it doesn’t sound like Rice will be a Jet anytime soon, as Rich Cimini of ESPN.com details.

“You know, we’ve talked about that at various points in time,” Maccagnan said. “But I’d probably say that would be one … I’d have to sit down and talk with Todd [Bowles] and Woody [Johnson], but I don’t foresee that at this point in time.”

Here’s more from around the AFC:

Chiefs general manager John Dorsey fully expects running back Jamaal Charles to remain on the team’s roster for 2016, as Adam Teicher of ESPN.com notes. “I love him to death, love how dirty tough he is,” Dorsey said of Charles, who is recovering from a torn ACL. “Yeah, he’s a Chief.”
Dorsey also said this week that he’s had “various discussions” with the representatives for Eric Berry, and will continue to talk to Berry’s reps (Twitter link via Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star). The longtime Chiefs safety is eligible for free agency this winter.
After being eliminated from the playoffs last weekend by the Broncos, Steelers outside linebacker James Harrison isn’t ready to make a decision on whether or not he’ll continue his playing career, as he tells Sam Werner of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “If you were to ask me something like that right after a loss, nobody wants to go out with a loss,” Harrison said. “It’s going to be an immediate, ‘Yeah, I’m coming back,’ not taking into account everything else. Right now, I’m not ready to make that decision.”
The Dolphins have been tight-lipped about what they plan to do with former first-round pick Dion Jordan, whose substance abuse suspension is expected to run through at least April 27, writes Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald. It’s hard to imagine Jordan playing another game for the team, even if he’s reinstated this spring.

Extra Points: Titans, Schwartz, Kearse, Harrison

January 17th, 2016 at 9:29pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

A look around the NFL as divisional weekend wraps up. . .

The Titans’ owners chose Jon Robinson as the team’s general manager and promoted Mike Mularkey from interim head coach to the full-time role largely because neither came at a high price, according to CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora. Further, the decision by Titans ownership to skip a recent league meeting in Houston, home of managing partner Amy Adams Strunk, and announce the Mularkey news during a playoff game aren’t sitting well with the NFL, per La Canfora – who notes that the Titans could change hands by 2017.
The Jaguars have interviewed Jim Schwartz for their vacant defensive coordinator position, Fox Sports’ Alex Marvez reports (on Twitter). Though the Jags (and others) are courting Schwartz, the 49-year-old is being selective about his future and could take a second straight season away from the sideline, La Canfora reports. Schwartz last served as Buffalo’s D-coordinator in 2014, helping the unit to a fourth overall ranking.
Seahawks receiver Jermaine Kearse just finished a career season, catching 49 passes for 685 yards and five touchdowns. The four-year veteran, a pending free agent, doesn’t want to parlay his successful 2015-16 showing into a job elsewhere; he’d rather stay where he is. ”I mean I grew up in the state of Washington. I would love to be here,” the soon-to-be 26-year-old said Sunday, per The Seattle Times’ Bob Condotta (Twitter link). Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap expects Kearse’s next deal to sit in the $3.5MM-per-year range (Twitter link).
Like Kearse, Steelers great James Harrison also faces an uncertain future. The five-time Pro Bowl linebacker is unsure whether he’ll return next season, which would be his age-38 campaign. “I’ve been doing this for 13, 14 years now, so it’s not something I can easily give a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer to right now,” he said Sunday, according to Ralph N. Paul of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Harrison is due a $1.25MM base salary in 2016.

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