‘He is a Steeler, right?’: James Harrison’s agent says client’s preference is to stay in Pittsburgh
PITTSBURGH 鈥� Bill Parise, the Pittsburgh-based agent for Steelers linebacker James Harrison, isn鈥檛 the least bit surprised by how well his client played in his 14th NFL season. The 38-year-old Harrison defied age by leading Pittsburgh with 5.5 sacks, and his 53 tackles were tops among all Steelers outside linebackers.
What surprised Parise is that Harrison has already stated for the record his intentions to play next season.
鈥淚鈥檓 not done,鈥� Harrison said after last week蘑菇视频 loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game.
That蘑菇视频 a departure from recent years when Harrison had been non-committal about returning. But a strong performance in 2016, his third season in his second stint with the Steelers after briefly retiring in 2014, has Harrison feeling rejuvenated and eager for a third Super Bowl ring, according to Parise.
Of course, there are no guarantees of that it will be in Pittsburgh.
Harrison, who led the Steelers in sacks (5.0) this year and led all outside linebackers with 53 tackles, is a pending unrestricted free agent. Parise said that Harrison蘑菇视频 preference is to remain with the Steelers and that he expects a deal will ultimately get done but that there is no urgency to do it right now.
鈥淗e is a Steeler, right?鈥� Parise said.
On Nov. 20, Harrison surpassed Jason Gildon for the franchise蘑菇视频 all-time mark in sacks with 77.5. After being part of a four-man rotation at outside linebacker through the season蘑菇视频 first 10 games, Harrison supplanted Jarvis Jones as the starting outside linebacker. Over the final six games, Harrison played nearly all of the defensive snaps with Bud Dupree on the left side.
With Jones not expected to be retained, the Steelers likely will have to select an edge rusher, perhaps as soon as the first round, in the April draft. That would leave Harrison as the Steelers likely starter when the 2017 season starts. That蘑菇视频 if he is back.
鈥淚 am open to having him back,鈥� Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday during his season-ending press conference. 鈥淚 think we are all not surprised by what he was able to do, because he is James. But we were pleased with what he was able to do and provide us with. We are open to that discussion for sure.鈥�
The NFL蘑菇视频 new league year and free agency signing period begins at 4 p.m. on March 9.