For those that do not know by now, James Harrison is a New England Patriot. Yes, a Patriot. For Harrison, he had some hesitation as well before officially signing with the Patriots. According to Harrison, he asked the Steelers to release him on three different occasions throughout the season.
The first request came after week one where Harrison noted the Steelers wanted to play their younger guys and he understood and requested that the Steelers released him. Harrison told the Steelers via Post Gazette.
“it’s clear you want to play your younger guys and I understand, so why don’t you release me. You go on your way and I’ll go on mine. They said, ‘No, no, no, we got a role for you.”
That role the Steelers had for Harrison never manifested and most of his action came week 6 against the Chiefs in which he played 15 snaps and secured the win for the Steelers with a game-sealing sack. Harrison only played in 40 snaps all season. After the loss to the Patriots, Harrison spoke with head coach Mike Tomlin and asked him to be released for the final time. Harrison said Tomlin told him.
“I’d have to be absolutely crazy to release you if something happened with injuries.” Just five days later before their match-up with the Houston Texans Harrison was released. Harrison said Tomlin told him to “stay in shape in case we come back to you in a month.”
Harrison cleared waivers and was called by the Patriots and flew into Boston at 4:30 pm and had not heard from the Steelers. Before signing Harrison admitted there was some hesitation and even called a former teammate and linebacker coach Joey Porter for advice.
“I explained the situation to him and he said, “I’m not going to sit here and tell you not to do something when you’re making a business decision,” Harrison said. “I made a decision based on what was best for me.”
Harrison said he took about 30 snaps in practice for the Patriots and was told by head coach Bill Belichick he would play in the finale vs the New York Jets. Harrison also added Belichick has not asked him one thing about the Steelers.
If there is a Patriots vs Steelers AFC showdown in the playoffs we will have to see if Belichick unleashes Harrison and lets him get revenge on his former team.