A week after Steelers linebacker James Harrison had his back surgery delayed due to an infection/illness, Harrison finally has undergone the procedure.
Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that the operation was a “success.” (We’re still awaiting the day on which the announcement of a pro athlete’s surgery consists of this: “He got butchered.”)
“Everything went great,” agent Bill Parise told Bouchette. “The consensus was no one could figure out how he could play through the season. It was significant but textbook. The surgery went exactly as they wanted it to. James’ recovery should be complete.”
Per Bouchette, Dr. Joseph Maroon removed a piece of herniated disc off a nerve. The condition reportedly had been bothering Harrison all season, even though he never appeared on the injury report as having a back issue -- and even though the “probable” designation means that an injury exists but the player is virtually certain to be available to play.
For example, Pats quarterback Tom Brady has been “probable” for years with a right shoulder injury for which he never has had a single surgery.
As to any Steelers fans who became convinced after years of arguably favorable treatment that the league office has it in for the home team, the NFL could investigate the situation and impose fines if it’s determined that Harrison’s back injury was hidden. If/when the NFL doesn’t, we hope you’ll factor that into any future claims that Roger Goodell secretly hates the city that sits 30 miles from the town where he went to college.