Although the agent for free agent linebacker James Harrison says the door is open to a return to Pittsburgh, the Steelers apparently don’t agree.
Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that the Steelers have informed Harrison that they no longer are interested in him playing for them in 2013.
Harrison doesn’t appear to have many other good options, either. Although he was hoping for a chance in Baltimore, the Ravens apparently closed the door on Harrison after they signed Elvis Dumervil.
In an offseason when several pass rushers who are younger and healthier and come with less baggage than Harrison have had to settle for lower-than-expected offers, the market for Harrison doesn’t look great right now. The 34-year-old Harrison was once among the NFL’s most fearsome pass rushers, but he’s coming off a season in which he recorded just 6.0 sacks, his lowest total since becoming a starter in 2007.
Harrison will presumably sign with some team eventually, but when he does, he may end up wishing he had accepted the 30 percent pay cut the Steelers were offering him a few weeks ago.