Other than Elvis Dumervil’s fax machine and former agent, maybe no one’s had a rougher free agency than James Harrison.
Not only did the former Steelers outside linebacker lose when he called the Steelers bluff on a pay cut, then he lost his chance at another job when Dumervil signed with the Ravens while he was there for a visit.
Now, he’s trying to crawl back to the Steelers. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Harrison’s agent “has not closed the door on his client returning to [Pittsburgh] and would welcome a call from Steelers.”
I suppose he would.
Harrison might be the guy without a chair when the pass-rushers all settle into place. And when he does, it’s hard to imagine he’ll approach anything close to the $6.57 million he was supposed to make this year. Or maybe even the 30-percent pay cut the Steelers offered, with the chance to earn the balance back in incentives.
If they can push through the hurt feelings, having Harrison back might help, as going into an AFC arms race with Jason Worilds opposite LaMarr Woodley at outside linebacker isn’t an ideal situation. But overcoming pride can be a difficult thing.