Following Thursday night’s preseason game, Steelers linebacker James Harrison addressed his decision to agree to an interview with the NFL regarding the Al-Jazeera report that accused Harrison of using performance-enhancing drugs.
Earlier in the day Harrison told NFL Network that the NFL had no credible evidence against him but he agreed to the interview because getting suspended for not cooperating, as the NFL had threatened to do to Harrison and other players named in the report, would hurt his team.
“If it goes to a conduct detrimental [situation] it goes to the hands of that crook, I mean Roger Goodell, [and] he can do whatever he wants,” Harrison said Thursday night. “That’s just the bargaining agreement that the players signed.”
Harrison and Goodell, the NFL Commissioner, are longtime non-friends. Earlier this summer, Harrison said he’d agree to an interview if Goodell came to Harrison’s house.
As for the interview itself, Harrison proposed having media on hand for transparency reasons — or even broadcasting it live.
“Whatever evidence they think they have, or reason for questioning me, is out of my control,” Harrison said. “I really don’t know.
“I wouldn’t have a problem with it being filmed live. I’ve been prosecuted and persecuted, you know, publicly in the media by them for something I didn’t do. So I don’t see why we couldn’t have the media there and do a live interview. They can ask whatever questions they want and I can answer them.
“You all can see whatever evidence they say they got.”