The Pittsburgh Steelers have a number of tough choices to make when it comes to personnel this season and they made one of those decisions on Saturday as they decided to release linebacker James Harrison.
According to ESPN.com, the team decided to release Harrison since they have salary cap issues and could not deal with his contract next season. The team has already worked with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to rework his deal and the salary cap also is expected to force the team to allow Mike Wallace to sign elsewhere, likely the Miami Dolphins.
Harrison has received media attention over the past few years due to his punishing style of hitting and his numbers fines from the league, but he also has been a consistent and dominant player for the Steelers, winning a Defensive Player of the Year award and helping the team to Super Bowl; championships.
"It's been a great run but all good things must come to a end," Harrison posted on his Twitter account on Saturday afternoon. "Thank you Steelers Nation I will miss you all!"
Harrison plans on playing next season and said to ESPN's Josina Anderson that he would like to play for a "successful team" with a 3-4 scheme on defense.
"I want to try and stay in the scheme that I'm in -- in a 3-4 defense," he said. "Warm weather is probably better but sometimes you don't have a choice on where you get to go. You have a choice in picking the team but it still depends on the circumstances around that team. You have to go with what is best for you."
Harrison is five-time Pro Bowl player, but his sack totals have slipped in each of the past three seasons, down to six in 2012 after 10.5 in 2010. Harrison played in just 13 games this season and 11 last season after playing in at least 15 in the previous three years.
Harrison gave no details on where he would like to play next, but mentioned names like Tom Brady and Peyton Manning and also said that he's "grateful to the Steelers and the greatest fans in the world," that "chapter is closed and it's time to move on."
Pittsburgh general manager Kevin Colbert could not get a new deal done with Harrison and already has to deal with a number of free agents, including running back Jonathan Dwyer, running back Isaac Redman, wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders and defensive tackle Steve McLendon.
Harrison will be 35 this year, but he should still be able to contribute to a team, including someone like the Dallas Cowboys, Miami Dolphins, or New York Jets. Harrison's cap number was high as he was entering the last two years of a $51-million extension and he was set to make $7.6 million in 2014. The team now saves over $5 million in space.
The saved money could help them lure another linebacker to the team including Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher. Although he doesn't play in the same scheme, he could slide into Harrison's spot to provide depth if he decides to take less money than the $8 million last season on the final year of his contract.
The Steelers will try to rework their defense around linebacker Lawrence Timmons and hopes to keep up what they did last season, ranking first and second in passing yards and rushing yards allowed per game.
"James has been an integral part of our success during his years in Pittsburgh and has helped us win two Lombardi trophies during that time," Colbert said in a statement. "We appreciate all of his efforts and wish him the best."
Last season the All-Pro linebacker dealt with various injuries and he played in 12 games, missing the final four of the regular season after dealing with a hamstring injury. He has dealt with injuries in the past, including serious knee surgery and new coach Marc Trestman and general manager Phil Emery could decide to move in a new direction. While at the combine Emery spoke about the linebacker.
"If people are feeling that he's slighted, it's certainly not coming from me, because I have great respect for Brian as a person and as a player," Emery said. "Where this ends up, we'll work through Brian and his agents on that and that will be a private matter, and when we come to a resolution, we'll let everybody know. But just know, he'll never be slighted. I have too much respect for him.
According to ESPN.com, Urlacher posted a photo of himself working out with a message that said: "Can't wait for the season to start -- BU #gettingitdone."
