James Harrison is highly motivated for the 2013 and most of that is fueled by the Pittsburgh Steelers. The team released Harrison at the start of the offseason after they determined he was no longer worth the amount of his contract. He was originally scheduled to make $6.57 million in 2013, while being in the final two years of his contract. The Steelers were strapped for cash and Harrison became a casualty of the salary cap. Now, Harrison is set for revenge after he signed with AFC rival, Cincinnati Bengals.
Harrison will now face the Steelers twice a season, something he is looking forward to. He spent his entire career in Pittsburgh after the team signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2002. He is ready to face off against the team that helped make him the defensive star he is today.
"I understand it's a business, so it's not like I can take it personally. But to say that is doesn't motivate me in some sense it would be a lie," Harrison said.
After being released, Harrison thanked Steelers fans on Twitter, saying all good things must come to an end. Now, fans will have to face the fact that Harrison will be back but on the other side of the field. The Bengals knew they were getting a player that would be motivated after being overlooked by multiple teams during free agency. At 35, some teams wrote off the veteran due to his age. Yet, even with minor injuries, Harrison managed to lead the Steelers in defense last season after missing the first part of the season. Harrison only had six sacks, one of the lowest in his career, but he still recorded 70 tackles. Harrison is a former Defensive Player of the Year with 64 sacks to his total career. He will bring a heavy amount of experience and motivation to the Bengals in 2013.
Head coach Marvin Lewis is hoping Harrison brings some identity to a defense lacking in that department. Cincinnati has a young defensive front with Geno Atkins and Carlos Dunlap. The team is hoping Harrison can be an influence to unit like he was with the Steelers.
