After a successful 10-year stint with the Pittsburgh Steelers, the team released veteran linebacker James Harrison on March 9 according to general manager Kevin Colbert via PittsburghSteelers.com:
"We have informed James Harrison that we have released him," Steelers General Manager Kevin Colbert said. "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. We appreciate all of his efforts and wish him the best.”
The Steelers informed Harrison that his current contract would have to be restructured in order for the veteran to stay in Pittsburgh moving forward. Although Harrison was willing to restructure his deal with the team, the veteran was unwilling to take a pay cut in the process.
With Harrison reluctant to take a pay cut and the team attempting to clear cap space, the two sides simply couldn’t see eye-to-eye leading to the former Defensive Player of the Year’s inevitable release on Saturday.
Over the past few years, Harrison has battled numerous injuries and that may have led to the Steelers deciding not to keep the veteran in Pittsburgh for one more season without restructuring his deal and taking less money.
Although Harrison isn’t dominant force on the defensive side of the football that he once was, the veteran linebacker will still receive considerable interest on the open market. It won’t be long before Harrison signs elsewhere.
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