Patriots Sign James Harrison
- Thread starter Ed Hillel
- Start date
I like it for a few of reasons.
Low cost for a window on current operations over there.
General pain in the ass move to force a bunch of changes late in the season. I know Pitt is probably doing this anyway but maybe they are having to change a bit early.
JH is a vet with something to prove over a very small window in time. He’s had essentially no playing time this year. Maybe BB thinks he has some lightning in a bottle that will last until Feb.
The final reason is that a large percentage of the fan base over there is apoplectic over this signing. Absolutely hilarious reading.
Low cost for a window on current operations over there.
General pain in the ass move to force a bunch of changes late in the season. I know Pitt is probably doing this anyway but maybe they are having to change a bit early.
JH is a vet with something to prove over a very small window in time. He’s had essentially no playing time this year. Maybe BB thinks he has some lightning in a bottle that will last until Feb.
The final reason is that a large percentage of the fan base over there is apoplectic over this signing. Absolutely hilarious reading.
There are also some intelligent, reasonable posts in there too. They are few among the many, but they're there.
Agreed. I would argue that their signal to noise ratio is about the same as ours.
The guy was an icon in Pittsburgh and won two rings with them so watching him go to the dreaded New England Patriots (its pretty easy to see why their fans might dislike the Patriots or even outright hate them) has to sting. That is even considering that he may not have anything left in the tank.
It’s like 10000 knives when all you need is a spoon
It’s releasing the man from your team and commenting like a loon
Also the Eric Fisher hold on Harrison that was mentioned as a catalyst for the playcall that led to that hold.
This is just fantastic news. I’m not a fan of James Harrison and I doubt I ever will be. I don’t expect him to contribute much going forward. With that said if it gets inside the Steelers heads even for a second it’s worth it. Every minute they dedicate to changing defensive calls and signals is one less minute they spend on on actual game plan. Plus it comes with the added bonus of Steelers fans everywhere losing their collective shit.
Fun angle, but...
He will be given a job.
He will do his job (well).
If not, next man up.
It’s really that simple.
Those Steeler threads though man... wow.
He will be given a job.
He will do his job (well).
If not, next man up.
It’s really that simple.
Those Steeler threads though man... wow.
I don’t know what you’re talking about. When has Boston ever freaked out jettisoning a beloved franchise player and seeing them go to an arch rival, especially in the twilight of their career? It just doesn’t seem realistic.
This seems like the right take. I also think it’s fair to be concerned that Harrison represents an upgrade. Is this rounding out the roster by filling a need, or are we grasping at straws?
I’m will note that I’m not overly concerned about his age and likely role as a pass rusher. The Panthers have a good defense despite giving snaps to 37-year-old Julius Peppers, who remains productive in a specialized role, and we were all equally surprised to see 36-year-old Dwight Freeney lining up across from Brady in last year’s Super Bowl. Lots of respectable units give limited snaps to veterans like Harrison.
Obviously time will tell if this move is more “Junior Seau” or “Steven Jackson,” but I expect a general rush to judgment on Sunday either way.
I thought you implied he'd only be on the field for obvious passing downs?
Genuinely have to like this signing though, low cost with a pretty fair reward for a team that has absolutely needed a pass rusher from somewhere, especially as the rest of the team hopefully gets a bit healthier, in pieces like KVN, not to mention the hopeful domino effect it could have: If you have to direct some efforts towards stopping Harrison, that opens up opportunity elsewhere.
I genuinely love what I've seen from him this season on film, though, specifically his rip move. Basically, what that means, and what Harrison actually does is rips under an opposing OL with his inside arm. This makes the lineman unable to utilize his power at full capabilities in addition to his hands (or an ability lack thereof, perspective depending).
You are being very generous to that forum. Few sports messageboards anywhere have to signal-to-noise ratio of SoSH, and while BBtL is noisier than some forums, it is still held to higher standards than 75% of all sports messageboards (hell, most forums of any stripe). This one is just ok...sure, there are some clever comebackers in the thread...but overall there are too many "Let him get AIDS/ACL/Monkey's Paw punishment" posts to be allowed here...
In my mind it runs far closer to what KFFL used to be, which is a fine microverse if you are comfortable with vague assertions of awesomeness/harsh denouncements of overratedness 4–10 times a day.
I don't say this because I feel Boston fans or Pats patrons have any mockup or holdup on sporting virtue. Having lived in Pittsburgh for 4+ years, as a university prof who also played the role of the dorkynsporty out-of-towner (Weymouth, MA-raised), Pittsburgh is a fascinating village to observe sports behavior. Deeply passionate about an historic, all-time football franchise; moderately passionate about a johnny-come-in-your-face-lately hockey franchise; simmering over a "hey didn't we win a world series without Clemente?" baseball fandom that includes die-hards from Clemente and their kids from McCutcheon: they reserve their innate hatred for Ohio and Philadelphia, but save a surprising portion for New England.
I was never able to discuss the Steelers successfully, despite the fact that I actually grew up liking their decal more than the Dallas star.
Harrison was not only their best defensive player for 3–4 years (maybe in the NFL), but he was also an embodiment of toughness and cruelty that is definitely part of the Steeler package.
I can't blame them for hating the move...I can't blame us for wishcasting. Sooner or later, one of these BB scratchcards has to pay out $50?
Interesting take all around. And I strongly agree that the signal to noise ratio here is not at all the same as that board, and indeed most other boards.
That said, I don't find their portion of hatred for New England to be at all surprising. The Brady/Belichick Pats have owned the Steelers, particularly in the playoffs. One sided "rivalries" and playoff beat downs breed a special kind of hatred. Having grown up in NE you no doubt recall that many current Pats fans grew up either as Giants fans or children of Giants fans, and in some cases as Pats fans who kind of liked, or at least tolerated, the Giants since they were always on TV in NE in the days before Sunday Ticket. After two shit-tastic SBs, I daresay the Giants have made significant gains on the Jets/Broncos/Colts/Dolphins in the hate department for many. In my case, the Giants were the one NY area team in sports that I was mostly neutral on until those two debacles, and now I take special delight in every loss, newspaper article and fan complaint over this abortion of a season. The Eli situation is incredibly tasty. The losses will do that.
Back to Harrison, that the player was the embodiment of the Steeler package -- which seems 100% accurate -- is especially delicious, so thanks for pointing that out. Given that the Pats have so owned the Steelers, I generally don't hate them as much as some other teams. But their fans in other jurisdictions and within my ambit -- winner pickers, many of them -- have been extra chirpy over the last few years, so their pain is extra sweet.
It's like raaaaaaaaain, on conference championship day
It's a vet minimum deal, since another team already paid
It's the PEDs, that he probably takes
He'll get 2 sacks of Big Ben, it figures
The other cost is the roster spot. With a maximum of four games left, fortunately, we could do without Reilly. Might get interesting if one of the IR guys comes back, or if another spot is needed for depth at a different position.
But even then, I suppose they could always just cut Harrison if they had to.
A lot of people are blaming Steelers management for this situation. The fan base is obviously very loyal to its team but they are not blind to Tomlin's shortcomings as a head coach.
These fans not only know their football, they live in a region that is filthy rich in quality high school football talent. It's not just about the Steelers. Football is a religion in Western Pa.
Price with a nice breakdown in BSJ of what we can and can’t expect from Harrison (with video):
https://www.bostonsportsjournal.com/2017/12/26/scouting-report-film-reveals-strengths-weaknesses-james-harrisons-game/
https://www.bostonsportsjournal.com/2017/12/26/scouting-report-film-reveals-strengths-weaknesses-james-harrisons-game/
Mike Reiss with a nice chronicling of our defensive front-seven woes this season that explain why a flyer on Harrison was nigh inevitable.
I'm in Pittsburgh right now, and will be for the next week and a half. My in-laws watched Monday's game while essentially heckling me, while I sat with a smug smile (N.B., the Pats were, of course, not playing). I've introduced myself to several people in the last week, and even if talk turns to the weather or something that leads them to ask where I grew up, as soon as I say "the Boston area", I can predict the next words out of their mouth: "So that makes you a Patriots fan?" I've started playing dumb and acting like I don't care about football, just so I can be sure that I'll make it out of the parking lot unscathed.
I get the sense that the Steelers are a bigger fraction of their regional identity than even the Red Sox are to New England. They all feel like I bet the French felt when California wines first started beating theirs in blind taste tests in the 70s. Where's that guy with the signature quote from "Consolation of Philosophy" when you need him, huh? Sports fandom is like a wheel, theirs is close to the top right now, but they deeply resent even small amounts of rotation.
"come for the vague assertions of awesomeness, stay for the harsh denouncements of overratedness" could probably be a forum tagline here, but you're right, most of us at least take 100+ words to make such assertions or denouncements, and have some minimal ideas about spelling and punctuation. Sometimes I go back and type several additional paragraphs, just to make sure I've hit quota.
I'm in Pittsburgh right now, and will be for the next week and a half. My in-laws watched Monday's game while essentially heckling me, while I sat with a smug smile (N.B., the Pats were, of course, not playing). I've introduced myself to several people in the last week, and even if talk turns to the weather or something that leads them to ask where I grew up, as soon as I say "the Boston area", I can predict the next words out of their mouth: "So that makes you a Patriots fan?" I've started playing dumb and acting like I don't care about football, just so I can be sure that I'll make it out of the parking lot unscathed.
I get the sense that the Steelers are a bigger fraction of their regional identity than even the Red Sox are to New England. They all feel like I bet the French felt when California wines first started beating theirs in blind taste tests in the 70s. Where's that guy with the signature quote from "Consolation of Philosophy" when you need him, huh? Sports fandom is like a wheel, theirs is close to the top right now, but they deeply resent even small amounts of rotation.
Exceptional BB performance at press conferrence describing Harrison's signing:
Will Harrison help the team gather intelligence? "We're playing the Jets this week. I don't even know what that has to do with it," he said in his Wednesday morning news conference. Maybe I'm missing something, I don't know."
How about relative to the Steelers? "We're playing the Jets this week."
How do you describe his playing style? "He's played outside linebacker for the Steelers. We'll see how it goes".
Is he a fit for the Patriots scheme? "Yeah, I don't know. We'll start working with him and see how it goes."
What are your thoughts on his career? "Good".
How much is experience in big games a factor in signing him? "Yeah, we can't control any of that."
How important was that meeting was prior to signing Harrison? "It's always good to meet somebody."
http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/21891340/new-england-patriots-coach-bill-belichick-say-intel-heart-james-harrison-signing
Will Harrison help the team gather intelligence? "We're playing the Jets this week. I don't even know what that has to do with it," he said in his Wednesday morning news conference. Maybe I'm missing something, I don't know."
How about relative to the Steelers? "We're playing the Jets this week."
How do you describe his playing style? "He's played outside linebacker for the Steelers. We'll see how it goes".
Is he a fit for the Patriots scheme? "Yeah, I don't know. We'll start working with him and see how it goes."
What are your thoughts on his career? "Good".
How much is experience in big games a factor in signing him? "Yeah, we can't control any of that."
How important was that meeting was prior to signing Harrison? "It's always good to meet somebody."
http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/21891340/new-england-patriots-coach-bill-belichick-say-intel-heart-james-harrison-signing
Last edited:
That’s great. Belichick and Popovich should do a joint press conference for charity.
It blows my mind some of the questions that get asked. I’m assuming about 80% of the reporters in the room cringe when they hear that question asked.
Why would the Patriots need to sign him for "intelligence"? Are they going to crack the code and start scoring twice on a single possession?
Except Clemens went from the Blue Jays to the Yankees.I don’t know what you’re talking about. When has Boston ever freaked out jettisoning a beloved franchise player and seeing them go to an arch rival, especially in the twilight of their career? It just doesn’t seem realistic.
.
I’ve watched most of the post game PCs this year. When Brady gets to the podium, the first question is already half out there, the rest arrive fast and furious, and Tom usually begs off when there could be many more “want to go see my family.” With B.B., he gives opening comments, then the first question comes with some trepidation, as do a few of the others. I think some of the reporters are afraid of him.
Yeah, imaging this with like Bruschi in week 15 of his final season would be tough. I have a hard time believing I'd call the guy a "traitor" if we cut him, though. Who knows? You never can be really sure until the shoe is on your own foot.
The part about NFL football fandom that kind of shocks me is how easily fans spend the players' money. Harrison had made a ton of money in his career, for sure. But what are people expecting him to do here? Signing with the Patriots is worth at least $85,000 -- $58,000 for this week and a guaranteed $27,000 divisional share. Up to $150,000 to $175,000 more if they advance. Football players make a ton of money, but not so much that its easy to say "no thanks" to more than 80 percent of the country makes in a year. I'm sure the money isn't his primary motivation for still wanting to play -- not even close. But as a professional athlete closing in on retirement, I would think the chance to bank another 6 figures for a couple of weeks of work is not the kind of thing where you easily say, "nah, some people might call me a traitor."
Correct; he signed with the Blue Jays because he wanted to be closer to Texas.
I guess high school was the best 10 years of his life then.
You nailed this.
And as PFT notes, what is he supposed to do if he just wants to play for the sake of playing? They cut his ass.
This is a gospel fan observation — we as a group always side with the team. Which means collectively we are assholes.
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/12/27/steelers-fans-arent-reacting-well-to-james-harrison-joining-the-patriots/
He was cut by the Steelers AND passed on by every team in the league on waivers. How can anyone fault him for signing now?
