Wrongly Accused: James Harrison Plays Football the Way God Intended It

Pittsburgh won the Super Bowl, Steelers linebacker James Harrison returned an interception for a touchdown to close the first half, and then he made another play most people can't shake from their minds.

The sentiment is as follows: James Harrison is dirty and vile, and has no business in the NFL — let alone the Super Bowl.

It's written into article and uttered from the mouths of analysts, personalities, and fans. And it's wrong.

Such is the fickle nature of NFL fans.

Our eyes are no longer sufficient; our hearts take a backseat to the new notions of these changing times; and our ears grasp words that clear pictures contradict.

John Madden said Harrison punched Cardinals special-teams captain Aaron Francisco, and the Heavens parted to make it so. Madden said Harrison should be thrown out of the game, everyone rushed to revise the history Harrison has established for himself as a hard-hitting, defensive terror.

That's the extreme nature of today's sports media. Unfortunate as it is, it's really inexcusable to negate someone's history and accomplishments because of some commentary and one play.

A slow-motion replay focused solely on Harrison and his outright dominance on Francisco—coupled with color commentary—provided the only truth NFL fans needed when it comes to a player who's given his entire life to professional football. Yet, other factors came into play.

Because slow motion sure does make the world look different, right, Dave Chappelle?

Much like Chappelle enacted on his show, slow motion allows people to see things that weren't there in real time. Chappelle's stumbling walk through the club became a cool, confident stride when the pace slowed.

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

So in slow motion, Harrison's open-palm shove becomes a closed-fist punch. An Arizona Cardinals player running by at the same time of the play in question obstructs the view at the most inopportune time, but Harrison's hand is obviously not balled into a fist. In slow motion, Francisco's attempt to chop Harrison at the legs looks like an incompetent stumble by a nonathletic man. In slow motion, Harrison's block is a vicious choke slam from a schoolyard bully.

Only in today's NFL is a situation where another man is completely overpowered and dominated worthy of a penalty. Is this the new NFL logic? When in doubt of a man's strength, penalize for good measure.

Only in a game where players are loved (and well compensated) for their power, aggression, and dominance can fans say, "Whoa! Now that's a bit too much."

Maybe if Aaron Francisco hadn't been diving toward Harrison's legs, the Defensive Player of the Year wouldn't have felt it absolutely necessary to completely remove him from the play.

Instead, Harrison is being crucified as if he mounted Francisco and pummeled him while players and officials struggled to restrain him. Where some fans see excessive violence, some of us see a man doing his job.

Make up your minds, football fans; what do you want from your controlled violence?

Harrison was flagged and penalized for doing what every player is taught to do from the moment he first puts his hip-pads on backwards as a child: He kept playing until he heard a whistle.

Too often we see players give up during a play and stop moving their feet. Too often we see players moving at half speed when a crucial block is the difference between a touchdown and a loss of yards.

In high school football, Harrison's play would've resulted in a new sticker decorating his helmet, and a "job well done" acknowledgment from his coaches. Never give up. Be stronger than the man across from you. Prove it.

Apparently those qualities aren't cherished in today's NFL. Maybe he's playing professional football in the wrong era.