James Harrison: Teams That Should Be Vying for Veteran Linebacker

When the Pittsburgh Steelers cut James Harrison from their roster to get under the salary cap, eyebrows were raised all over the NFL. One of the best (and most vicious) defensive players of a generation is ready to be signed by any team—given the right price.

While anybody would love to have Harrison wearing their colors, there are a few teams that could really use the linebacker. 

New England Patriots

New Englanders have had their reasons to dislike Harrison in the past, but that's all water under the bridge now. According to the Boston Herald, the linebacker said he would love to play for the Patriots. 

Mr. Harrison, the Patriots would love to have you play for them, too.

The team from New England is in dire need of a better pass-rusher, and Harrison absolutely fits the bill. The only thing standing in the way, as ESPN's James Walker noted, is the fact that the Patriots are not exactly swimming in cash right now.

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New England could use another pass-rusher. Harrison won't come cheap. The Patriots have bigger needs on defense and need to use their resources in the secondary.

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Baltimore Ravens

Talk about a team that needs a pass rusher.  Ray Lewis' retirement will leave a hole in the Ravens defense that, at first sight, would seem irreplaceable. Lewis' leadership and charisma are simply unique in this league.

But, wait, there's more. And by that, we mean more players like Lewis.

James Harrison might not have the same charisma as Lewis per se, but it's undeniable that their playing styles are similar. 

Did we also mention Paul Kruger is to leave Baltimore, too? 

James Harrison would be so lucky to join the Ravens, says Bill Parise, the athlete's agent, via The Baltimore Sun. 

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Baltimore would be a great fit for James. They're a contender and a class organization, so James would definitely be interested. I would think they would have a need with the market for (Paul) Kruger.

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New Orleans Saints

Can we all agree that James Harrison is a really lucky guy? When was the last time you left a job and had so many job offerings? In this economy? Forget about it.

Anyways, as NOLA.com's Larry Holder mentioned, the New Orleans Saints are yet another team that could use Harrison next season. The linebacker is very familiar with the 3-4 scheme that the Saints play. Also, it is just fun to fantasize about a defense that features both Jonathan Vilma and James Harrison.