Pittsburgh Steelers: 5 Reasons Why They Need to Release James Harrison

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison is, unarguably, an amazing talent. The aggressive pass-rusher has racked up an impressive resume; 488 tackles and 49 sacks in eight NFL seasons.

Harrison, however, has proved to be an overly aggressive, inconsiderate, and intensely outspoken figure who has clashed with the NFL possibly more than any other player in history. 

This season alone, he racked up over $100,000 in fines for hits that were, according to the NFL, overly violent and unprovoked. 

In a recent Men's Journal article, Harrison bashed fellow teammates, fans, and Roger Goodell in very personal ways. 

Harrison is becoming a cancer and a distraction, and here is why the Steelers need to release him. 

5. Off-Field Issues

Sadly, Harrison's off-the-field troubles hail in comparison to some of the league's other delinquents. 

Still, Harrison has had enough run-ins with the law for the Steelers to question when he will have another. 

He was arrested in 2008 after an altercation with a girlfriend, and in 2009, Harrison's young child was badly bitten by his pit bull. 

These incidents don't mean that Harrison is a terrible person, but do prove that he is at times angry and irresponsible to the point that it affects his personal life. 

4. Constant "Illegal" Hits

Just as many people believe marijuana should be legal, the fact of the matter is that it is not. The same is true for helmet-to-helmet collisions. 

Often times, they seem unavoidable, yet the league is cracking down on them in an effort to limit concussions, and they are too, illegal. 

Harrison openly does not believe that they should be banned and voices his opinion by continuing to hit players in this style. 

While Harrison is entitled to his opinion and while the fines that the league imposes don't affect him financially, it is inconsiderate to the Steelers that Harrison continues to hit like this and rack up penalties. This is very detrimental to the team. 

3. Trashing Other Teammates

You just don't do this. Never, never, never. Especially when you play on a franchise that has been as successful as the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

In the Men's Journal article, James Harrison criticized running back Rashard Mendenhall for his fumbling problem and criticized quarterback Ben Roethlisberger for throwing interceptions and playing poorly in the team's Super Bowl loss to the Green Bay Packers. 

I don't care how you feel. You support your teammates above all else. Inexcusable. 

2. Trashing Roger Goodell

This one doesn't have me stirring because James Harrison should have respect for Roger Goodell as his boss. I couldn't care less. I, in fact, don't blame any of the players for disliking Goodell. The league commissioner has clearly taken favouritism to the owners during this whole lockout ordeal. 

What I have a problem with is the level of hate Harrison expressed in his comments. 

"If that man was on fire and I had to piss to put him out, I wouldn't do it. I hate him and will never respect him."

Seriously? This isn't an issue of like/dislike or employee/boss relationship. This is an issue of respect for others lives, and Harrison possesses none. 

1. A Terrible Role Model, and a Mannerless Personality

People criticize show-boaters like Randy Moss and Terrell Owens for setting bad examples with their post-touchdown antics, but what about behavior like Harrison's?

In the Men's Journal article, Harrison took pictures of himself brandishing guns. What is he trying to prove with that? I would think he would fancy himself tough enough to be considered intimidating without toys that kills people. 

And what about Harrison's blatant disregard for others? Calling another man the "devil" and saying he would let him burn to death? Does that man not have a family that he goes home to every night just like Harrison? 

Harrison's not being tough or smart, he's just being rude. 

Justifying My Point

Many of you reading this may write this off as a rant, or say that I am just not a Steelers fan. Both of those points are true as day. 

In all honesty, however, I have a serious problem with the way that James Harrison conducts himself and I feel very comfortable and compelled to rant about it. 

My issue with Harrison does not have anything to do with the hits he puts on players, but the blatant lack of respect that he shows for others. 

He doesn't have any regard for his teammates, team, fellow employees, or people in general. Maybe he is just trying to rile people up, and in that case, bravo. If that is his intention however, he must do it in a more respectful fashion. 

The Pittsburgh Steelers should drop Harrison and let some other team deal with his poor and selfish attitude. It doesn't matter how good Harrison is, he is a distraction and frankly, not a very nice person. I could be bold and use a stronger word to describe him, but that's his tactic, and he can keep it all to himself.