Harrison blames NFL for "my least productive game"

**Big T** · 10-28-2010, 01:04 PM

James Harrison blames NFL for "my least productive game"
Posted by Michael David Smith on October 28, 2010 11:36 AM ET

Steelers linebacker James Harrison drew praise from the league office this week for not committing any illegal hits in Sunday's game against the Dolphins. But Harrison says he had to sacrifice his performance to play the game the NFL wants him to play.

"That was my least productive game this year," Harrison told Josina Anderson on Inside the NFL. "We can still play the game, but it's not the same."

Inside the NFL showed multiple plays from the Steelers-Dolphins game when Harrison appeared to slow down and avoid contact, rather than accelerate and explode into a Dolphins player. Harrison said he was thinking about a suspension on those plays.

"If I shot in there I would have probably hit helmet to helmet, and I've already got one offense," Harrison said. "So I could probably be looking at a possible suspension."

But while Harrison seems to think that's a bad thing, the folks in the league office would say that Harrison is proving their point, and the increased emphasis on illegal hits has resulted in a repeat offender changing his playing style.

Harrison, who on Wednesday was credited with an interception that the official statistician had failed to record on Sunday, says he isn't worried about the long-term health implications of having so many head-first collisions on the field.

"To be honest with you, I'm not too concerned about it," Harrison said. "If that happens it's gonna suck, but hopefully I'll have made enough money and put in enough time that my kids don't have to worry about it. And if I've got to go through a little bit of hell so they don't have to, I'm fine with that."

That so many NFL players are unconcerned about their health after the game is exactly why the league says it has to protect players from each other, and from themselves.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...oductive-game/

**BLACKnGOLD58** · 10-28-2010, 01:17 PM

haha that ball clearly bounced off of the ground into Harrison's hands.....but it really sucks that Harrison isn't playing to his full potential because roger goofball fined him 75k, and word on his appeal?

**Big T** · 10-28-2010, 01:43 PM

Originally Posted by BLACKnGOLD58

haha that ball clearly bounced off of the ground into Harrison's hands.....but it really sucks that Harrison isn't playing to his full potential because roger goofball fined him 75k, and word on his appeal?

It actually should've gone down as a fumble recovery because Jason Worilds knocked the ball out before he threw it...

**BlitzburghRockCity** · 10-28-2010, 01:54 PM

This is my concern, and everybody's with Harrison and player like him. James was clearly not in his element and it was noticeable. Will he be able to rebound and play like we need him too or are we destined to be turned into just another vanilla, soft, defense?

**harpo** · 10-28-2010, 02:31 PM

Ok, where did he say that the NFL is responsible for his least productive game?

**chisteeler** · 10-28-2010, 02:40 PM

Originally Posted by harpo

Ok, where did he say that the NFL is responsible for his least productive game?

But Harrison says he had to sacrifice his performance to play the game the NFL wants him to play.

Does that help?

If not, it was certainly implied that the NFL is responsible.

**BlitzburghRockCity** · 10-28-2010, 03:10 PM

Correct, Big T is implying that James is blaming the NFL, based on his comments. It's somewhat tongue and cheek, but basically he's saying the NFL has changed how he plays and it won't be the same again.

Harrison is right that the game has changed in as quick as just 1 week. I hope the NFL is proud of themselves because they have officially hampered every defense in the NFL just so they can have their precious touchdowns more easily.