Longtime Steelers linebacker Harrison retires again
Ravens officially sign seven exclusive-rights free agents
James Harrison is taking another shot at retirement, and this time it’s likely to stick for the longtime Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker.
Thefive-time ProBowlselection, two-time All Pro and 2008 NFLDefensive Player of the Year announced on Instagram early Monday he is stepping awayfromthe gamefollowing a 15-year career that sawhimgofromundrafted free agent to one of the most feared players in the league.
Harrison, 39, posted a collage of pictures of his two sons and noted he’s “missed way too much for way too long and I’m done.”
Harrison was signed in 2003 by the Ravens after being cut by the Steelers in 2002. The Ravens sent him to NFL Europe before eventually releasing him. Heplayed nearly his entire career with the Steelers, collecting 801⁄ of his 841⁄ career sacks while wearing black andgold, afranchise record. Hespentthe2013 season in Cincinnati and signed with New England late last season, appearing in all three playoff games for the Patriots, including their Super Bowl loss to Philadelphia.
This is the second time Harrison has called James Harrison, briefly a Raven, collected 801⁄ of his 841⁄ career sacks with the Steelers, a franchise record. it quits. He retired briefly in September 2014 only to be lured back to the Steelers. He remained productive into his late 30s, registering at least five sacks from 2014-16. Not bad for a player who went undrafted after graduating from Kent State and spent the early portion of his career primarily onspecial teams.
Harrison compensated for his relative lack of height — he’s listed at 6-feet tall — with remarkable strength and a relentlessness that made him one of the best edge rushers in the league and a vital part of a team that reached the Super Bowl three times from 2005-10, winning it twice.
Harrison’s physical play at times ran him into trouble with the league office. He was fined four times during the 2010 season alone for what the NFL considered illegal or unnecessary hits. Harrison lashed out at commissioner Roger Goodell, calling him “a crook” in a 2011 magazine article. Ravens sign exclusive rights free agents: With players back in the building Monday for the start of the offseason workout program, the Ravens took care of some standard contract business.
They officially signed their seven exclusive-rights free agents: running back Alex Collins, wide receiver Quincy Adeboyejo, tight end Vince Mayle, offensive linemen Matt Skura and Maurquice Shakir, inside linebacker Patrick Onwuasor and cornerback Stanley Jean-Baptiste. The moves were on the NFL’s transaction wire Monday.
The agreements were considered formalities because exclusive-rights free agents aren’t able to negotiate with other teams. The only way an exclusive-rights free agent doesn’t return is if his team doesn’t offer hima contract tender. The Ravens extended an offer to all of their exclusive-rights free agents.
Collins seized the starting running back job last season, rushing for 973 yards and six touchdowns.
Skura is the team’s projected starting center after Ryan Jensen’s free-agent departure to the TampaBay Buccaneers. Onwuasor headsthedepthchart at weak-side linebacker. League to prohibit certain helmets: The NFL for the first time is prohibiting certain helmets from being worn by players.
In notifying the 32 teams Monday, the league has sought to have players stop using10 helmet varieties. Some were found to be inferior to many of the 34 helmets the NFL and the players’ union examined.
Previously, NFL players could choose any helmet as long as it passed certification standards.
The 10 helmets are Rawlings’ Impulse and Impulse+, Quantum and Tachyon; SG Varsity and SG 2.0; Schutt Vengeance Z10 (model 204100), Air XP (model 789002) and Air XP Pro (model 789102); and Riddell VSR-4 (model R41133). About 200 players used those helmets last season.