Longtime Steelers linebacker James Harrison retires again
PITTSBURGH » James Harrison is taking another shot at retirement, and this time it’s likely to stick for the longtime Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker.
The five-time Pro Bowler, two-time All Pro and 2008 NFL Defensive Player of the Year announced on Instagram early Monday he is stepping away from the game following a 15-year career that saw him go from undrafted 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 long ... and I’m done.”
Harrison played nearly his entire career with the Steelers, collecting 80.5 of his 84.5 career sacks while wearing black and gold, a franchise record.
He spent the 2013 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 the Eagles.
NFL to prohibit use of certain helmets
too NEW YORK » 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 using 10 helmet varieties. Some, particularly those manufactured by Rawlings, no longer are being made and don’t have support from the company. Others 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. Six of the substandard helmets are prohibited immediately, while the other four may be worn by players who used them in 2017 but not by new players.
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.
“Over the last few years we’ve seen some dynamic changes in the helmet industry, both from new innovators as well as new helmets and models from incumbent companies,” said Jeff Miller, the NFL’s senior vice president of health and safety policy.
Posluszny would rather retire a year early than a play late
JACKSONVILLE, FLA. » Sitting in the front row with his wife and two young daughters, Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Paul Posluszny got blind-sided like never before in his NFL career.
A guy known for his meticulous preparation wasn’t ready for Telvin Smith’s heartawarming speech.
So Posluszny started to cry as soon as Smith paused to collect himself. A few minutes later, both of them had tears rolling down their cheeks.
It was an emotional farewell — for them and just about everyone else in the room.
Posluszny formally and reluctantly retired Monday after 11 seasons in the league, including the last seven in Jacksonville. He finished his career with 1,381 tackles, 41 pass breakups, 16 sacks, 15 interceptions and eight forced fumbles.
He said he started contemplating walking away late last season.
“I don’t want to do this,” said Posluszny. “I don’t want to retire right now. I want to keep playing. But what was more important for me was I didn’t want to go back on the field and be a step too slow or miss a play.”