Harrison will try to follow 2016 success

will have to ask them. I mean, who don’t want to start?”

Harrison began 2016 splitting time with former No. 1 pick Jarvis Jones, but, as the games became more important Harrison spent more time on the field. He started the final seven of the regular season and all three postseason games, registering 5½ sacks in those 10 games. That included 1½ sacks along with 10 tackles and a forced fumble in the wildcard playoff game against the Miami Dolphins.

“I think my numbers showed the more I played the better I played,” Harrison said.

Harrison’s strong finish convinced the Steelers to bring him back for at least one more season. Harrison, though, didn’t need any more proof. Unlike the previous season, when he said he wanted to take a sixweek conditioning period to determine if he wanted to come back in 2016, the onetime NFL defensive player of the year made no such declaration this year.

“I didn’t need to be convinced,” Harrison said. “I was convinced once I started the year, back when I came to training camp.”

Meantime, he waits. And trains. And grunts, putting his body through workouts that marvel even his teammates. He said he feels fine, though he concedes it’s not getting any easier.

“It does get tougher,” Harrison said. “You just find ways to try and cope and do what you can with what you got left.”

Harrison always seems to have plenty left.

Gerry Dulac: gdulac@post-gazette.com and Twitter @gerrydulac.