LB Harrison signs with the Patriots
James Harrison is no longer the odd man out or the oldest man in the locker room.
The ex-Steelers star signed a one-year deal with the Patriots on Tuesday, three days after his unceremonious departure from Pittsburgh.
The 39-year-old linebacker posted a photo on Instagram showing himself with 40-year-old quarterback Tom Brady in New England’s locker room, writing that he finally has “a teammate that’s older than me!”
The AFC North champion Steelers released the five-time Pro Bowl linebacker and 2008 NFL defensive player of the year on Saturday to make room for right tackle Marcus Gilbert, who is returning from a suspension for violating the league’s performance-enhancing-substance policy.
“We make the decisions we feel give us the very best chance to win,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday when asked why the team didn’t release a different player to make room for Gilbert. “We needed the people we kept. We needed to activate Marcus Gilbert. Really, it’s nothing more than that.”
Garrett returning for 2018.
DALLA S Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said coach Jason Garrett will return for an eighth full season after Dallas missed the playoffs in a year marred by the sixgame suspension of star running back Ezekiel Elliott.
Jones said Garrett’s job “is not an issue here at all” while suggesting that there could be other changes to the coaching staff with several contracts expiring. Garrett has two years left on a five-year deal.
Murray not out just yet.
TENN.» Titans coach Mike Mularkey isn’t ruling out DeMarco Murray against Jacksonville despite a third-degree MCL tear in the runner’s right knee.
Mularkey said an MRI confirmed what trainers expected after Murray hurt his knee late in a 25-23 loss to the Rams.
Jags won’t rest starters.
The Jaguars are locked in as the No. 3 seed in the AFC playoffs, but coach Doug Marrone isn’t going to be resting starters in Sunday’s season finale against Tennessee.
“When the players come in (Wednesday), we are talking about how we are going to play to win and do everything we possibly can to win this game, period,” Marrone said.
Calling it “fake news.”
A RIZ.» Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said a report that he and the franchise have agreed to part ways after this season is untrue, labeling it “fake news.”
An article in Pro Football Weekly cited “multiple sources” as saying the split would come at the end of Arians’ fifth season as the team’s coach.
Footnotes.
The Panthers placed receiver Damiere Byrd on injured reserve with a lower leg injury. … Rams pass rusher Matt Longacre is done for the season with a back injury.