Steelers star linebacker Harrison retires

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 Bowl player, twotime all pro and 2008 NFL Defensive Player of the Year announced 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.

The 39-year-old 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 Philadelphia.

This is the second time Harrison has called 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.

Broncos release Anderson: Running back C.J. Anderson was released by the Denver Broncos.

The move clears a combined $9 million off the books over the next two seasons for Denver and opens the way for Devontae Booker, DeAngelo Henderson or a pick in the upcoming draft to take over as the Broncos’ featured back.

Anderson hits free agency at an opportune time. He’s 27, has just 683 career carries and is coming off his best season, one in which he played in all 16 games for the first time and ran for a career-best 1,007 yards.

Vikings reward Kendricks: The Minnesota Vikings signed linebacker Eric Kendricks to a multi-year contract extension.

The Vikings announced the deal on the first day of off-season workouts. Kendricks has one year left on his rookie contract, after being drafted in the second round out of UCLA in 2015 and immediately becoming a starter on one of the top defenses in the NFL.