Mates say Steeler great Harrison wanted out

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Patriots safety Devin McCourty got a closer look at James Harrison when the linebacker strolled through the locker room on Wednesday. It left an impression. “He’s a well put together human being. Scary-looking some would probably say,” McCourty said.

The Patriots’ deal with the former Steelers star also raised some eyebrows in Pittsburgh, where some of his former teammates voiced their displeasure with the circumstances surrounding his departure on Saturday. “He erased himself; he erased his own legacy here. Let’s be serious,” Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey said Wednesday. “It’s crazy. He wanted that. It wasn’t like the team said, ‘We want to let go of James Harrison.’ James Harrison wanted that.”

The 6-foot-2, 240-pound Harrison was unavailable for comment after his first practice with New England. He is expected to address reporters for the first time on Friday. His team already sunk, Browns coach Hue Jackson is taking the plunge.

Jackson said Wednesday he’ll make good on his promise to jump in Lake Erie because of his team’s horrible record. After the Browns went 1-15 last season, Jackson vowed that if Cleveland was ever that bad again he would swim in the lake.

Well, the Browns are 0-15 heading into Sunday’s finale at Pittsburgh.Time for a dip.

“So how many people are jumping in the lake with me?” Jackson playfully asked reporters as he walked to the podium.

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Bradford could return to practice next week as he recovers from a knee injury from Week 1.

Bradford has been out since a brief return in Week 5 against Chicago, which Minnesota plays Sunday in the regular-season finale. Bradford was taken out at halftime and was placed on injured reserve on Nov. 8.