Harrison hints Tomlin paid him for 2010 hit

During a game in October 2010, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison launched himself into Cleveland wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi, landing a square shot above the shoulders and giving Massaquoi a concussion.

At the time of the hit, which did not draw a penalty, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, taking into consideration that Harrison was a repeat offender that season, levied a particularly high fine: $75,000, later reduced to $50,000 on appeal.

But during a recent appearance on Barstool Sports' "Going Deep" podcast, Harrison hinted that Steelers Coach Mike Tomlin may have softened the financial blow.

"The G-est thing Mike Tomlin ever did, he handed me an envelope" after the hit on Massaquoi, Harrison said. "I'm not going to say what, but he handed me an envelope after that."

Harrison, who called the blow "a legal hit" after it happened in 2010, said on the podcast he was actually holding back when he launched himself into Massaquoi.

"Listen, on everything I love, on my daddy's grave, I hit that man with about 50 percent of what I had, and I just hit him because I wanted him to let loose of the ball," he said. "If I had knew they was going to fine me $75,000, I would have tried to kill him."

Harrison's admission could be problematic for the Steelers, who still are coached by Tomlin (Harrison retired in 2017). NFL rules state that players must pay fines themselves.

Plus, in 2012 the NFL suspended Saints coach Sean Payton for one season and punished numerous members of his coaching staff over the team's bounty system.