Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison sits alone on the bench on the sidelines during the closing minutes of the Steelers NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens in Baltimore, Maryland September 11, 2011. (REUTERS/Joe Giza)
Perhaps there’s some justice in the fact that Mr. Nasty Late Hit was himself a nasty late hit in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ attempt to get under the salary-cap limit.
Rush linebacker James Harrison, who for 11 seasons was a disruptive force on the Steelers’ defence – not always after the whistle or above the opponent’s neck, mind you – found himself out of work Saturday night.
On the third last day before NFL free agency begins Tuesday at 4 p.m. EDT, the Steelers released Harrison – after he was unwilling to take a 30% pay cut from his 2013 base salary of $6.57 million -- according to ProFootballTalk.com.
By dumping Harrison’s salary, the Steelers got safely under the $123-million salary cap – which all teams must do by the Tuesday deadline.
Because he has been released, Harrison and his agent don’t have to wait until Tuesday to sign elsewhere.
