OPINION —
I DON’T KNOW if I would’ve had the guts to release James Harrison if I was Kevin Colbert.
The reasons are many and have been well documented by my colleagues in the regional and national media -- namely who’s going to replace him?
But that’s not why I wouldn’t have released him.
Colbert and the Steelers made him extremely angry and there’s been talk of him heading to Cleveland to join the Browns and new defensive coordinator Ray Horton — a former Steelers defensive assistant coach.
Ohio also happens to be Harrison’s home state and the draw of wrapping up your career in your home state would have to be a major draw for Deebo.
Perhaps, the biggest draw of playing for the Browns would be the opportunity to stick it to the Steelers twice a year for the next year or so.
An angry James Harrison is not someone I’d want to mess with — especially with the relative inexperience of who will probably be starting at tackle next fall — and definitely two times in one year.
We can generally count on wins whenever we play Cleveland, but Harrison’s energy just might propel them to a win or two — something a team coming off an 8-8 year can’t have.
I would’ve bit the bullet and kept him around this year.
ä I’m happy the Steelers were able to bring Ramon Foster back Monday afternoon.
I’ve long thought Foster was underrated.
It just seemed like year-after-year someone was supposed to start at guard then they’d either get hurt or stink up the joint and in would come in Foster.
You wouldn’t hear announcers signalling him out for any mistakes like they would other o-linemen. Foster was hardly ever beaten badly or whistled for holding.
Yet, the team was quick to put injury prone Willie Colon at left guard instead of the steady Foster.
Or they were cool with Chris Kemoeatu getting whistled for like a gazillion penalties each game.
With this new three-year deal, I hope the Steelers will allow Foster to assume a more comfortable role with the team — starting left guard.
* I haven’t heard any rumblings of it actually happening, but I’m hoping the Steelers are able to bring either Beanie Wells or Steven Jackson to town to be their new starting running back.
Jackson wouldn’t be a long-term solution, but definitely be an upgrade over what the Steelers currently have on the roster.
If he wanted to come to Pittsburgh, I’d give him a two-year deal with a decent salary and all kinds of incentives.
We Steelers fans would have to remember Jackson wouldn’t be a reincarnation of Jerome Bettis. Jackson is way too old to recreate the magic JB brought to the team.
Wells, who was released by Arizona Monday afternoon, would be another upgrade over Isaac Redman and Jonathan Dwyer, but for a little bit longer period than Jackson, which is why he’d be my choice.
Remember, Wells isn’t too long removed from a 1,000-yard, 10-touchdown performance in his second year as a pro.
He’d be the perfect compliment to the Steelers’ passing game and would help open things up for Antonio Brown and Co.
But because he’s only 24, he might be too expensive for the Steelers and is too high profile for them as well.
In other words, Wells won’t be a Pittsburgh Steeler.
Sports
RANDOM THOUGHTS: Releasing Harrison could come back to haunt Steelers
- Sports
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HIGH SCHOOL SPRING SPORTS ROUNDUP: County track set today at Hickory
The annual Mercer County Track & Field Invitational will be held at Hickory High’s Hornet Stadium today, beginning at 9 a.m.
Competing are all Mercer County teams, Class AAA and AA, as well as Slippery Rock. The meet serves as a warm-up to the District 10 championships set next week at Harbor Creek High. -
RANDOM THOUGHTS: Competitive cheerleading tough for even manly men
WHEN I THINK OF MYSELF, I think I’m one of the more manly men you’ll find.
I definitely don’t mind eating all kinds of meat and potatoes. I love watching sports — and participating in them when I can.
I do many other things that ‘real’ men do that aren’t fit for print and proper readers.
What I don’t do is wear skinny jeans or other tight-fitting clothes. I don’t wear jewelry nor do I wear colors that lean more to the femine side than the masculine side. -
HIGH SCHOOL SPRING SPORTS ROUNDUP: Mercer 9 drops thriller to KC
It was a game both teams were trying to win — it just seemed as though neither wanted to — as Kennedy Catholic High baseball team met Mercer Friday afternoon in an inter-region District 10 affair.
The teams traded late leads before, ultimately, Scott Moore’s fielder’s choice RBI-grounder scored pinch-runner Ethan Feldmiller with the game-winner, as KC captured an 11-10 conquest. -
NCAA Football: Rock 6-1 after 17-3 win over Cal U
Slippery Rock University rode a length-of-the-field scoring drive by its offense and a goal-line stand by its No. 1-ranked defense late in the first half of action Saturday to a 17-3 win over 14th-ranked visiting California (Pa.).
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NFL: Steelers top Jags as Mendenhall makes return
Mike Tomlin isn’t ready to say the Pittsburgh Steelers are back. Not after watching his team sleepwalk through the second half against Jacksonville on Sunday.
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IndyCar Racing: Crash takes Wheldon’s life
Every race car driver heads onto the track understanding this race could be the last and hoping it won’t be. On Sunday, IndyCar drivers got a harsh reminder when the worst happened to one of their own.
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NHL: Sabres beat Penguins 3-2
The Buffalo Sabres have had trouble with the Pittsburgh Penguins whether Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin play or not.
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NHL Quick glance: Montreal at Pittsburgh
A breakdown of the National Hockey League game Thursday night between the Pittsburgh Penguins and visiting Montreal Canadiens.
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High School Highlights: Oct. 19, 2011
A look at the last few days in local high school fall sports action.
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Leading Off: Oct. 19, 2011
News and notes from the local, regional and national sports scene.
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