Steelers Free Agency: It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye

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James Harrison

Sep 28, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison (92) is greeted by teammates as he takes the field against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first quarter at Heinz Field. The Buccaneers won 27-24. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

James Harrison is a monster. He lifts insane amounts of weight for fun and at 36 was arguably one of the best pass rushers on the team last season, even after only playing in eleven games. The Steelers signed Harrison “off of his couch” after a wrist injury sidelined Jarvis Jones for the remainder of the season.

After Harrison got into game shape and rhythm, he was a force to be reckoned with on the field. Harrison is the one player who can tell these guys that the grass isn’t always greener outside of Pittsburgh. He played one season of obscurity for the Cincinnati Bengals before eventually returning to Pittsburgh.

Now, at almost 37, Harrison is in training for what would be his thirteenth season in the NFL. He’s quite possibly the most likely to get an opportunity to return to the Steelers, thanks to the team’s lack of depth at the outside linebacker position, and his freakishly athletic skills that don’t seem to realize that he’s almost 37.

Harrison can tell the rest of the group what it’s like to go to purgatory and then return back to heaven. There’s no telling what can happen in the next couple of weeks with these four players but it would be wise to start preparing yourself emotionally now for the possibility that your Steelers defense will look more different than it ever has before.

I just don’t know how I’d feel about the Titans defense looking more familiar. But, you can’t grow if you don’t change and you can’t expect the same results by doing the same thing. The Steelers started this younger, faster defensive transition last offseason; it’s time to keep it going this offseason as well.

What do you think Steeler Nation? How hard will it be for you to say goodbye to players like Taylor, Keisel, Polamalu and Harrison?

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