James Harrison had a rather ugly end to his decorated Steelers career a year ago when he was released in December and finished out his career with the New England Patriots. Some of his former teammates ripped him for signing with the Patriots and some of them accused him of sleeping in meetings in the weeks before his release.
But Harrison was back at Heinz Field Sunday night to celebrate with his former teammates on the 10-year anniversary of their Super Bowl XLIII victory.
“I never left,” Harrison said. “My home is in still in Pittsburgh. That’s something that y’all came up with. It wasn’t hard for me to come back. I understand the business. The Steelers understand the business. And Mr. Rooney understands the business. It wasn’t hard to come back.”
Harrison received one of the biggest ovations from the crowd at Heinz Field when he was introduced at halftime. Some Steelers fans burned his jersey after he signed with the Patriots last season and never forgave him.
Not that it’s keeping Harrison up at night.
“If they’re upset about it, that’s their problem,” he said. “It’s part of the business that you can’t get past. That’s obviously something fans can’t get past because fans are loyal to an organization. When the time comes for an organization to be loyal to a player, it’s a business. When it’s time for the player, it’s a business.”
Harrison was asked what kind of reaction he gets when Steelers fans see him out around town. Have they forgiven him?
“Forgiven me for what?” Harrison said. “I don’t need to be forgiven for nothing.”
Harrison has stayed close to the game since he retired this spring. He does work for Fox Sports on its show “Undisputed.” In one of his appearances earlier this year he said if he was Le’Veon Bell he would sign his franchise tender and then fake an injury so he wouldn’t have to play in games.
Harrison authored one of the greatest plays in Super Bowl history in Super Bowl XLIII when he intercepted a Kurt Warner pass and returned it 100 yards for a touchdown as the second quarter expired. It was a 14-point swing and gave the Steelers a 20-7 lead at halftime of a game they eventually won, 27-23.
Hunter injured
Receiver Justin Hunter injured his shoulder late in the second quarter when he dived for a Ben Roethlisberger pass. He did not return to the game.
The Steelers used Ryan Switzer and Darrius Heyward-Bey more in the second half as well as more sets with tight ends. James Washington was a healthy scratch and did not play.
Another milestone for A.B.
Receiver Antonio Brown went over 1,000 yards receiving for a sixth consecutive season and for the seventh time in his career. He now has the most 1,000-yard receiving seasons in franchise history. Hines Ward also had six 1,000-yard seasons.
Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster are the first Steelers receivers since Brown and Mike Wallace each had 1,000-yard seasons in 2011.
Brown also recorded his 41st 100-yard receiving game and had his 12th touchdown catch of the season. He is one shy of the team record he set in 2014.
This and that
James Conner has scored multiple rushing touchdowns in five games this season, becoming the second player in team history to achieve that. Franco Harris did it in 1979. … Terrell Edmunds picked up his first career sack in the first quarter.… Javon Hargrave had another sack to increase his season total to 6½.
Inactives
In addition to Washington, the Steelers deactivated quarterback Mason Rudolph, offensive linemen Marcus Gilbert and Zach Banner, defensive lineman L.T. Walton and defensive backs Cameron Sutton and Morgan Burnett. The Chargers deactivated running back Melvin Gordon, cornerback Jeff Richards, defensive linemen Chris Landrum and Brandon Mebrane, offensive linemen Cole Toner, Forrest Lamp and Joe Barksdale.
Ray Fittipaldo: rfittipaldo@post-gazette.com and Twitter @rayfitt1.
First Published: December 3, 2018, 12:01 a.m.
Updated: December 3, 2018, 12:01 a.m.
