The Cincinnati Bengals, who have had to deal with James Harrison's punishing hits for the 10 seasons, are looking to ink the veteran linebacker to bolster a defense that was already 12th in the league against the run.
The Bengals saw last year's outside linebacker Manny Lawson head to the Buffalo Bills, and have met with Harrison and Karlos Dansby as potential replacements. Harrison was due $6.75 million this season and was cut by the Steelers after refusing to take a pay cut.
Harrison also held a meeting with the Steelers' hated rival Baltimore Ravens on March 26th, but the Ravens went on to sign Elvis Dumervil from the Denver Broncos instead.
Harrison may be 34 years old, but he was a productive player in 2012. In 13 games Harrison made 70 tackles for a Steelers defense that, despite an 8-8 record and missing the playoffs, was second in the NFL in rushing yards allowed. Harrison also recorded six sacks last year, and the Steelers finished with the number one overall defense in the NFL.
Harrison comes with a bit of baggage along with his lethal hitting and run-stuffing. In an interview with Men's Journal, he called NFL commissioner Roger Goodell a "crook," a "puppet," and said "I hate him and will never respect him."
The linebacker has been fined repeatedly by the NFL for helmet-to-helmet hits on quarterbacks, running backs and receivers alike, and blames Goodell's newfound effort to protect players for the constant hits to his wallet. Harrison believes he has become a league target.
In 2011, he was suspended one game for a brutal shot on Browns quarterback Colt McCoy, who had run out of the pocket and scrambled toward the first down marker. At the time, Harrison said, "From what I understand, once the quarterback leaves the pocket, he's considered a runner. All the defenseless(ness) and liberties that a quarterback has in the pocket are gone, and you can tackle him just as if he's a running back. The hit wasn't late, so I really don't understand why it was called."
Harrison was also arrested in 2008 regarding a simple assault and criminal mischief charge related to a domestic incident with his wife during an argument over their son's baptism. He was kept on by the Steelers despite the team releasing less-heralded wide receiver Cedrick Wilson because of similar legal troubles.
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