Mark Madden: Time for Steelers to cut ties with James Harrison

James Harrison went too far…again. He threw Mike Tomlin and the Steelers logo under the bus…again.

It’s time for the Steelers to excommunicate Harrison. Make him persona non grata. Harrison should never again be welcome at Heinz Field.

When Harrison said Tomlin “handed me an envelope” after Harrison got fined $75,000 for a helmet-to-helmet hit in 2010, he put the Steelers in the path of an NFL investigation. (The complaining of Sean Payton in New Orleans will see to that. No coach, team or city whines more, or better.)

Harrison is lying, or a snitch. Either is indefensible. (Bet that he’s lying. Even Harrison’s agent, Bill Parise, denied it: “Absolutely not. Never happened.” And it would take an awful big envelope to hold $75K.)

This isn’t the first time Harrison has disrespected Tomlin and the Steelers. Harrison finagled his way to New England in 2017. En route, he feigned being hurt, fell asleep during meetings and left games early when he didn’t dress.

Upon retiring, Harrison advised Le’Veon Bell to report to the Steelers, then fake injury. That was during Bell’s contract dispute in ‘18. Harrison upstaged Tomlin by doing Instagram video with Antonio Brown during Tomlin’s news conference after the ‘18 season wrapped. Brown ended that campaign by skipping Week 17.

Harrison has his knickers in a twist because, he says, Tomlin broke a promise to use him more in ‘17. But T.J. Watt was playing terrific as a rookie. Was Tomlin supposed to bench the 23-year-old All-Rookie phenom for the 39-year-old has-been?

Feeling obligated to make promises to Harrison was problematic in the first place. But Harrison has had the benefit of everybody in the Steelers organization being scared of him, from the owner down to the ballboy (and especially the coach).

That was by design. Harrison is a bully. He profits by fear. That works on the football field. It’s low-rent anywhere else.

Harrison wants to work in the media. He’s dabbled, but stinks because his charisma is negative and menacing. Harrison’s only way to be relevant and to stay on football’s periphery is to say outrageous things. He gets to fool himself a bit longer.

Harrison should never be allowed to set foot in Heinz Field again. Not unless he buys a ticket. If Harrison does that, he will probably intimidate the ushers.

Put Harrison in the Hall of Honor. His performance merits. But exclude Harrison from the ceremony. Mention him in the news release.

How is Tomlin supposed to shake Harrison’s hand in a situation like that, or even acknowledge him? He’d be embarrassed.

In 2018, Harrison returned to Heinz Field for a reunion of the ’08 Super Bowl championship team. That wasn’t long after Harrison conned his way to New England and after the shenanigans involving Bell and Brown. Why wouldn’t Harrison think he’s bigger than Tomlin, and bigger than the logo?

But he isn’t. He’s not one of the top 10 Steelers ever, and maybe not top 20.

Harrison is a bad person.

Remember his domestic abuse case? His conduct was embarrassingly excused by Dan Rooney. Rooney said what Harrison “was trying to do was really well worth it. (Harrison) wanted to take his son to get baptized.” It’s the only time the late Steelers owner looked stupid.

Harrison is an ingrate.

He’s forgotten what Rooney did. He’s forgotten he only started eight games in four years under Bill Cowher, then Tomlin cut Joey Porter and gave Harrison a shot. He’s forgotten that before the Steelers provided opportunity, Harrison was an undrafted free agent who got cut so many times it’s a wonder he didn’t bleed to death.

When somebody tells you what he is, believe him. Harrison has told the Steelers what he is many times. This should be one time too many.

The Steelers should disown Harrison. They should disconnect.

They won’t. The fear factor is too strong. Harrison will return to Heinz Field. The idiot fans will cheer him. Maybe Tomlin will corral Harrison for another selfie.