The Pittsburgh Steelers are welcoming back linebacker James Harrison this weekend but it’s not going to be the type of reunion that people may be looking for.
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While the Steelers need a linebacker after losing Jarvis Jones and Ryan Shazier, Harrison is going to be stepping up to fill the void. However, not everyone is hot on the reunion.
Scott Brown of ESPN.com passes along analysis from former general manager Mark Dominik that James Harrison’s effectiveness with the Steelers won’t be all that great.
"“I think you could see him play five to 10 snaps [in Week 4] in that limited pass-rush role. I think at the end of the day you’ll be lucky if James Harrison become a 20- to 25-snap guy. He knows what to do in the system, and that’s the No. 1 thing, it’s just that can he get his body to do it? That’s going to take a little bit of time.”"
It’s easy to hate Mark Dominik because he thought that hiring Greg Schiano was a good idea. But he has a good point about Harrison not making an impact with the Steelers. It’s a good story that Harrison is coming back to the Steelers but he’s not a young man anymore and there’s a reason he’s only being leaned on out of absolute desperate need.
Steelers fans are happy to have him back, no doubt, but they’re getting back an aged James Harrison and not the guy who returned that Super Bowl interception.