| We’re back and while we were away we saw a car with a state license plate, an official state license plate, that showed the driver’s support for Auburn University. That’s fine, of course – except it was a Georgia plate. Auburn is in Alabama. The plate was from Georgia. How is this possible? |
| NFC EAST |
| DALLASTodd Archer of ESPN.com on what’s bugging QB DAK PRESCOTT: – Dak Prescott is entering his 10th season as the Dallas Cowboys quarterback. Only Troy Aikman has had a longer run at the position in franchise history. Aikman and Roger Staubach are also the only two quarterbacks that have won a Super Bowl with the Cowboys. Prescott, who turns 32 next month, is determined to join them but not to cement any kind of legacy. “Yeah, I want to win a championship,” Prescott said when the Cowboys concluded their offseason program Thursday. “The legacy, the things, whatever comes after I finish playing will take care of itself. I want to win a championship. Be damned if it’s just for my legacy, or if it’s for this team, for my personal being, for my sanity. Yeah, the legacy will take care of itself. I have to stay where my feet are.” Prescott has delivered the Cowboys to the playoffs five times. The Cowboys have had the best record in the conference one time — his rookie year in 2016 — and played on wild-card weekend the other four times but have not gotten to the NFC Championship Game. Prescott has a 2-5 playoff record. For the Cowboys to have that chance, Prescott, who was the runner-up in the MVP voting in 2023 when Dallas finished 12-5 for the third straight season, has to remain healthy. He has missed games due to injury in four of the past five seasons, including nine last year after needing surgery to repair a hamstring avulsion as the Cowboys finished 7-10. He went through the entire offseason program without an issue and will be fully cleared for contact when training camp begins in Oxnard, California, on July 22. “These OTAs, just the way that I’ve been seeing minicamp, the communication with [head coach Brian Schottenheimer], with the quarterbacks or the quarterback room, just a lot of good things,” Prescott said. “A lot of really good things that have me in a great place. I’m healthy. Excited as hell.” Schottenheimer was asked if there are specific statistics or metrics to measure Prescott’s success, and he simply said, “wins.” Their conversations have not talked about legacy at all. “We just talk about what it takes to win, work ethic, the sacrifice you have to make to win,” Schottenheimer said. “That’s relevant in any field you’re in. … This is one of the hardest working players I’ve ever been around, Dak.” Prescott and the Cowboys should actually first worry about appearing the championship game, much less winning a Super Bowl or conference championship. They have not been to the NFC Championship Game since Aikman was the QB. This from Google AI: The Dallas Cowboys last appeared in an NFC Championship Game during the 1995 NFL season, which culminated in a game on January 14, 1996, where they defeated the Green Bay Packers. This victory propelled them to Super Bowl XXX, which they also won. Since then, the Cowboys have not returned to the NFC Championship game, making their current drought the longest in the NFC. The Commanders recently ended their own drought, leaving the Cowboys with the dubious distinction of having the longest active streak of not appearing in a conference championship game. Well, the Houston Texans, who only date to 2002, have also not made a championship game in that time frame – so no Texas teams in a championship game in 30 years. |
| WASHINGTONJeff Kerr of CBSSports.com isn’t excited by WR TERRY McLAURIN’s holdout: Commanders will not have Terry McLaurin on roster at start of seasonOverreaction or reality: OverreactionTerry McLaurin is holding out over a contract dispute, as he’s entering the final year of his contract. Due a significant raise, McLaurin currently has a base salary of $15.5 million with a cap hit of $25.5 million — the final year of a three-year, $68.4 million deal. This is typical business between McLaurin and the Commanders, as both sides went through a similar situation prior to McLaurin’s last extension. The Commanders don’t seem too concerned about it, but the market has certainly changed since McLaurin’s last extension. Is McLaurin worth $30 million a year after coming off a career-high 13 touchdowns? McLaurin finally has a quarterback who can get him the ball consistently and allow him to put up numbers worthy of what a $30 million wide receiver makes. The Commanders would be foolish to let this holdout drag on. Good chance this holdout ends sooner rather than later. |
| NFC SOUTH |
| ATLANTAJeff Kerr of CBSSports.com does not see a market for the services of QB KIRK COUSINS: Kirk Cousins will be a backup quarterback in 2025Overreaction or reality: Reality Kirk Cousins reported to Falcons mandatory minicamp after Atlanta couldn’t find a trade partner for him. While Cousins is “moving forward” as the backup quarterback to Michael Penix Jr., that may be his role for all of 2025. The Falcons could release Cousins, but they would have $50 million in dead money and a $10 million cap hit if Cousins were released. If Cousins isn’t in Atlanta, where would he start? The best option would be the Saints, but the Falcons certainly wouldn’t trade him to a division rival. The Browns already have five quarterbacks and Aaron Rodgers is with the Pittsburgh Steelers. There’s just nowhere for Cousins to start but New Orleans. The Falcons simply aren’t releasing him at this stage in the game. Injuries happen though, and what if one happens to a top QB early in the season – a top QB on a team without a capable backup? A top QB other than QB BAKER MAYFIELD in the NFC South? |
| AFC WEST |
| LOS ANGELES CHARGERSJenna West of The Athletic on the new, healthier 2025 model of Jim Harbaugh: Los Angeles Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh said he had successful hip replacement surgery and a cardiac ablation during the offseason. “Now the doctors can’t find anything wrong with me,” Harbaugh said at Tuesday’s minicamp. “Got an ‘A’ grade.” Harbaugh’s health update comes after he exited a Week 6 game against the Denver Broncos last year while dealing with atrial flutter, a type of arrhythmia. The 61-year-old left in the first quarter and initially entered Los Angeles’ medical tent before heading to the locker room for treatment, which included an IV and an EKG. He returned to the sideline in the first quarter and coached the remainder of the game. After the Chargers’ 23-16 win over the Broncos, Harbaugh said it was his third atrial flutter episode. He had one in 1999 as a player and another while coaching for the San Francisco 49ers in 2012. Harbaugh said he received an ablation to treat each of those two episodes. A cardiac ablation is a procedure that “uses heat or cold energy to create tiny scars in the heart,” according to the Mayo Clinic. Those scars “block faulty heart signals and restore a typical heartbeat.” Harbaugh saw a cardiologist after the Broncos game. The coach had to wear a heart monitor for two weeks and was placed on medication. This offseason, Harbaugh also underwent a hip replacement after walking with a significant limp for years. He did not provide any additional details on the procedure at minicamp Tuesday and said “everything’s good” when asked about his offseason health updates. |
| AFC NORTH |
| CINCINNATIWhy is EDGE SHEMAR STEWART so made with the Bengals? Jayna Bardahl and Paul Dehner, Jr. of The Athletic: With Cincinnati Bengals’ first-round pick Shemar Stewart publicly expressing his displeasure with contract negotiations, and then leaving mandatory minicamp on Thursday over his unsigned deal, a rare rookie contract dispute looks to be brewing in Cincinnati. Of course, the Bengals’ history in this department is at play — star edge rusher Trey Hendrickson is in a contract extension standoff with the organization, while Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins have resolved prior disputes. However, rookie contract issues are especially rare occurrences since the introduction of the rookie wage scale in 2011. Beginning with that year’s collective bargaining agreement, rookie salaries have been fixed within a pre-established pay scale. The value of those contracts varies depending on when a player is selected in the draft, and all drafted rookies are signed to four-year deals (teams have a fifth-year option on first-rounders). Essentially, the wage scale nixed negotiations and holdouts over rookie contracts, as was the case two years prior with the San Francisco 49ers’ No. 10 pick Michael Crabtree, who missed training camp and the first month of the regular season based on the belief that he should have been paid like a higher draft pick. But even with a wage scale in place, there have been outliers. Defensive end Joey Bosa’s contract dispute with the then-San Diego Chargers is perhaps the most notable of the post-rookie wage scale era. Bosa was selected with the No. 3 pick by the Chargers in 2016, but remained unsigned for over a month after he was scheduled to report to the team on July 29, reportedly due to offset language and the timing of his signing bonus. Shortly after signing his contract, Bosa injured his hamstring and missed the first four games, though he went on to win defensive rookie of the year and was a five-time Pro Bowler with the Chargers. In 2018, Chicago Bears rookie linebacker Roquan Smith missed the first two preseason games and 16 practices amid a contract holdout. That dispute centered around a new rule penalizing players who used their helmets to initiate a hit. Smith, selected with the No. 8 pick out of Georgia, ultimately signed a contract that protected his guaranteed money if he were to be suspended by the league for an illegal helmet hit. Stewart is one of four first-round 2025 draftees who have yet to sign their rookie contracts — the Jacksonville Jaguars’ No. 2 pick Travis Hunter and the Denver Broncos’ No. 20 pick Jahdae Barron are the others. There’s not much cause for alarm bells in those cases, as plenty of rookies don’t sign until closer to training camps, though a large majority of second-round picks also seem to be lagging this year. The Houston Texans signed rookie wide receiver Jayden Higgins to the first fully guaranteed contract for a second-round draft pick last month. Shortly after, the Cleveland Browns signed second-round linebacker Carson Schwesinger to a fully guaranteed deal. Schwesinger and Higgins were the first and second picks of the second round, respectively, and since then, no other second-round pick has signed their rookie deal, per Spotrac, perhaps in hopes of following the new precedent. But the hostility from Stewart and the Bengals is a unique circumstance. The estimated value for Stewart, selected at No. 17, is $18.94 million, per Spotrac’s rookie wage scale estimations. “I’m 100 percent right,” Stewart said earlier this week. “I’m not asking for nothing y’all have never done before. But in y’all case, y’all just want to win an argument instead of winning more games.” What makes Stewart’s situation different?The central piece of the issue between Stewart and the Bengals lives in a phrase regarding what happens with guaranteed money should Stewart default on the contract. Some version of default language exists in every first-round contract. In this case, the language the Bengals used in 2023 for first-round pick Myles Murphy regarding the clause was different than what they used in 2024 for Amarius Mims (who signed his rookie contract on July 22, 2024). They are attempting to change it again this time for Stewart, the main point of contention. The default language they are trying to use is common among NFL teams. For reference, they offered Stewart the same language as the pick before (Arizona Cardinals’ Walter Nolen) and after (Seattle Seahawks’ Grey Zabel), according to a league source. The Bengals generally structure guarantees differently than the majority of the rest of the league, so that matters in terms of comparing their language to other teams using it. The biggest difference between Stewart and the rest of the first-round picks was his refusal to sign the practice waiver. Each of the remaining unsigned picks entering this week had practiced despite not having a completed contract. The waiver protected them against any injury. Stewart did not and instead chose to sit out. —– – – Meanwhile, the Bengals have resumed contract talks with once estranged EDGE TREY HENDRICKSON. Ben Baby of ESPN.com: For the first time in several months, there is some optimism surrounding Trey Hendrickson’s future with the Bengals. The two sides have resumed communication on his contract and future with the team, sources told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler on Sunday. Hendrickson, who is coming off an All-Pro season and was the NFL’s sack leader with 17.5 in 2024, says he remains steadfast in his desire for a long-term contract extension. But this is a positive turn in what has been a fierce stalemate. Hendrickson did not participate in any of the team’s offseason workouts, including last week’s mandatory minicamp. By missing the three-day session, Hendrickson was subject to fines of nearly $105,000. The only time Hendrickson made an appearance this offseason was to hold an extended news conference with reporters to explain his side of the negotiation process. In those comments, Hendrickson repeatedly took umbrage with the lack of communication between himself and the Bengals in contract talks. “When there’s a lack of communication in any relationship, where it’s a business or personal relationship, lack of communication leads to animosity, and that leaves my narrative only to me with no clear direction,” Hendrickson said May 13 when asked about whether he wants to remain with the Bengals. |
| PITTSBURGHJeff Kerr of CBSSports.com is buying that QB AARON RODGERS is a significant upgrade at quarterback for the Steelers: Steelers are a 10-win team with Aaron RodgersOverreaction or reality: RealityAaron Rodgers took part in the Steelers’ minicamp this week, signing just in time to take place in the most vital portion of the team’s spring workouts. While Rodgers finally put pen to paper last week, it appeared he has been in the Steelers’ plans for a while. Whether Rodgers is still elite or not is irrelevant; he’s better than any quarterback Pittsburgh had on the roster. The Steelers also have a some playmakers on offense in Jaylen Warren, DK Metcalf and Robert Woods — along with an improving offensive line. Their defense also should be a top-10 unit (and likely will get the T.J. Watt holdout resolved sooner rather than later). Pittsburgh isn’t elite, but this team is good enough to make the playoffs (the Steelers did make it last year with the Russell Wilson-Justin Fields combination). They should win 10 games with Rodgers at quarterback (if he stays healthy).– – -With Rodgers in the fold, attention turns to the contract situation of EDGE T.J. WATT. Mike DeFabo of The Athletic: T.J. Watt, DE, Pittsburgh SteelersThe Steelers star is entering the final year of his contract and did not report for Day 1 of minicamp on Tuesday. He also skipped Pittsburgh’s six OTAs over the previous two weeks. How concerning is this?It’s certainly not a good thing that a Steelers team that wants to win with defense is missing its co-captain and best all-around player. But the Steelers have been down this path before. In 2021, Watt “held in” during training camp and didn’t agree to terms until the Thursday ahead of the season opener. Both sides have a strong desire to reach an agreement, something that GM Omar Khan and coach Mike Tomlin have reiterated on several occasions. That said, this is also a tricky negotiation. Watt is one of the NFL’s best defensive players, but he’s also 30 years old. Not often does a player reset the market with his third deal. But that’s exactly what Cleveland’s Myles Garrett did just a few months ago when he signed a contract extension that pays him $40 million annually. The other significant factor is guaranteed money. The Steelers don’t often like to give out guarantees after the first year. Watt broke this precedent in 2021, getting his first three years guaranteed, and may want extra injury insurance at this stage of his career. — Mike DeFabo, Steelers beat writer How and when might this end?The Steelers have a history of dragging out contract talks and waiting until the 11th hour to reach an agreement. Just last season, defensive co-captain Cameron Heyward and tight end Pat Freiermuth were up for extensions. While neither player held out, it took until just days before the opener for both players to sign. Given the way those negotiations unfolded and Watt’s history with hold ins, odds are Watt will agree to a new contract that includes several years of guaranteed money sometime after the final preseason game and before the season opener. The question is, how many years will the Steelers guarantee, and does Watt become the NFL’s new highest-paid defensive player, surpassing Garrett? — DeFabo |
| AFC SOUTH |
| INDIANAPOLISJeff Kerr of CBSSports.com with these thoughts on the Colts QB situation: Anthony Richardson won’t be Colts starter come Week 1Overreaction or reality: OverreactionThe odds certainly aren’t in Anthony Richardson’s favor of being the starting quarterback to start the season, not after the latest injury that has kept him out of minicamp. Richardson was shut down May 29 after an aggravation to the AC joint in his throwing shoulder — the same one that required season-ending surgery in 2023. Daniel Jones has been taking the first-team reps in minicamp and has been throwing well, but the Colts are going to give a top-five pick every opportunity to make the roster. Richardson hasn’t performed well, but health has been his biggest deterrent since entering the league. If Richardson is healthy, he has the opportunity to start Week 1 — and likely will begin the season as the starter. Jones will get the chance to start if Richardson struggles, but Richardson has to be healthy first and foremost. That’s not a given right now. And, as Jason Owens of YahooSports.com reports, Richardson will be ready for camp: It sounds like the Anthony Richardson-Daniel Jones quarterback competition will go forward as planned. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Friday that Richardson is expected to be healthy and ready for the start of Indianapolis Colts training camp after suffering a second injury to his throwing shoulder during offseason drills. “He is expected to be fine by training camp,” Rapoport said. |
| AFC EAST |
| NEW ENGLANDKaren Guregian provides YahooSports.com with this report on 5 reasons for optimism, and five reasons for pessimism, about the 2025 Patriots. WR STEFON DIGGS appears on both lists: So after watching a handful of Patriots OTA practices and a condensed version of minicamp, there’s elements to be encouraged about, and others not so much. 5 reasons for optimism 1. Stefon DiggsSeven months removed from ACL surgery on his knee, it’s truly remarkable how good Diggs looks when he’s on the field. Watching how well he changed direction this early in the rehab process, how much speed he exhibited is a bit mind-blowing. Whether he’s available for the season-opener, or the team takes a more cautious approach is an important storyline to monitor during training camp. Off-field issues aside, Diggs has been a model citizen when he’s been at the workouts. He’s engaged, invested in helping the younger receivers, has been joined at the hip with Josh McDaniels going over plays. He also seems to have hit it off with Drake Maye. By the sound of it, he had Maye at hello. “He seems like an awesome teammate. He’s my locker mate, one down from beside me. We talk all the time,” Maye said of Diggs. He’s a veteran in this league. He’s made a lot of plays, played in a lot of big-time games. Just an awesome voice for the receiver room, for this offense.” 2. Drake MayeHow can there be optimism with a quarterback who threw four picks the first open OTA practice? Because it’s a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately world. Since that forgettable practice, Maye has looked better and better each time out. The first mandatory mini-camp practice was his best, and it was especially encouraging because Maye seemed to have a better handle on Josh McDaniels offense. It’s still not perfect. But Maye quickly got up off the mat, brushed himself off, and has been making strides ever since. “He does a really good job of listening,” McDaniels said. “When you go out there the next time and see the same kind of look or the same problem the defense presents to you, he’s a quick study on that, and that’s a good thing for a young player.” His comfort level growing. Maye even told the media he didn’t want to take a break. “I’m starting to find a stride,” he said. “Bummed we’re about to leave.” 3. Offensive rookiesWill Campbell, TreVeyon Henderson and undrafted rookie Efton Chisolm III have stood out in the early camps. While it’s too early to know if Campbell will be able to handle NFL pass rushers, his footwork is obvious. He held his own working against Keion White and K’Lavon Chaisson. He didn’t win every battle, but never looked overmatched against outside moves, or spin moves to the inside. If he got beaten, he worked to get better against that particular move the next time out. Also love how he’s embraced Morgan Moses’ offensive line tutorial sessions after workouts. Second-round RB Henderson showed incredible burst and elusiveness with his quick moves. He caught the ball well, and came as advertised with his ability in blitz pick-up. Running backs coach Tony Dews is already a fan. “He’s a smart, smart football player. He understands football, he understands concepts, and we are trying to take advantage of his skill set,” running backs coach Tony Dews said. “We knew he had a specific skill set when he was drafted, and we’re trying to get out of him what we can get out of him. Whatever we ask him to do, he’s been willing to do it.” Undrafted Chisolm, meanwhile, has been the darling of camp. His route-running and ability to make quick cuts were noticeable. He took advantage of receivers (Diggs, Mack Hollins) being out. He was more productive earlier, than late in minicamp. Third-round rookie Kyle Williams has flashed at times, but hasn’t been as consistent as the rest. 4. Defensive frontThe group up front looks like it’s going to be a formidable force. Typically, Harold Landry, Christian Barmore, Milton Williams, and Keion White represented the front-four on the first unit. Barmore, who dealt with blood clots last season, looks like he’s trimmed down, and says he feels great. That was evident watching him pursue plays during practice. He and Williams should generate a ton of pressure from the interior on passing downs. White has been inspired with the new coaching staff, while Landry said he’s been energized coming to New England and re-uniting with Vrabel. “This is an exciting group to be around and I’m excited going into the season because you look at it, and you just feel the excitement,” Landry said. “You go out there knowing everyone has that play-making ability. That’s exciting to be a part of.” 5. Mike VrabelHe’s vocal, been involved with every group, takes part in the drills and engages one-on-one with players. His hands-on approach has clicked with players. Beyond that, the practices were fiercely competitive and full of energy. Vrabel had them going at a good clip. There also isn’t much question who’s in charge. “The culture’s different here,” DeMario “Pop” Douglas said after an OTA practice. “I love it. Vrabel’s a players’ coach, and he’s on the field with us. We’ve got a head coach that’s on the field with us, man. It’s different. You can tell he’s very in tune to what we’re doing and wants us to be better.” Vrabel’s handling of Diggs, who posted a questionable party video on social media, has been interesting. Vrabel hasn’t been pleased by Diggs off-field approach, not making smart decisions and missing workouts, even if voluntary. And based on remarks made by the receiver during the week, the message was received. 5 reasons to worry 1. Stefon DiggsHe obviously won a spot in Vrabel’s dog house with the viral video showing him on a party boat with bikini-clad women, flashing an unidentified and highly suspicious pink substance. While Diggs has impressed during practices he’s attended, there’s not much doubt he’s a wild card in terms of toeing the line. Airing that video wasn’t smart. It remains to be seen how much of a disruptive force he’ll be, or how much Vrabel is willing to put up with. 2. Left guardHaving a question mark at an offensive line position is never a good thing. After placing G Wes Schweitzer on the reserve/retired list, the Pats starting left guard is an unknown heading into training camp. Schweitzer was in the mix along with fourth-year pro Cole Strange, so the veteran being placed on the reserve list merely provides more uncertainty. Strange, who worked out at center last year, now appears to be the leader in the clubhouse. Beyond Strange, tackle Caedan Wallace has taken some reps at left guard. We’ve also seen Sidy Sow, Layden Robinson, Jared Wilson, Tyrese Robinson and undrafted rookie Jack Conley. Ultimately, they’re hoping for someone to emerge. 3. Terrell WilliamsPatriots defensive coordinator Terrell Williams has been away from the team due to a health issue. It’s unknown when he’ll return. He’s been communicating via Zoom. In the interim, inside linebackers coach Zak Kuhr has taken on more responsibility. “I’m just an extension of T and Vrabes and echoing that message to the unit,” Kuhr said during his recent media availability. “T and I meet every single day, we talk every single day, we Zoom. We’re always on the same page. Really it’s just my voice is the one doing it. There’s a little extra stuff with how practice goes. But, for the most part, I’m just an extension of him.” Kuhr was actually an offensive coordinator at Texas State before making the switch to defense after joining the Tennessee Titans. While Williams believes Kuhr is going to be “a superstar in this league” he has no experience as a defensive coordinator. Of course, Mike Vrabel is still around to oversee. It’s just not an optimal situation. 4. Anfernee JenningsJennings, a 2020 third-round pick out of Alabama, took some time to develop, but in recent years, emerged as one of the NFL’s better run defenders. Outside of Christian Gonzalez, the bright spots on defense have been few and far between in recent years. Jennings, an outside linebacker, has performed well and helped keep the unit afloat. During OTAs and minicamp, however, Jennings appears to have fallen way down the depth chart. He’s been nowhere near the first unit. Or the second unit. His precipitous drop is curious, to say the least. He doesn’t fall into the leader category, with most captains from the recent past being shipped out. Based on his usage, or lack thereof, Jennings could be a prime cut candidate. 5. AttendanceWhile Stefon Diggs’ absence from the voluntary workouts has gotten most of the ink, there was another high profile player who also skipped a few of the workouts. Carlton Davis III, who received a huge contract (3 years, $54 million with a $16.5 million signing bonus) to play for the Patriots, wasn’t around much. He and Christian Gonzalez figure to be one of the best cornerback duos in the league. Gonzalez, in fact, has arguably been the best player during the early camps. Up until minicamp, Davis was largely invisible. His absence, even during voluntary workouts, isn’t a good look especially going to a new team, and being paid a fortune. |
| THIS AND THAT |
| JAMES HARRISONDan Pompei of The Athletic brings us up-to-date on James Harrison, once the most feared man in football. It’s a longer story which we pick up when he makes the Steelers: Harrison earned a roster spot and made his name on special teams. It wasn’t long before Harrison began to live like he played — without brakes. Harrison raced his Suzuki GSX R-1000 at 195 miles per hour on I-76. Cruising speed, he says, was 130. Flashing lights didn’t slow him either. “If I pass you at 160, you’re going to have to catch me at 160,” he says. “I’d pull off, park my bike and have somebody bring me a change of clothes.” He followed the lead of his OGs from the restaurants to the nightclubs to the after-hours parties. They hit it hard until it was almost time for a 7 a.m. workout, which he did not miss. Vodka was his go-to, not for flavor but potency. “I drank to get drunk,” he says. “If I got into the club and the cats are already there, and I needed to get where they were, I need six shots. Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom.” He was at the center of his universe, and the only time that mattered was now. Promiscuity became a way of life. “The more, the merrier,” Harrison says. The concept of saving money was beyond him. When he signed a three-year, $4 million deal with a $1 million signing bonus in 2005, he thought he was rich. After spending lavishly on partying, eating out, buying one house for himself and another house for his parents, cars for himself and his father, expensive rims and audio equipment, he realized he was almost broke. Then teammate Duce Staley showed Harrison one of his biweekly paychecks. The star running back made more in two weeks than Harrison’s $225,000 yearly salary. In 2007, Harrison turned 29. He had never been an NFL starter. And then a revelation hit him with the kind of force with which he usually hit a flashy kick returner. “I said I got to get right,” he says. “It came down to the realization that I used my body to make money, and the longer I could have my body healthy, the longer I could make money.” In 2007, Harrison stopped drinking for the most part. When pressured by teammates, he gave the bartender his credit card and told him to give him water disguised as vodka or tequila. “I had them thinking I did 10 shots of tequila when I did 10 shots of water,” he says. “They’d say, ‘How you doing it?’ I’d say, ‘This is what I do, dude.’” He put together a team of specialists for naturopathic medicine, acupuncture, dry needling, cupping, IVs, chiropractic work and myofascial work — eventually he would spend up to $600,000 a year on health and recovery, paying for some of the specialists to travel to him regularly from Arizona, Detroit, Ohio and New York. Finally, he became a starter. Wearing wristbands that helped him remember assignments, Harrison had 8 1/2 sacks and seven forced fumbles for first-year head coach Mike Tomlin, making the first of five consecutive Pro Bowls. He was unlike any other pass rusher in the NFL. “Being a short linebacker, he was like a bowling ball,” Steelers teammate Troy Polamalu says. “Impossible to block.” “It wasn’t natural talent,” says former teammate and current ESPN commentator Ryan Clark. “He didn’t have the long arms, he wasn’t running a 4.4 or 4.5 in the 40, he wasn’t cat quick. Everything was tenacity, intimidation and an unstoppable belief that he was the baddest human on earth. “There was so much that went into him being as great as he was that had nothing to do with the physical.” His effort, once questioned by his Pee Wee coach, became preternatural. Polamalu says Harrison, who wore a weighted vest in practice, may have been the hardest-working teammate he ever had. Harrison never wanted to come off the field, continuing to contribute on special teams long after he was an established starter. “When you are cut as many times as he was, told you’re not good enough as many times as he was, there’s only one way you feel you can make it,” Clark says. “He was inspiring with the way he worked before practice, after practice and the intensity he had during practice. Nobody did what James was willing to do.” Harrison had 16 sacks in 2008, when he was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year and made one of the greatest plays in Super Bowl history after intercepting a Kurt Warner pass in Super Bowl XLIII. Harrison improvised on the play, surprising Warner by dropping into coverage when he was supposed to rush. Then, at 276 pounds, he outran the entire Cardinals offense, going 100 yards before barely making it to the end zone, where he collapsed on his back. Defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau called it the most outstanding defensive play he’s seen. By then, Harrison was known as the most intimidating defender in the game and a classic representative of his franchise’s ethos, a destroyer in the line of Ernie Stautner, Mean Joe Greene and Jack Lambert. In 2010, though, it became clear the edge he played with had two sides, and he began taking punishment as well as giving. They say intent can’t be judged, but he didn’t hide his. He was on record saying he wanted to tackle his opponents so violently that they couldn’t play again that day. There were controversial hits to Vince Young, Mohamed Massaquoi, Drew Brees, Jason Campbell and Ryan Fitzpatrick. Harrison was teammates with Josh Cribbs at Kent State, but he laid him out so brutally that even Harrison’s mother took exception, slapping him on the head. The NFL fined him $125,000 that season. Even as Harrison reigned as the most feared player in the NFL, he was becoming a loving father. Near the end of Harrison’s breakout 2007 season, James III came along as a surprise. Harrison and the baby’s mother, Beth Tibbott, wanted James III to have a sibling, so Henry was born two years later. When James III was a baby, Harrison and Tibbott argued. Police said Harrison broke through her bedroom door, slapped her in the face and snapped her cell phone in half. An assault charge followed. He underwent anger management and psychological counseling. Tibbott, a criminal defense attorney who declined an interview request for this story through a representative, didn’t want to pursue the case. Charges were dropped. “It was a learning experience, God’s plan,” Harrison says. “Without that, maybe I don’t become the person I am today. I wish it hadn’t happened. If I were the man I am today, I would have de-escalated that real fast.” Being a father was never in Harrison’s plans. He knew children require time and love, and feared what they could take from him. And take they did — over time, his selfishness was uprooted, replaced by responsibility, compromise, patience and purpose. “His ability to empathize, love and soften — as much as James can soften — all came from being a father,” Clark says. “He’s still Deebo, though, and that’s kind of cool.” Harrison is convinced he wouldn’t be alive if not for his sons. When one of his kids says, “I love you,” his response is, “I love you more.” He has shown it partly by trying to provide for their future. Harrison became a saver and proprietor of residential real estate. “I’m secondary to everything they have going on, and it’s a blessing,” he says. James III, 17, is a football player who bears a resemblance to his father in personality and build. Lankier Henry, 15, also plays football and runs the 100-meter dash, long jumps and high jumps. The boys split time between Harrison and Tibbott’s homes, but the four of them function as a family. “We’re all together,” Harrison says. That includes Henry’s bearded dragon and James III’s banana ball python, who recently escaped and went missing in Harrison’s house for six months until Harrison found him. He has drawn attention for his parenting style, which includes eschewing unearned awards and keeping no secrets. “We give trophies for everything, and it makes kids feel entitled to getting something for doing nothing,” says Harrison, who auctioned off a Patriots AFC Championship Game ring after he played four games for them during the 2017 season. It had no value to him because he thought he didn’t earn it. The ring had value to someone else, as it sold for $18,600. For most of his life, Harrison’s faith had been like an oil reservoir — beneath the surface and untapped. As a child, he went to church on Easter and for funerals, that’s it. He did it for his grandmother Willie Pearl Massey, whom he calls a “holy roller.” When she died in 2004, he had prayer hands tattooed on his shoulder in her honor. His only prayers were before games with teammates, and then he did it selfishly, he says, to avoid injury. During training camp with the Steelers, Harrison’s dorm room was across the hall from Polamalu’s, and they spent a lot of time together. To Harrison’s annoyance, their conversations were mostly about what Polamalu wanted to discuss — spiritual matters. Polamalu, a Greek Orthodox, had a red cross sewn on the back of his jersey. He told Harrison the sisters at the Nativity of Theotokos Monastery in Saxonburg, Pa., did it for him for his protection. Harrison asked him if the sisters would sew black crosses on the backs of his jerseys. They did. Polamalu started calling him “Iakovos,” James in Greek. About two years ago, Harrison started wondering what his purpose was. Then he started going to church. Tibbott and the boys followed. The three of them were baptized. Harrison waited. The truth is, he was scared. “You know what I was afraid of?” he says. “I was afraid something was gonna come up out of me.” Finally, in August of last year, in a ceremony at Victory Family Church in Cranberry, Pa., with his mother, sons, Tibbott, Armstead and another friend in attendance, Harrison took the plunge. But instead of something coming out of him, something went into him. He calls it peace. “It’s something I know I wouldn’t have without that relationship,” he says. “And the more I understand and build my relationship with (God), the more peaceful it is.” Now, Harrison calls Armstead and Polamalu to talk about his faith. Armstead says there is less ego, harshness and anger in his friend. Polamalu says Harrison is allowing more people to see what’s beneath his shell. At 4 a.m., about the time he used to order his last vodka of the night, Harrison starts his day by reading a devotional, then posting it for his 1.4 million followers on Instagram and 432,000 followers on Facebook. “I was going to stop posting them,” he says. “Then there was a voice I heard. ‘You need to do this — you don’t know who it may help.’” Harrison believes he has discovered his purpose. But if his heart has softened, the rest of him has not. On his 44th birthday, Harrison loaded up 44 plates weighing 45 pounds each on the sled and moved 2,025 pounds as if he were returning a few shopping carts to the corral. On his 45th birthday, he bench-pressed 545 pounds. He may try to break that personal record in July. At 265 pounds, the 47-year-old Harrison looks no different from when he played. He thinks his jacket size is either a 52 or a 54. The tailors from the Pro Football Hall of Fame may make that determination someday. Harrison’s superiority over about five years suggests he may one day be fitted for the gold jacket that inductees like Polamalu wear. “At his peak, I don’t think there was anybody more dominant in the history of the game,” Polamalu says. “I might have to put Aaron Donald up there, too. But James was taking on sometimes four guys and still almost making a tackle.” When Harrison started his first NFL game 20 years ago, his father told Mildred their son would be a Hall of Famer. Harrison Sr. died in 2016, but James would like to make his dad proud one more time by wearing the jacket he believes he has earned. What else is left? Harrison wants to see his sons grow up to be the kind of men his father was. He wants to hold their children. He would like to go further down the road he began walking last August when he was baptized. And step into a ring with Ochocinco? Twenty years ago, maybe even 10 years ago, he would have made Ocho rue every word and left him in 85 pieces. But things are different now. If Ocho keeps coming at Harrison, no doubt the Deebo will come out of him. But that doesn’t mean he wants to fight. “Dude,” he says. “The older I get, let it go.” |
