Jason La Canfora of NFL.com says that after James Harrison’s rants in Men’s Journal regarding Roger Goodell, Ben Roethlisberger, Rashard Mendenhall, and a host of other topics, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is just the man to clean up the mess.
Tomlin has done a tremendous job shepherding his team through what have been tumultuous offseasons. He commands universal respect throughout the Steelers’ locker room, and he’s direct and unequivocal in how he addresses situations like this. Tomlin also has a long history with Harrison and knows the linebacker well, so he’s uniquely equipped to handle this drama.
Right. I’ve listened to a fair amount of talk radio on this topic, and I don’t think too many people in Pittsburgh are concerned about potential damage Harrison’s comments might do in the Steelers’ locker room. To the extent that there’s concern, it’s mostly about what the NFL’s reaction will be.
The La Canfora piece, by the way, compares Harrison to former Red Sox, Indians and Dodgers slugger Manny Ramirez, which is a good analogy. When asked about Harrison’s comments about him, Mendenhall waved them off, saying, “I know him.” It sounds like the Steelers know not to take Harrison’s comments too seriously. Now, Roger Goodell, on the other hand …
For more on the James Harrison brouhaha, stay tuned to this storystream.