James Harrison mad at Goodell

[Bear Pand]

NEW YORK -- Heavily fined Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison calls NFL commissioner Roger Goodell a "crook" and a "devil," among other insults, in a magazine article.

“If that man was on fire and I had to piss to put him out, I wouldn't do it. I hate him and will never respect him.”

His other descriptions of the commissioner include an anti-gay slur, "stupid," "puppet" and "dictator."

If the Steelers had defeated the Green Bay Packers in the Super Bowl, Harrison said, he would have whispered in Goodell's ear during the trophy ceremony: "Why don't you quit and do something else, like start your own league in flag football?"

Harrison also criticizes other NFL execs, Patriots-turned-commentators Rodney Harrison and Tedy Bruschi ("clowns"), Houston's Brian Cushing ("juiced out of his mind") -- and even teammates Rashard Mendenhall and Ben Roethlisberger for their performances in the Super Bowl loss. Harrison questions whether a black player is punished more for a hard hit on a white player than the opposite.

Beyond the insults, Harrison makes some serious points about what he believes are the league's misguided attempts to increase safety. He explains how non-guaranteed contracts make players more likely to hit high, because in the short term, a torn knee ligament is more costly than a concussion.

And Harrison suggests the real way to prevent head injuries is to shorten the season to 14 games, start offseason workouts later and trim the length of training camp so "we're not bangin' heads so much in August; that's where the brain trauma comes from."

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/6...ne-interview?campaign=rss&source=NFLHeadlines

More quotables:

On the 2004 season:
“I should have another ring. We were the best team in football in 2004, but the Patriots, who we beat during the regular season, stole our signals and picked up 90 percent of our blitzes [in the AFC title game]. They got busted for it later, but, hey, they’re Goodell’s boys, so he slapped ‘em $500,000 and burned the tapes. Was he going to rescind their Super Bowls? Man, hell no!”

On the two interceptions thrown by Ben Roethlisberger in last year’s Super Bowl:
“Hey, at least throw a pick on their side of the field instead of asking the D to bail you out again. Or hand the ball off and stop trying to act like Peyton Manning. You ain’t that and you know it, man; you just get paid like he does.”

http://www.mensjournal.com/jamesharrison

 

[killgod]

LOL. Not enough people in the televised world call it like it is.

 

[Saluki]

This is news? Harrison hates everybody, not like he's ever made that a secret.

 

[Saluki]

Also big ben could reply "In that 2nd superbowl we won, if the D sacked 40 year old kurt warner in the 4th or kept Fitz from catching that 40 yard pass I wouldn't have had to bail you out with a 90 yard drive."

 

[Chrispy]

lol What a dumbass, way to throw ur QB under the bus. His comments are just irresponsible.

 

[j.hen]

Well I think he's mean.

 

[Tengo Juego]

:hemad:

 

[f16harm]

IMO, bitching about your QB and RB goes into the "you're just an asshole looking to start internal conflict" category. The other things...whatever, but opening the door to your own house and airing your thoughts, not cool.

 

[FirstTimer]

Cushing-esque roid rage.

 

[Bear Pand]

More

On Pittsburgh safety Troy Polamalu:
“He’s the one guy in football I respect absolutely, ‘cause he’s spiritual and lives it like he talks it. You know, he gets more flags than anyone on our team but never gets fined for nothin’. He’s so polite and talks so softly that he could tell he could tell Goodell to kiss his ass, and Goodell would smile and say thank you.”

"I slammed Vince Young on his head and paid five grand, but just touched Drew Brees and that was 20," Harrison said. "You think black players don't see this s--- and lose all respect for Goodell?"

 

[Yawkey Way]

On second thought, keep the lockout! I want more things like this happening!

 

[Senser81]

Harrison is right about Bruschi and Harrison being "clowns".

 

[EmpireWF]

I wonder what Tomlin will say to him whenever they're back in the same room together.

 

[Senser81]

I wonder what Tomlin will say to him whenever they're back in the same room together.

"Sup Foo'?"

 

[spiker]

If anyone has the right to call out Goodell about these stupid fines for hitting people, it's Harrison. There's no apparent rhyme or reason to the fines he's received.

 

[bucky]

LOL. Not enough people in the televised world call it like it is.

Harrison had ONE tackle in the SB. Maybe he shouldn't be so selective in "telling it like it is".

Chad Clifton Owned his ASS.

 

[killgod]

Harrison had ONE tackle in the SB. Maybe he shouldn't be so selective in "telling it like it is".

Chad Clifton Owned his ASS.

I don't care if he's selective, it's entertaining to hear these guys speak their unfiltered opinions instead of canned PR responses all the fuckin time.

 

[bucky]

I don't care if he's selective, it's entertaining to hear these guys speak their unfiltered opinions instead of canned PR responses all the fuckin time.

Entertaining, but disappointing. I wouldn't be to happy about it if I were a Steeler fan. Glad he's not on our Packer team (yeah I can say our, because I hold one of those useless stocks).

 

[killgod]

Entertaining, but disappointing. I wouldn't be to happy about it if I were a Steeler fan. Glad he's not on our Packer team (yeah I can say our, because I hold one of those useless stocks).

Disapointting? It comes off as a shock that pro athletes are morons who would publicly say shit like this?

Come on now.

As a rival of Pittsburgh, I say keep talking. I couldn't give a rat's ass about Steelers fans, sucks to be them if this hurts them and I'm all the more pleased by it.

 

[ralaw]

How is Goodell a "puppet" and a "dictator?" How does that work?
Harrison is an agry man who probably just needs a hug.