Keith Srakocic/Associated Press
The New England Patriots are "expected to sign" free-agent linebacker James Harrison after the 15-year veteran was released by the Pittsburgh Steelers on Dec. 23, according to ESPN's Field Yates.
Harrison confirmed the signing by posting an Instagram photo with Tom Brady:
Harrison signed a two-year deal with the Steelers prior to the 2017 season, but he didn't see the field often.
At 39 years old, the five-time Pro Bowler was limited to five appearances over the Steelers' first 14 games. He managed one sack and three tackles while playing 40 defensive snaps.
Of course, that minor role wasn't a major surprise given the emergence of pass-rushers T.J. Watt and Bud Dupree at outside linebacker.
"James knows I am going to put the interest of this group above anything else in terms of how we prepare, who we utilize and how we utilize them," head coach Mike Tomlin said in October, per 247Sports' Bryan DeArdo. "He is a competitor, he wants to be a central reason why we are successful. I know that. I also know he is a great team player. He always has been."
The Patriots shouldn't expect much from Harrison at this stage in his career.
But at the very least, the two-time Super Bowl champion should provide them with peace of mind off the edge since Dont'a Hightower (torn pectoral) and Shea McClellin (concussion) are done for the season and Kyle Van Noy has made scattered appearances on the injury report.
Beyond that, Harrison should be another quality addition to the Patriots locker room as they eye a Super Bowl repeat.
Don Wright/Associated Press
After being released by the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday, linebacker James Harrison reportedly met with the New England Patriots.
Per ESPN's Field Yates, Harrison is meeting with the Patriots on Tuesday at Gillette Stadium.
The Steelers released Harrison to make room on the roster for offensive tackle Marcus Gilbert, who was suspended four games for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances.
Pittsburgh gave Harrison a two-year contract extension in March after he recorded five sacks in 15 games during the 2016 season. The 39-year-old only appeared in five games this season. He recorded three combined tackles and one sack prior to his release.
The Patriots could use the extra depth at linebacker with Kyle Van Noy questionable with a calf injury heading into Week 17 against the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium.
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Linebacker James Harrison is no longer the odd man out or the oldest man in the locker room.
Harrison, the longtime Steelers star, signed a one-year deal with the New England Patriots on Tuesday, three days after his unceremonious departure from Pittsburgh.
Harrison, 39, posted a photo on Instagram showing himself with the 40-year-old Patriots quarterback Tom Brady in New England’s locker room, writing that he finally had “a teammate that’s older than me!”
The A.F.C. North champion Steelers released Harrison, a five-time Pro Bowl linebacker who was the N.F.L. defensive player of the year in 2008, on Saturday to make room for right tackle Marcus Gilbert, who was returning from a suspension for violating the league’s performance-enhancing substance policy.
“We make the decisions we feel give us the very best chance to win,” Steelers Coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday when asked why the team didn’t release a different player to make room for Gilbert. “We needed the people we kept. We needed to activate Marcus Gilbert. Really, it’s nothing more than that.”
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To make room for Harrison on their roster, the Patriots released linebacker Trevor Reilly.
Harrison, who is the Steelers’ career leader in sacks, piling up 80.5 during his 14 seasons and 82.5 during his career over all, briefly retired in September 2014 after a forgettable 2013 season with the Cincinnati Bengals. But he returned later that month when the Steelers ran into injury trouble.
