James Harrison has a strong opinion about T.J. Watt, a rookie his coach says will replace the 39-year-old at outside linebacker for the Steelers this season.
"He looks good, looks good," Harrison said Wednesday.
The 15th-year veteran then said that if outside linebackers coach Joey Porter wants to use him merely as a "relief pitcher" for Watt this year, so be it.
"Oh, OK, if that's what they say, all right," said Harrison, the Steelers' career sack leader. "That's fine if that's what they want me to do."
Porter, the Steelers outside linebackers coach, told the Post-Gazette Monday that as long as Watt gets the job done, he will stay in the game unless he gets tired or proves unproductive. That is when they will sub Harrison.
Harrison said it was the first time he heard of such a plan when reporters mentioned it to him Wednesday but said he is OK with it.
"Whatever it is they ask me to do," Harrison said. "I'm fine with that."
Nevertheless, he acknowledged that even playing 10-12 snaps a game isn't enough for an outside linebacker to get into the flow of rushing the quarterback.
"The more I'm in there, the more productive I can be."
Harrison is healthy but has not practiced nor played in the first preseason game as coach Mike Tomlin eases him into what could be his final training camp. Watt had a grand rookie debut Friday night against the New York Giants with consecutive sacks on his first two rushes to go with a pass break-up and five tackles, along with his special teams play.
Harrison said he hopes to soon get on the field but "whatever they want to do, man, I'm good. I'm not going to argue about not practicing in training camp."
Harrison's 79.5 sacks are the most in team history since they became an official NFL statistic in 1982. He led them in sacks again last season with five, even though he started just seven games. He was the NFL's defensive player of the year in 2008 and made five consecutive Pro Bowls.
Jarvis Jones was the early starter at right outside linebacker in 2016 and switched off with Harrison until the Steelers decided to stay with the older veteran down the stretch. He added 2.5 more sacks in the first two playoff games.
Jones, their first-round draft pick in 2013, left the Steelers to sign with Arizona as an unrestricted free agent in March. The Steelers then used another first-round draft pick on Watt, two years after they drafted Bud Dupree in the first round. Porter said Monday the Steelers want to stick with Dupree and Watt rather than substitute liberally at the two outside linebacker spots.
"We have two guys who are first-rounders, we drafted them for this," Porter told the PG. "Now you have to turn them loose and let them play."
Porter went on to say that Harrison is aware of the situation and that "his role is his role. He's a relief pitcher. Until we need you, the young guys are going to play. You're a good safety net to have."
While Harrison said he was unaware of any such plan, he won't argue with it.
"That's fine. I'm not worried about it, man. Whatever they want me to do. I'm 39 years old and still playing football."
Still, he believes he needs a few weeks of practice to get ready for the regular season.
"I think it's hard for anybody to get into football shape. It's going to take you a couple of weeks because you have to get used to the pads, fighting a guy with pads on, running and all that other stuff. You can run with a weight vest and everything else, it's a lot different once you get the pads on."
He said he has not decided if he wants to make this his last season. Play until he's 40?
"I'm thinking of 40 if I can go to Vegas _ that Las Vegas Raiders team," Harrison said through a broad smile.
That had to be a dig at NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and the league, who fined Harrison for participating in an arm-wrestling competition at a Las Vegas casino last year.
While he hasn't practiced, he has helped out Watt since he arrived.
"If he has any questions or anything he wants to know, yeah _ things about the defense, certain ways to try to rush guys or whatever."
