by Chris HarryFiled under: Dolphins, Steelers
MIAMI -- Pittsburgh outside linebacker James Harrison had a beeline Sunday to take a shot at tailback Ronnie Brown coming across the middle. He didn't do it.
Maybe it was his conscience. Maybe it was being light $75,000. Maybe it was the fear of being suspended.
"I really didn't want to jump in there on that play," Harrison said after the Steelers' 23-22 victory Sunday over the Dolphins. "Next time, they'll probably suspend me."
Let the record show, then, that Ray Anderson's wrath and the league's point of emphasis on hits against defenseless players definitely got its point across to at least one high-profile, hard-hitting guy.
Harrison (along with New England's Brandon Meriweather and Atlanta's Dunta Robinson) became household names for the violent blows they delivered in games last week, prompting the NFL to issue warnings that future attempts at headhunting-type kill shots will result in suspensions without pay.
Harrison, who has been fined twice this season for illegal hits, boycotted Wednesday's practice last week upon learning of his second fine and reportedly -- and briefly -- considered retirement.
Instead, the All-Pro who signed a $51.7 million contract extension last year returned to work Thursday and vowed to continue playing the game the way he had always played, even in light of the vicious high blows on a pair of Cleveland Browns -- the first on Josh Cribbs (legal) the second on Mohamed Massaquoi (illegal) -- that got Harrison and and helmet-to-helmet hits the hottest topic of the NFL season.
"I wasn't trying to send a message," said Harrison, who finished the game with four tackles. "There was no extra motivation for this or any other game. I was just out there playing the game the way that I've been taught to play it since I was 10 years old."
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