look, I get it. In a cold cut-throat business like the NFL, I like some loyalty and respect as much as any other fan. I certainly wanted him to play out the season and then retire with the Steelers, but it is what it is. Let's also not forget that James Harrison once refused a pay cut as a 35 year old and signed with the Bengals instead. It certainly goes both ways ... same regarding "better treatment from his teammates", given that he apparently left the stadium on gamedays and made it known he'd prefer to be somewhere else.
As for the 40 snaps, I don't think they envisioned this kind of season themselves. When they re-signed Harrison, they couldn't have known that they'd be able to draft a guy like T.J. Watt who comes in and exceeds all expectations. Butlers scheme is very demanding for the OLBs and Watt and Dupree are workhorses who can make it work. Their backups Chickillo and Moats are core STers. At some point, it's a number's game and they simply have better options available. Could they have handled the situation better? Hell yeah, a lot better. But again, that probably goes for Harrison too.
Personally, I want to see players who want to be there. That's why I also wouldn't shed a tear if Martavis Bryant was traded this upcoming offseason.
|