James Harrison to Saints?
 

Re: James Harrison to Saints?
 

Well, everyone seems to be saying how great cheap is. Our cap space just might just cover the fines for a Harrison with a huge chip on his shoulder.Bounty hell, Harrison'll pay to do it.

Re: James Harrison to Saints?
 

I would kind of like him in a Saints uniform, he would bring some much needed swagger to the lb. core, knows the 3-4 D, and can still hit like a mack truck, might be what the doctor ordered a nasty attitude.

Re: James Harrison to Saints?
 

Never gonna happen

Re: James Harrison to Saints?
 

How much left does he have in the tank? He's got rings and he's got money. Why here, why now?

Re: James Harrison to Saints?
 

1. Because he fits what we want to do
2. He's still got a few years left (according to many)
3. He's gonna have to take a paycut, so he may not be as expensive as 1st thought.
4. Because the Saints are Superbowl contenders
5. Because our defense is looking for an OLB with experience, attitude and leadership

Re: James Harrison to Saints?
 

6. He hates Roger Goodell
7. Roger Goodell hates us
8. Win Super Bowl

Re: James Harrison to Saints?
 

Well I thought 5 would be enough, but solid additions nonetheless.:D

Re: James Harrison to Saints?
 

He has a nastiness to him that I don't think many on our team have. I'm on the fence.

Re: James Harrison to Saints?
 

Attitude, yes. Leadership, not so much. The guy is a tool, and I could care less where he ends up. I wouldn't want him in his prime. He is certainly far past that.

We have more than enough young talented pass rushing linebackers to gamble with, without taking a shot in the dark with Harrison, IMO.

Re: James Harrison to Saints?
 

all of patriot nation hates the guy and he hates them.
thats enough for me.

Re: James Harrison to Saints?
 

You got my vote on this guy!

Re: James Harrison to Saints?
 

Considering the problems we've had with this pass rush, I can't see how anyone would not want Harrison on this team. Granted he is getting up in age, and not the player he once was, if we can get him for the right price its a chance worth taking.

Re: James Harrison to Saints?
 

I doubt he has another 100 yd pick 6 in him, Super Bowl or regular season, but if we can sign him AND get a decent LT...

Re: James Harrison to Saints?
 

My two personal reasons why I don't want him are this:

1- He's a major douche bag (not good for team chemistry).
2- He isn't simply not as good as he used to be. He's not even close.

The fact that he's 35 doesn't help, but if the first two reasons didn't apply, then I would take him at a low cost.

Re: James Harrison to Saints?
 

There will probably be a lot of people on this forum saying the same thing about Brees when he gets to that age.

The Saints defense needs all the play-makers we can get; I am fairly certain that you would agree to that.

I wouldn't sign Harrison if it meant the Saints wouldn't have the cap space left to sign Butler or a decent FA LT!!

Re: James Harrison to Saints?
 

I think there are enough veterans in the Saints clubhouse that can keep his personality in check. I agree that he is not the player that he once was. But with that said, if you are getting Harrison at a reasonable price with incentives writing into the contract, it might be a chance worth taking. At this point there aren't many pass rushers on the market. Harrison would fill a need and it would not be a long term investment.

Of course this is all speculation at this point.

Re: James Harrison to Saints?
 

Well my friend, while I don't doubt that you're right about there being people who'll say that, I would counter by saying that there is a pretty huge difference between a 35 year old qb and a 35 year old pass rusher. The idea is to stay upright as much as possible as a qb. As a pass rusher there are a couple of things you need for success. The ability to take on and fight through blocks, and closing speed to the qb. These are the things I worry about Harrison lacking at this point in his career. Might he still have something left in the tank? Sure, but I tend to think probably not. Apparently the steelers have informed him theres no chance of him coming back, even though he expressed a desire to come back, and had to have been willing to take significantly less money considering lack of interest on the open market. I just don't see it. I really doubt it would actually happen anyway, so *shrug*

Re: James Harrison to Saints?
 

I would mind him if we can't get Dwight Frenny or Butler at least for a try out or if he's not showing it in training camp his not going to cut it then cut him.

Re: James Harrison to Saints?
 

I don't ever remember him being in trouble off the field. In fact, the only thing I do remember is him beating the hell out of QB's, if that's the douch bag you're talking about I'll take it. Sign that douch bag!

I really don't now what to think about this.Age and declining stats last year make me wary,though the steelers were a mess last season.
Depends on money I suppose,it would be nice to get holes filled pre draft and get the best players rather than pick from need.

Re: James Harrison to Saints?
 

I'd rate him over Freeney in putting together a 3-4. That front of ours could use a little nasty. As long as he keeps his stupid under control he could give us a year to help us build a defense. Plus, he's gotta be a brother of a different mother with the way he feels about rogger...

Re: James Harrison to Saints?
 

You need *******s like him on a football team. I'd love to have him. He can get to the QB. That's all that matters.

Re: James Harrison to Saints?
 

His "not as good as he used to be" sack numbers for 2012 are higher than any Saints LB in the last 5 years, and right with our DEs.

Harrison 2012: 6 sacks

Vilmas Best = 4 in 2010
Shanles Best = 4 in 2008
Loftons Best = 2 in 2010
Hawthornes Best = 4 in 2009


His attitude is similar to Kyle Turley, or Shockey.. And I have bromance for those guys.

While some would find his comment to Ben Roethlisberger offensive (Roethlisberger fans)... it was spot on and echoed what many people in these forums said about Drews INTs last year.

“Hey, at least throw a pick on their side of the field instead of asking the D to bail you out again,” Harrison said. “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.”

I would not say we want James Harrison, I would say we need James Harrison... Because quite frankly our other LB options are not as good. In the this case a downgrade for the Steelers is an upgrade for us.

Re: James Harrison to Saints?
 

hey if we can get him on the cheap for a year or 2 with a large signing bonus or roster bonuses next year then I say get him and Victor too. with lofton hawthorne butler and harrison our linebackers would be the best in the league

Re: James Harrison to Saints?
 

Leadership not so much? According to his Steelers teammates he was a big presence in the locker room, a leader by example in the weight room and film room, and many would take a bullet for him. Almost any story you read about him mentions him as a team leader and very popular with teammates.

How can we not want DeBo on our team? Mr Monday Night? The Assassin? The SilverBack? All nicknames given to him by teammates and Steelers announcers because he's strong as an ox and knocks people the **** out. This guy is a beast and would look at home in the black and gold.

Re: James Harrison to Saints?
 

You're having a hard time convincing me hawthorne, Lotion, Butler and Harrison would be the best set of LB's in the league. That title resides in San Francisco and its not even close.

Re: James Harrison to Saints?
 

None of the four LBs that played or play for the Saints have been rushing OLBs in a 3-4 defense as far as I know, which would put the validity of the comparison into question.

Re: James Harrison to Saints?
 

I didn't say he was in trouble. I said he's a douche bag, and that is precisely what I mean. He's always running his mouth about everything, and while I kind of laugh at his remarks about Goodell (because there have been some unfair fines sent his way), he DOES take a lot of cheap shots on players. I'm all for playing the game with intensity. You can't have success without intensity. But there is a lack of integrity in a person who just runs around like a kamikaze trying to knock everyone's head off. Hard hits are great, but when you can clearly see a guy coming and you intentionally hit him in the head, that is unacceptable.

I've often complained about all the helmet to helmet rules, because it's usually incidental contact that ends up being flagged. But I'm not for a guy who clearly does that crap on purpose. And then he whines and says he's being unfairly treated. Like I said, his reputation has led to some unfair fines, but there's no way he can try to convince anyone that he isn't a dirty player.

Does this answer your question?

Re: James Harrison to Saints?
 

I was just getting ready to reply with exactly this. We did not have a system that called for our linebackers to rush. Henceforth, we did not acquire pass rushing linebackers.

Vilma was a great player when we got him, but he did not come with a reputation as a pass rusher. Same with Lofton. Hawthorne is another middle linebacker who has had to play on the outside. We have Wilson and Gallette who are more than capable of being pass rush specialists.

Harrison would not have succeeded in a 4-3, either.

Re: James Harrison to Saints?
 

QB's can play a long time when healthy. Pass rushers lose their quickness and speed much faster, and the decline is usually rapid, as has been the case over the last two years with Harrison. QB's don't need that. He's a system player, and we have guys in house who have a great chance to succeed without bringing in a 35 year old loud mouth who has had problems staying healthy recently.

That last part might be the biggest concern, physically speaking. He has been hurt, and at his age, the decline is highly likely to continue at a rapid pace.

Some of you have the opinion that he's good enough. That's fine. But I'm going on what I have seen over and over with players like him, at this stage of their career, and I have drawn the conclusion that I'd rather not have anything to do with him.

Re: James Harrison to Saints?
 

I would take him as a mentor for Gallett and Wilson in a heartbeat + he still has well enough left to contribute and in a transition year switching to a 3-4 he could be one of the best to get it done!! I love the guy!! A true football player with heart.

Re: James Harrison to Saints?
 

This is an assumption but a fairly accurate one:

I will assume Keenan Lewis was asked about James Harrison and the reply was favorable if we are actually looking at him.

Maybe about his abilities and what is left in the tank.
More so about Harrisons effect on a Locker Room.

Lets hope Lewis and Harrison are tight and Lewis can encourage Harrison.

Re: James Harrison to Saints?
 

They all work out. That's not the leadership I'm looking for. A cheap shot artist, and a guy who whines constantly. No thanks. I don't want that on my team. You can have your work out warrior.

Just another distraction we don't need. I'm already not happy we brought in Ryan, for that reason.

Re: James Harrison to Saints?
 

On a two year deal with the right incentives he could be good for our young players. We don't know the 3-4............but Harrison does.
Veteran leadership would be a big positive in my book. His team mates seem like they liked him. And if he would fit in and not be a distraction then I'm down with it.

Re: James Harrison to Saints?
 

When we won it all we took plenty of cheap shots. Ask Brett Favre. His response? Yeah...but its football.

Our team isn't mean anymore. It isn't grimy anymore. We need that.

Re: James Harrison to Saints?
 

Precisely why I was happy with the Lewis signing. Of any of the defenses in the league, I want the Steeler's grit in New Orleans.

I see offensive attitudes and Defensive attitudes differently and they have different needs.

offense - Needs a I will catch the ball because i am going to get hit anyway sort of mentality.

defense - If I am going to hit someone I want his teeth scattered on the turff like chick-lets... even if he doesnt have the ball.

Re: James Harrison to Saints?
 

I like that in a D also, something we haven't had in seems like forever.

Re: James Harrison to Saints?
 

I remember how nasty our defense was when we won the superbowl and that is exactly how this dude plays. I just dont know how much he has left but I would take him just for the fact of FURG.

Re: James Harrison to Saints?
 

This is a poor example. I'd just about bet you can't name more than one POSSIBLE cheap shot that year. The so-called "high-low" hit on Favre.

Name one other cheap shot. The hit on Warner was big, but it was perfectly clean. Huge difference between big hits and cheap shots. You're going to have to do better than this.

Also, our defense doesn't need "grime" to be good. In 09', Will Smith was 4 years younger and had his best year, with 13 sacks. We had Darren Sharper, who had an historic season. Greer and Porter were younger and playing really well. We forced a ton of turnovers. Williams' all blitz system became predictable after that, and we lost Sharper to injury and eventual retirement. It all went downhill after that.

You're going to tell me that just because we lost Sharper and Fujita, that our defense lost it's nastiness? That was not it. We just got worse, plain and simple. We need better players. Harrison is not an answer in my opinion.