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Harrison: Meeting with NFL commissioner "semi-productive"
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James Harrison sacks Saints quarterback Drew Brees in the first half Sunday in the Steelers game against New Orleans.
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James Harrison called his meeting with Roger Goodell on Tuesday "semi-productive" as both he and the commissioner expressed their views on playing defense in the National Football League.
The Steelers linebacker also said he has not been fined, at least not yet, for a roughing-the-passer penalty on him Sunday night for hitting New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees late.
Harrison, who paid a visit to league headquarters in New York City, said it was an opportunity "just for them to hear my side of the understanding of the rules and for them to give me an understanding of exactly what the rules are as far as it concerns helmet to helmet and helmet/knee contact and all that stuff."
"Yeah, I spoke my mind; they said what they had to say,'' Harrison said after practice today. "We had a semi-productive meeting, I guess.''
Harrison is appealing a $75,000 fine levied by the league against him for what it called an illegal hit that knocked Cleveland wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi from the game at Heinz Field Oct. 17. Tuesday's meeting, at Goodell's request, was not part of Harrison's appeal of that fine. That will take place next Tuesday.
"I came away with a better understanding and I guess they got a better understanding of how I see things,'' Harrison said of his Tuesday meeting in New York.
"You have to adapt to some things,'' Harrison said of the new crackdown on such hits this season. "It's not really that much of a change. The only thing I have a real issue with is trying to adjust to an adjustment that an off player has already made. That's where I have an issue with there being a consequence and repercussions that you no longer can control. If a guy ducks his head at the last minute right as you're about to hit him, you can't control that, you can't adjust to that.
"Their response was I'm a defensive player and I'm responsible for what happens -- who initiates the contact, that's my responsibility. I don't know, hopefully we'll get a better understanding."
Harrison said he can understand if the league does fine him for his late hit on Brees.
"It may have been a little late. I could understand and see if I was fined for that."
First Published November 3, 2010 11:13 am
