8.2 C
New York
Saturday, July 27, 2024
Home News James Harrison claims Mike Tomlin 'Gave him an envelope'

James Harrison claims Mike Tomlin ‘Gave him an envelope’

Former Pittsburgh Steelers star James Harrison said coach Mike Tomlin gave him an envelope after the linebacker’s devastating hit on Cleveland Browns wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi in 2010.

“The G-est thing Mike Tomlin ever did, he handed me an envelope after that,” Harrison said on Barstool’s “Going Deep” podcast. “I’m not going to say what, but he handed me an envelope after that.”

James Harrison hit on Massaquoi

Harrison initially was fined $75,000 for the hit. That’s the most, he said, that he was ever fined (the NFL later reduced it to $50,000). Massaquoi suffered a concussion as a result of the head-to-head hit, which was not flagged in the game.

James Harrison hits Mohamed Massaquoi

“Listen, on everything I love, on my daddy’s grave, I hit that man with about 50 percent of what I had, and I just hit him because I wanted him to let loose of the ball,” Harrison said on the podcast. “If I had knew they was gonna fine me $75,000, I would have tried to kill him.”

Harrison’s fine also was high because he was considered a repeat offender, and he had been fined $5,000 earlier in the season for unnecessary roughness.

Did Mike Tomlin give James Harrison anything?

Steelers president Art Rooney II issued a statement later Thursday denying Harrison’s claims.

“I am very certain nothing like this ever happened,” Rooney said. “I have no idea why James would make a comment like this but there is simply no basis for believing anything like this.”

Bill Parise, who is Harrison’s advisor and former agent, told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review on Thursday that it “never happened.”

“Absolutely not,” said Parise, who was unaware of Harrison’s comments until contacted by the paper. “Never happened. I would have known that. It didn’t happen. James and I are still together. We were really close during our 18 years. He would have said something along the way.”

The NFL, which declined to comment when contacted by ESPN, previously dealt with coaches paying players for hits in the New Orleans Saints‘ “Bountygate” scandal, where coaches offered cash rewards to players for knocking opponents out of games.

Sean Payton on James Harrison – Mike Tomlin Incident

Saints coach Sean Payton was asked about Harrison’s comments Thursday during a radio interview on Baltimore’s 105.7 The Fan and said people “shouldn’t hold their breath” for the league to investigate.

Sean Payton, head coach for the New Orleans Saints, yells on the field

“That’ll be something that’s tucked away or under the rug at Park Avenue,” Payton said in reiterating his long-standing complaints about the way the NFL handled the Saints’ bounty scandal. “They’ll look into it briefly. … Listen, don’t get me started on that. I lost $6 million in salary. And honestly it was something that I’ll never truly get over. I know how it was handled and how it was run and the reasons behind it. And that’s just the truth.”

Harrison’s new comments echo the sentiments he expressed after the hit a decade ago.

“It was a legal hit,” Harrison told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in 2010. According to the newspaper, Tomlin agreed.

This article was first published by ESPN.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

- Advertisment -

Most Popular

Travis Kelce Workout

Six-time pro bowler. Super Bowl Champion. Five consecutive seasons with 1,000 receiving yards or more. That’s right we’re talking about the one and only...

T.J. Watt Workout

When you think of the best pass rushers in the NFL you can’t ignore one name. T.J. Watt. He quickly became one of the...

Kyler Murray Workout

Kyler Murray is one of the most exciting players in the NFL today. With his escape ability and unique play-making abilities, Murray has quickly...

How far can Josh Allen Throw?

Josh Allen has quickly become one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. From his underrated mobility, high football IQ, and rocket arm, the...

Recent Comments