Pittsburgh Steelers Free Agency: James Harrison to visit Bengals
By Matt Shetler
Since the Pittsburgh Steelers released him, there has been next to no market for outside linebacker James Harrison.
But now that free agency has died down some, Harrison could start to draw some interest from teams as they explore their Plan B and in some cases Plan C options.
December 23, 2012; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker James Harrison (92) on the field against the Cincinnati Bengals during the fourth quarter at Heinz Field. The Cincinnati Bengals won 13-10. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
The first of those teams to show some interest in the five-time Pro Bowler has been the Cincinnati Bengals, as there still could be a good chance that Harrison winds up in the AFC North.
Harrison is set to visit Cincinnati on Thursday. He originally had expressed interest in the Cleveland Browns, but the feeling wasn’t mutual and he had a visit set up with the Baltimore Ravens, but the Super Bowl champions signed Elvis Dumervil instead.
Cincinnati could be a very good fit for the 2008 Defensive Player of the Year.
They re-signed inside linebacker Rey Maualuga last month and coach Marvin Lewis said at the owners meetings in Arizona last month Maualuga would remain in the middle. Outside linebacker Manny Lawson signed with the Buffalo Bills, so there’s a spot to be filled opposite Vontaze Burfict.
However the Bengals have also had meetings with a free-agent linebackers Akeem Jordan and Karlos Dansby this week, so it is far from a certainty that they would be interested in Harrison.
However Harrison is running out of options as well. You know he wants to stay in the AFC North to stick it to the Steelers, but if the Bengals don’t sign him you have to wonder where he will end up, if anywhere at all.
Teams aren’t exactly knocking his door down and there doesn’t appear to be much of a market for 35-year old linebackers with a history of injury problems.