HOUSTON — At a time when the Steelers have had one dose of bad news after another, they apparently had no problem inflicting some more on themselves.
The decision to release James Harrison, a player they kept around all season for his presence, stability and leadership, with two games remaining in the regular season is surprising and almost unprecedented for a player of his stature.
Just like they discovered with Hines Ward in a 2011 midseason game against Jacksonville, the Steelers found out that Harrison, at age 39, could not play anymore.
But unlike Ward and another player of great stature they discovered couldn’t play anymore — Troy Polamalu — the Steelers decided not to wait till the end of the season to release their all-time sacks leader and former NFL defensive player of the year.