Harrison, 39, beats Father Time, Chiefs

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Just as he had done in last year’s AFC Divisional playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs, when the Steelers needed a play, they called on James Harrison.
Last January, it was Harrison drawing a holding penalty on left tackle Eric Fisher that negated a game-tying two-point conversion.
This time, it was a sack on Kansas City’s penultimate offensive play to turn a third-and-10 into a fourth-and-18 with the Steelers clinging to a precarious 19-13 lead.
Harrison again beat Fisher, who might want to donate all of his pay from this season to the James Harrison retirement fund if it would mean the 39-year-old would finally hang up his cleats.
Harrison’s overall stat line of three tackles, a sack and two quarterback hurries wasn’t all that impressive – not until you consider he only played about a dozen snaps.
“It’s a good feeling to get out there and make a play,” said Harrison, who had been inactive for the past two games and played only seven plays prior to Sunday.
“That’s what I like to do. I like to compete. When I’m not in there, of course I’m not happy about it. I want to go out there and compete. I’m not still playing this game because I want to stand on the sideline.”
Harrison didn’t play a lot in this game, either. But the Steelers saved him for the end when they needed a game-changing play.
He nearly had it on second down, beating Fisher around the end to pressure Smith into throwing the ball before he wanted.
And when the Steelers needed a strong pass rush, Harrison’s teammates knew who would deliver.
“I knew once he came in that he was going to do whatever he could to help the team,” said inside linebacker Ryan Shazier. “In critical moments of the game, he’s a sack waiting to happen. He came in and made that play, I wasn’t really surprised at all that he made it.”
The only thing that has been surprising thus far is how little Harrison has played.
But perhaps it’s because head coach Mike Tomlin is saving Harrison from himself.
At 39, Harrison should not be a full-time player. And rookie outside linebacker T.J. Watt, the team’s first-round draft pick, needs to play as much as possible.
But who better to turn to in crucial situations than the franchise’s all-time sacks leader?
“Old (No.) 92 coming right in for us. That’s James,” said defensive end Stephon Tuitt. “He knows this game and he loves this game. I can’t wait to watch the film to see the moves he made. That was a big-time play by him.”
It does not mean, however, that we’ll see more of Harrison. But the Steelers do need to sprinkle him in here and there, not just against a tackle he seemingly owns.
Just don’t tell Harrison that he has Fisher’s number.
“I don’t know why you guys keep saying that,” Harrison said. “I feel like I play good everywhere.”
To expect Harrison to hold up for the long haul might be asking too much.
But it’s good for the Steelers to have that guy waiting in the wings for just the right moment. It’s like sending up the Bat Signal.
Harrison hasn’t been happy with his playing time. And that’s only natural. He’s a competitor and wants to play.
He also wants to win. It’s the biggest reason why he came back for a 15th NFL season with a group of teammates who, in some cases, were in grade school when he was trying to earn his spot on the Steelers roster as an undrafted player.
The drive that kept him coming back after being released so many times is the same thing that drives him to keep working out like a maniac to be available to make plays such as the one he did Sunday.
It’s not for the money. He’s making just $1.3 million this season, which isn’t bad when you consider how little he’s played.
Harrison says he returned to get another Super Bowl ring to add to the two he already owns.
That’s why it was no surprise it was Harrison who came up with a big play when the Steelers needed it the most. A loss would have dropped them to 3-3 and probably ended any hope they had of being the AFC’s top seed in the postseason.
A win over a team that had been rolling along unbeaten, however, keeps that possibility in place.
“I’ve been with him for such a long time,” said Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. “I want to see him out there. But I understand what’s going on with letting him kind of rest (and) other guys are playing well. I think for some of the younger guys, it’s just the lore of him. They haven’t really seen it yet.”
They have now.
Dale Lolley can be reached at dlolley@observer-reporter.com.