Harrison breaks silence on PED accusations
Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell stretches before a recent practice at training camp in Latrobe. Bell said he was bothered by criticism he received when news first broke of a possible suspension. He doesn’t feel that way now.
Steelers linebacker James Harrison takes a break during a recent practice at training camp in Latrobe.
LATROBE – As the Steelers broke training camp Tuesday at Saint Vincent College, they now know more about the possible suspension of linebacker James Harrison than for running back Le’Veon Bell.
Harrison was informed Monday that he faces a suspension if he continues to avoid meeting with league officials in New York regarding a story regarding PED use in the NFL on the now defunct Al Jazeera America television station last December.
Harrison, who previously declined to speak about the issue, broke his silence Tuesday, a day after receiving a letter from the league saying he would be suspended indefinitely if he does not submit to an interview by Aug. 25.
Harrison said attorneys for the NFL Players Association are telling him and Green Bay linebackers Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers and free agent Mike Neal – who also were named in the report – not to meet with the league.
“I’m just doing what I’m advised to do,” Harrison said. “It’s the right thing to do.”
The NFLPA and the involved players are upset because soon after the release of the report, which also named former Denver quarterback Peyton Manning, the person who made the claims said he lied about their involvement.
The NFL cleared Manning of any wrongdoing earlier this summer but has not done so with the others involved.
“Somebody could come out and say that James Harrison is a pedophile,” Harrison said. “They’re going to suspend me and put me under investigation just because somebody said it? I’m not going to answer questions for every little thing that some Tom, Dick or Harry comes up with.”
Harrison has never tested positive for a PED despite multiple random tests throughout the course of his career. Harrison shared on his Instagram account that he was called for a random drug test Tuesday morning.
“I’ll do what I have to do, they’ll do what they have to do, we’ll make that decision when the time comes,” Harrison said. “Nobody wants to be suspended.
“When it comes down to it, I want to play but (there are) certain rules and things they need to go through that they didn’t even go through just to even start an investigation.”
Harrison’s agent, Bill Parise, believes the league and NFLPA are having this showdown because of the high-profile case involving New England quarterback Tom Brady in Deflategate.
The NFL eventually won its case against Brady, who was suspended for four games for failure to comply with investigators looking into the deflation of footballs prior to the AFC Championship two years ago.
The Steelers have taken a hands-off approach to the issue.
“I won’t advise James of anything,” said Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. “That has nothing to do with us. That’s between him, the NFLPA and the league. I assume that he’s going to do what he needs to do.”
Meanwhile, Bell, who faces a suspension for missing a drug test during the offseason, still awaits word from the league on when his appeal will be heard.
He wouldn’t speak specifically about the case but did say he appreciated the support his teammates have provided.
“It means a lot to me,” Bell said. “People who know me know what kind of person I am. I take care of my body. I come out and work hard and give it everything I can. The fact they still don’t judge my character from what people hear, it means everything in the world to me.”
That has not been the case for everyone, however.
Bell said he was bothered by criticism he received when news first broke of a possible suspension. But that has since changed.
“It used to be, but not anymore,” Bell said. “I understand that people who don’t know me are going to make their assumptions or judge me however they want. That’s fine. They don’t know me.”
Tomlin said Bell, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, running back DeAngelo Williams and wide receiver Antonio Brown will not play in the preseason game Thursday night against Philadelphia at Heinz Field. … Landry Jones, who started the first preseason game and played the first half, will likely do so again Thursday. … After practicing on a limited basis Monday, first-round draft pick Artie Burns was out Tuesday and appears doubtful to play against the Eagles. … Outside linebacker Jarvis Jones returned to practice Tuesday.