PITTSBURGH - Anybody interested in a slightly-used outside linebacker?
Warning: He comes with a lot of baggage.
When the NFL gets back to business, Steelers operations director Kevin Colbert should be calling his counterparts to see if anyone is willing to take James Harrison off his hands.
Harrison is still a good player, but he's becoming more trouble than he's worth.
He sounded off in a magazine interview, hurling insults at NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and teammates Ben Roethlisberger and Rashard Mendenhall.
Harrison is 33 and has been around the NFL for 10 years. He's been through the media crunch of three Super Bowls.
He's old enough and experienced enough to know better.
So why was he posing for pictures holding guns? Why was he aiming a gay slur at Goodell? Why was he suggesting racism was the reason for an imagined NFL conspiracy against the Steelers?
It's all bad judgment, and it's not the first time Harrison has shown that tendency.
Goodell can deal with the comments about him and the league. The Steelers should be concerned about the disparaging remarks Harrison made about teammates.
When players think of the offensive and defensive groups separately, it's a wedge that can ruin a team.
After the article first came out, Harrison's agent said it was just "James being James."
That's precisely the problem.
Changing places
Bill Fralic is out as color analyst on Pitt radio, replaced by Pat Bostick.
It would have been an uncomfortable spot for Fralic, who was highly critical of the Pitt administration during last winter's coaching changes.
Just as interesting is the decision to drop John Seibel as sideline reporter for the football broadcasts.
Seibel co-hosts an afternoon talk show on KDKA-FM (93.7 The Fan) and apparently angered Pitt personnel with his comments there.
Spies report former coach Dave Wannstedt unloaded on Seibel at least once last year during a Pitt trip.
On ice
The Penguins wrapped up their prospect camp on one of the hottest days of the year.
Nothing like a hockey scrimmage in mid-July.
Heat, humidity and hockey.
We live in wondrous times.
Mehno can be reached at johnmehnocolumn@gmail.com
