Bad move, Pittsburgh, bad move. The Steelers released outside linebacker James Harrison on Saturday much to the shock of many people, including Ben Roethlisberger.
Harrison had spent 14 seasons with the Steelers and had a year left on his contract. He was a veteran player who brought leadership to the team and guidance to new players.
Pittsburgh made the wrong decision, and Harrison quickly moved on by signing a one-year deal with Steelers rival the New England Patriots.
And the Patriots were not the only team interested in adding the Pro Bowl player.
Harrison has only played 40 defensive snaps this season, but Roethlisberger said he was key in the development of left tackle Alejandro Villanueva.
Most Steelers fans loved Harrison. In all major sports, players seldom stay with a team for long, maybe five years at the most. But Harrison was a mainstay of the Pittsburgh defense.
It is not bad that Pittsburgh no longer wanted Harrison on the roster, but how they released him with the football year nearly over was tacky.
In October, Harrison said he didn't come back to sit on the bench. What he likes most is to compete, but Pittsburgh failed to give him that chance. Instead, they released him to make room for right tackle Marcus Gilbert. Gilbert is not going to be so crucial to the team this late in the season that it was worth treating the Steelers' all-time sack leader like he is useless.
At the time of Harrison's release, Pittsburgh, who clinched its division, had just two regular season games left. Harrison's role had decreased, as the Steelers decided to use the linebackers in more pass coverage situations. Rookie T.J. Watt and Bud Dupree played in Harrison's spot.
Pittsburgh should have at least allowed Harrison to finish out the season, and then tell him that it was time to part ways. After all that Harrison has done for the team, it feels like the Steelers at least owed him a more fitting farewell.
Harrison's breakout season was in 2007, when Harrison made 98 tackles, 8 1/2 sacks and an interception in 16 games played. He made the All-Pro second team and started for the AFC in the Pro Bowl.
In just one game against the Baltimore Ravens, on Nov. 5, Harrison made nine tackles, 3 1/2 sacks, three forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and an interception.
He bested his mark of 98 tackles in 2008 with 101 and almost doubled his sacks with 16. Harrison made an interception as well.
Harrison did Pittsburgh a favor in 2014. After his retired on Sept. 5, head coach Mike Tomlin said in a press conference that members of the defense had suffered significant injuries. Eighteen days later, on Sept. 23, Harrison re-signed with the Steelers. Over the course of 11 games, he helped the Pittsburgh defense with 45 tackles and 5 1/2 sacks.
The Steelers are forgetting that the best teachers are those who have experience. Harrison, who is 39, was still earning his money by helping other teammates. There is no substitute for experience and the wisdom that comes from it, which can be passed on to others.
Some factors for Harrison in choosing to sign with New England were the Patriots' winning tradition and head coach Bill Belichick's reputation among players.
New England may face Pittsburgh in the playoffs, and if they do, the releasing of Harrison could prove to be the Steeler's undoing.