Hall of Fame RB calls Steelers' Najee Harris’ contract situation, ‘A blessing in disguise’
It's not exactly clear why the Pittsburgh Steelers decided to decline Najee Harris' fifth-year option, making him an unrestricted free agent after the upcoming season. Mike Tomlin noted the business component of football, others have pointed to an attitude problem, and some think Pittsburgh wants to sign him to a short-term deal. Regardless of why […]
It's not exactly clear why the Pittsburgh Steelers decided to decline Najee Harris' fifth-year option, making him an unrestricted free agent after the upcoming season.
Mike Tomlin noted the business component of football, others have pointed to an attitude problem, and some think Pittsburgh wants to sign him to a short-term deal.
Regardless of why it happened, former Steelers RB and Pro Football Hall of Famer Jerome Bettis thinks it's just what Najee Harris needs:
A Blessing in Disguise
"If I was him, I would be happy because you now have an opportunity to go out and bet on yourself, prove to everyone that, 'Hey, I'm a quality running back and guess what, l'm a free agent, people, Bettis told Zach Gelb of the Zach Gelb Show. So now you have an opportunity to go out there and write your own story the way you want to write it. So I just think it's a blessing in disguise for him. Now, I think it could backfire against the Steelers, but I think it's a great opportunity for Najee."
I see where the bus is coming from here. A solid year from Najee in a revamped offense with a heavy focus on running the ball sets up a 27-year-old back to hit free agency with plenty of suitors.
And if everything goes to plan for Pittsburgh, the new run scheme under OC Arthur Smith paired with a re-tooled offensive line will allow the team to pound the rock at will.
But if they lose the workhorse and battering ram that makes it all go after one season of success, then it's all for not.
Bettis knows that, and he thinks it's part of the reason why Harris has been unfairly criticized:
"You have to look at the offensive line," Bettis told Gelb. "His first year, the offensive line was awful. His second year, they were bad. And in his last year, they were a little, maybe average, a touch below average. So he's been running behind a group that hasn't been playing up to their potential. They've kind of made a resurgence. They've got some draft picks. They put some thought into the offensive line…and now I believe he'll be running behind the best offensive line he will have had all of his years in Pittsburgh."
Harris is the first back in franchise history to start his career with three straight 1000-yard rushing seasons and has never missed a game.
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