Reduced Role Coming for Steelers LB Harrison According to Porter

If you watch the numerous workout videos that Steelers linebacker James Harrison has been positing since the offseason started, it sure doesn’t look like a guy on the backside of his career.

Sadly according to Steelers linebackers coach Joey Porter that’s the case though, as the former Steelers linebacker now coach says that Harrison is going to have a reduced role once the 2015 season kicks off in early September.

“He knows where he is,” Porter said Saturday, per the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “I told him already, the James Harrison (of before) is over.”

Harrison will turn 37 on Monday, and last season came back to the team after walking away until the Steelers called him after a wrist injury to OLB Jarvis Jones left them thin at the position.

“He’s going to play his role, and his role is going to be effective. He knows what we’re asking out of him, and he’s going to be ready to answer the bell,” Porter said.

Last year Harrison played in 11 games, and by the time it was said and done he put up 5.5 sacks, 45 tackles and played 432 snaps.

The team needs to get young on defense, and they did their best at that over the weekend with the drafting of first round pick Bud Dupree from Kentucky, and a number of other defensive players they hope can eventually step into roles on the team.

Don’t count Harrison out yet. Maybe Porter is playing some mind games with the veteran, as he sure looks like a guy who is motivated to go out and do whatever he can to again be a major player on a Steelers defense that will look a lot different in 2015.