James Harrison Mocks Roger Goodell: 'Lay Pillows Down Where I Tackle Them'

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison seemed to enjoy the Super Bowl XLV media day on Tuesday. He joked around with reporters, compared players getting hurt to kids stubbing their toes and then seized an opportunity to mock NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

Harrison was asked about how the game could be made safer.

"Lay pillows down where I tackle them so they don't get hurt when they hit the ground... Mr. Goodell," Harrison said.

The 32-year-old drew $125,000 in fines this season and said that he believed he was being targeted by referees for hard hits.

Some of his fines include $75,000 for hitting Browns receiver Mohamed Massaquoi and $25,000 for roughing Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick.

Comments

[blueken]

03:27 PM on 02/02/2011

Now that man right there got some brain damage, real bad. Stub your toe? Say what? Man, you just don't remeber much do you? I been watching games for 20 years. Stub your toe? Man, I seen a whole lot worse than that.

[holyghostie]

02:34 PM on 02/02/2011

He drew bigger fines for tackling than Brett did for harrassing women.

[kickinupdust]

10:49 AM on 02/02/2011

This man is a great football player. GET' EM JAMES!!!!

[Travian77]

08:07 AM on 02/02/2011

David Stern wouldn't stand for this. His ego is way too fragile. Let's see how Goodell Castro reacts...

[Thomas Bradley]

10:45 AM on 02/02/2011

Stern is arguably the worst commissioner of any major U.S. sports league. His ego and condescension runneth over -- just listen to any interview he gives. Say what you will about Bud Selig, at least baseball has labor peace, which is more than you can say about Goodell's NFL and Stern's NBA.

[Tone67]

08:07 AM on 02/02/2011

As a football fan in general James is right and most players who have said something similar to what james said are right. This year was a JOKE defensively. If i lead with my shoulder that means to some degree im blind, if the quarterback moves and we go helmet to helmet because i couldnt adjust to his move then a flag is thrown. Referees need to be more objective and put more thought into the process because i didnt think Julius Peppers should have been flagged when he hit aaron rodgers in the NFC championship game, i didnt think Ndamkong Suh should have been flagged when he hit Cutler in the back with a forearm and it looked like a helmet to helmet. Some of these plays should be subject to instant replay.

[KPinSEA]

05:22 AM on 02/02/2011

He's not just a member of Slow Learners of America .... he's the Pittsburgh chapter President!

[John Fudrow]

10:40 AM on 02/02/2011

So you must speak for your local chapter...

[savethecountry]

10:36 PM on 02/01/2011

Ah, one can always count on Harrison for a mature, measured response to any question. Apparently at some point he's taken a few too many hits to HIS head. How else to explain his sadistic, juvenile, testosterone-overloaded attitude towards head injuries.

The next NFL player who suffers a concussion that's a result of a fine-worthy hit and bad enough to have an impact on his life FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE should place a call to Harrison. That player should tell Harrison about not only the effects of the concussion on his life but on the lives of those close to him, about how now he's not able to be there in ways that they need him to be there, and about how he's worried that he will become a burden to them.

America, it's time you decide whether football is a violent GAME or whether it's no better than street violence.

[Beermonger]

11:37 PM on 02/01/2011

Says the worlds biggest Vaj.....just sayin'

[PalaceOfWisdom]

10:56 AM on 02/02/2011

Or the NFL could decide to actually upgrade to the safest equipment, which they don't. Retired Denver Bronco Mark Schlereth discussed it in detail on ESPN. They make purchase and endorsement agreements that mean helmets which progress has rendered inferior are still in use. Players are required to only use the equipment the league sanctions. They don't care whatsoever about player safety and use guys like Harrison as scapegoats for their own willful negligence.

[Beermonger]

01:43 PM on 02/02/2011

Not to mention the fact that they want to extend the season to 18 games. 16 is brutal as it is, but if the league truly cared, they wouldt want this extension. They just pretended to care by dolling out fines this year so they wouldnt look like the greedy corporate shmucks that they are.

[RVU]

10:29 PM on 02/01/2011

Man...I wish this dude was playing for the NY Giants.

[0fthedead]

08:53 PM on 02/01/2011

Even with a trip to the Super Bowl intact, Harrison can't stop crying about it. Steelers football at its finest.

[wespenn56]

01:30 PM on 02/02/2011

Ah, here come the haters. Been a bit quiet from them.

[SaddleBum]

07:48 PM on 02/01/2011

harrison has always been about hitting defenseless players

[4httr]

08:38 PM on 02/01/2011

Spoken like a cowpoke who rides sidesaddle.

[SaddleBum]

08:58 PM on 02/01/2011

i love it when harrison shoots his mouth off.

double down on the pack!

[wespenn56]

01:31 PM on 02/02/2011

Yeah, QB's should have flags and wear skirts.

[SaddleBum]

03:14 PM on 02/02/2011

i'd settle for a 3 game suspension for a head shot.

[kidjudas]

06:20 PM on 02/01/2011

Keep talkin, Harrison, Karma's listening.

[Cimms]

07:45 PM on 02/01/2011

Harrison will knock Karma out as well.

[PalaceOfWisdom]

10:58 AM on 02/02/2011

LOL Tremendous response! Fanned.

[4httr]

05:22 PM on 02/01/2011

Back in the 70's the NFL changed the rules regarding contact on a receiver largely due to the aggressive play of Mel Blount. Now, they impose stringent rules against the punishing Steeler defense led by Harrison. They will make small adjustments but remain a physical team. In their first Super Bowl against the Vikings, the Steelers tried to talk with some Minnesota players before the game. Bud Grant had told his guys to not fraternize. Glen Edwards, former Steeler safety, upon being rebuffed by a Viking player stated his case as a Steeler by looking his opponent in the eye and declaring, "Buckle Up." Enough said.

[roads]

05:22 PM on 02/01/2011

Tell it like it is James. GO STEELERS !!!

[Militant Leftist]

05:09 PM on 02/01/2011

Punk

[gomezrules]

04:46 PM on 02/01/2011

You know, there is some degree of truth to what Harrison jokes about. QBs now might as well be wearing skirts. If a defensive player has impure thoughts about a QB's sister, it's a $50k fine, and that's not even considering if a hit took place! I do agree with the league cracking down on the hits that involve leading with the heads. Certainly, that cannot be helped some times, and the review policy can determine that if a fine is being considered.

On the other hand to all this, the defense has been penalized by virtually every rule change that has come down the pike since the late 1960s'. They need to be able to strike an offensive player hard enough to disrupt plays, especially passes. With the way the league is going now, defense will truly be a thing of the past, most games will become bona fide shootouts.

[Thomas Bradley]

10:50 AM on 02/02/2011

Old-skool QBs like Bradshaw, Namath, Tarkenton, Fouts, Plunkett, Staubach, Jurgenson, Griese, etc., must be rolling their eyes at the doilies placed under modern-day QBs. And Bobby Layne, Johnny Unitas and Sid Luckman are probably doing the same thing from the Great Beyond.

There are tough QBs out there -- Peyton Manning, Brees, Big Ben and, yes, Brady -- but not as many as there should be.

[PalaceOfWisdom]

11:01 AM on 02/02/2011

LOL at the idea of Tom Brady being tough. The moment the Jets knocked him around a bit he didn't want any more. Why do you think the Patriots ran the ball so much in that game?

[wespenn56]

01:32 PM on 02/02/2011

When a defensive player sneezes near Brady a flag is thrown. Please.

[PalaceOfWisdom]

11:07 AM on 02/02/2011

That sounds like a logical conclusion, but I'm not seeing it happen. The speed and athleticism of modern defenders is compensating for the shackles today's rules put on them. Where I see the game going is that eventually technology will allow for sensors to be placed on the players. The moment a defender gets within an invisible two foot halo around the QB, a buzzer will go off to indicate a sack. Actual contact will be treated like running into a kicker. Or they could take that commercial with Peyton Manning wearing bubble wrap padding seriously.

[blueken]

03:41 PM on 02/02/2011

It's all about the money. Peyton and Brady fill the seats, get the eyballs. Drew Breeze might join the club, but who else? Bradford? Maybe. There are 32 teams, and very few top notch QB's. Oh yeah, and maybe Arron Rodgers. I think Big Ben is going to be taken down a notch. Or should I say another notch?