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Steelers LB Wins Honor

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The Associated Press

The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 6, 2009

NEW YORK - Kent State once sent a linebacker to the Pittsburgh Steelers who epitomized everything the Steel Curtain was about.

That was Jack Lambert.

The current version of the hard-hitting, versatile and dynamic former Kent Stater in Steel City is James Harrison, The Associated Press 2008 Defensive Player of the Year.

The linebacker, who had a career-high 16 sacks to set a team record and led the NFL with a career-high seven forced fumbles, beat Dallas' DeMarcus Ware in balloting by a nationwide panel of 50 sports writers and broadcasters announced Monday. Pittsburgh was the league's stingiest in total defense, pass defense and points allowed. Harrison was its main hammer.

"That's something that everybody in the league would love to have, to be voted the top player in the league for that year," Harrison said. "In my mind, I think I do - and it's going to sound boring - what the defense allows me to do and what my teammates allow me to do."

Harrison earned 22 votes to 13 for Ware.

Baltimore safety Ed Reed, the 2004 winner, got eight votes. Tennessee defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth had five and Harrison's teammate, safety Troy Polamalu, got two.

Harrison is the fifth Steelers player to win the award, including three Hall of Famers from the original Steel Curtain: Joe Greene (1974), Mel Blount (1975) and Lambert (1976). In 1993, Rod Woodson was AP Defensive Player of the Year, and he's eligible for the Hall for the first time this year.

The Steelers didn't allow a 100-yard rusher or 300-yard passer in 2008.

Harrison didn't limit his work to that stingy unit, though: Harrison also had 12 special-teams tackles.

BRONCOS: Newly appointed Bucs defensive coordinator Raheem Morris moved up his interview 48 hours and met with Denver about its coaching vacancy Monday.

Morris is the first candidate to interview in Denver. Team owner Pat Bowlen and his search crew interviewed Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo in New York on Saturday and New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels in Rhode Island on Sunday.

Today, the Broncos will host two more offensive coordinators at their team headquarters: Jason Garrett of the Dallas Cowboys and Rick Dennison, a longtime Mike Shanahan deputy.

CHIEFS: Scott Pioli, who helped build the New England Patriots' dynasty, was scheduled to meet with Kansas City Chiefs owner and board chairman Clark Hunt about their general manager vacancy.

The vice president for player personnel at New England, Pioli is close to Patriots coach Bill Belichick and has been with the Patriots for nine years. He's also been courted by the Cleveland Browns for their GM vacancy and met with Browns owner Randy Lerner last week in New York.

JETS: Cardinals offensive line coach Russ Grimm will interview with the Jets on Thursday in Arizona about their coaching vacancy, a person familiar with the search told The Associated Press.

Jeff Jagodzinski of Boston College also has been invited to interview for the job, a BC official told the AP, and the school has reportedly threatened to fire him if he goes through with it.

PACKERS: Released defensive coordinator Bob Sanders and most of his staff.

Coach Mike McCarthy released six assistants, including five on defense: Sanders, defensive ends coach Carl Hairston, defensive tackles coach Robert Nunn, secondary coach Kurt Schottenheimer and nickel package/cornerbacks coach Lionel Washington.

PATRIOTS: Plan to put the franchise tag on quarterback Matt Cassel, according to a published report. Cassel's future hinges heavily on Tom Brady's recovery from a season-ending knee injury in the first game this season.

LAWSUIT: Vikings great Carl Eller sued the Minneapolis Police Department, alleging officers violated his civil rights, used excessive force and concealed videotape evidence when they subdued him during an arrest last April.

Police dismissed the lawsuit as baseless.

MEDIA: Matt Millen will be offering his opinions on football during NBC's Super Bowl pregame show. The former Detroit Lions team president, architect of the NFL's first 0-16 squad, will appear on the network again after serving as a studio analyst Saturday during its playoff coverage.

SENIOR BOWL: The coaching staffs for the Cincinnati Bengals and Jacksonville Jaguars will lead the two sides of the Senior Bowl on Jan.24 in Mobile, Ala.

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