Lions Lean on RB Morris Without Best and Harrison

Starter Jahvid Best is out with a concussion, and ESPN reported Thursday that backup Jerome Harrison has a brain tumor. The network based its reported on two NFL sources it did not identify.

The Lions tried to trade Harrison to Philadelphia on Tuesday, but the deal was voided for unspecified reasons. The Lions listed Harrison as having an "illness" that held him out of Thursday's practice.

"It's a privacy issue and I'm not going to comment on it," Lions coach Jim Schwartz said. "He's back on our 53-man roster."

Harrison's agent, Mitch Frankel, did not return phone and email messages.

Detroit wanted to trade Harrison to Philadelphia for Ronnie Brown and a draft pick because it needs help in the backfield following Best's third concussion last Sunday in a loss to San Francisco.

Schwartz will only say that Best will play when he's given medical clearance. Lions offensive coordinator Scott Linehan said he "certainly" expects the speedy, second-year pro to be on the field again this season and Best's agent, Tony Fleming, said his client's status will be evaluated on a week-to-week basis.

"Caution is being taken of course, but he should be OK soon," Fleming wrote in an email to The Associated Press.

The Lions (5-1) are expected to rotate Maurice Morris and Keiland Williams along with return specialist Stefan Logan in the backfield against Atlanta (3-3) on Sunday at home.

"All our backs are a little bit different, all of them bring a little something different to the offense," Schwartz said. "We'll use anybody that we have available on Sunday to the best of their abilities."

Morris had five rushing attempts against the 49ers to more than double the number of carries he had over the first five games of the season. The 10-year veteran insisted he is not fired up about getting a chance to play much more against the Falcons.

"I'd be excited if I'm in one, two or three plays," Morris said. "I understand with the injury, I'm going to play more, but I approach every game the same as though I'm going to have to play a lot because you never know when somebody is going to go down and your number is going to get called. I'm preparing for this game the same way I did going into Week 1."

Morris was slowed in training camp by a broken right hand and had just two carries in the season-opening win at Tampa Bay. He had a mere two more carries over the next four games, but has been relatively productive when given a chance to do more.

The former Seattle Seahawk has had at least 15 carries four times in his two-plus seasons with the Lions and responded with 126 yards rushing and a touchdown in one of those games two years ago against Arizona and 109 yards with a score in another such opportunity last year against Tampa Bay.

Linehan doesn't expect the Falcons to overlook Morris, thinking they caught a break not having to chase Best.

"Mo has been in the League a long time, I'm sure they are going to look and say, 'Hey, this guy can do this, you better not fall asleep on him,'" Linehan said.

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Woodley doesn’t see impact of losing Harrison

Published: October 20th, 2011 | Tags: LaMarr Woodley, Around the League, James Harrison, Pittsburgh Steelers

LaMarr Woodley rarely disappoints during his appearances on NFL Network. Whether it’s taking a shot at Joe Flacco, sharing his innermost thoughts on Carson Palmer or questioning his own ranking on NFL Network’s “The Top 100: Players of 2011?, the Steelers linebacker leaves an impression, one way or the other.

This time around, though, Woodley’s critique — perhaps inadvertently — was directed at teammate James Harrison.

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The Pittsburgh defense has been dogged through the early weeks of the season for not being what most expected — as in fast, physical and big on forcing turnovers. That the Steelers are playing without Harrison, who’s on the shelf with a broken eye socket, would seem to be a major loss for the suddenly less-than-imposing defense.

Right, LaMarr?

“It hasn’t really affected us at all,” Woodley said of Harrison’s absence. “We put Lawrence Timmons at outside linebacker, moved Larry Foote at inside linebacker, guys that have started in those positions before. Timmons is definitely coming around; he’s doing a great job of rushing off the edge and doing a great job in the run game. From week to week, Timmons is starting to improve and when guys go down, you just expect other guys to come in and make plays. He’s been doing that.”

Sure, Woodley was propping up the play of Timmons. But one can’t help but wonder if Woodley also was delivering a message.

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Sources: Eagles doctors find brain tumor for Jerome Harrison

Adam Schefter of ESPN reports as Eagles doctors were giving newly acquired running back Jerome Harrison his physical, they discovered a brain tumor that nullified a trade with the Lions, according to two league sources.

The trade might have might have actually saved Harrison’s life, the sources said. Without the deal being made, Harrison would not have undergone a physical. The tumor is now being treated, according to sources.

Schefter also added that Harrison is not expected to play again in 2011, but his long-term prognosis and football career appear to be good.

Harrison could not be reached for comment.

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A life-saving trade for Jerome Harrison

Not two minutes after I published this post on the future of one Detroit Lions running back, ESPN's Adam Schefter broke a stunning story about another.

According to Schefter, veteran Jerome Harrison was diagnosed with a brain tumor earlier this week during a routine physical to approve his trade to the Philadelphia Eagles. The discovery prompted the Eagles to void the trade, and Harrison is now undergoing treatment.

We don't know any details of Harrison's condition or prognosis, but it's safe to say the tumor wouldn't have been discovered if he hadn't been included in the Eagles' compensation for running back Ronnie Brown. Harrison is on the Lions' active roster for the moment, but you would have to assume his treatment will take precedence over playing football at this point.

I'll bring you more details as they are reported, including how the Lions will deal with their current depth at the position. For now, however, we should all take a moment to accept the randomness of this world. Who would have thought that the NFL trade deadline could be responsible for saving a life?

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Harrison Speaks His Mind on a Defense Gone Bad

James Harrison vs Seattle

James Harrison has never been one to hold back. The Steelers defense for all but one week of the 2011 season has been downright awful, and it is starting to sound like the Warren Sapp’s of the world maybe are right – it’s a defense that looks old.

They are missing tackles, not getting turnovers (how about one in four games) and are not sacking the QB (none against Matt Schaub Sunday in Houston). Harrison spoke his mind after the loss to the Texans, and here’s some of his comments.

“Every man needs to do his job, take care of his responsibilities,” Harrison said Sunday. “It’s not the scheme, it’s not other BS; it’s each man doing his job, and, right now, every man is not doing his job, period.”

Exactly right James, and as a former defensive player of the year, it needs to start with you and Troy Polamalu. You guys need to step it up, and need to make plays. Making one huge play against the Colts isn’t enough, and if you don’t make plays this week, the Titans are going to send you to 2-3.

“People are getting beat. You have to come out there and work the man who’s in front of you, and we’re not doing that right now.”

And why is that? It may be the biggest question, and if each player doesn’t figure out how to start beating the guy in front of them, it’s going to be a long season.

“Each man needs to nut up, look at himself and get in there and take care of his responsibilities. Each play is 11 individuals; if one person doesn’t get the job done, it looks bad for the whole squad.”

Hmmm….sounds like a little finger pointing there. Maybe at fellow LB LaMarr Woodley, who over ran Arian Foster on the game-clinching TD run in the fourth quarter? Then again, you could find blame for just about every player at one point or another for a missed tackle or allowing a big play.

“Worried? No,” he said. “Concerned? Yeah. We have to get things shored up. Whether that’s changing this and changing that, I don’t know, but we have to get something done because it’s not working so far. I haven’t seen it like this, maybe a preseason game here and there, but not like this the way it’s going right now.”

Amen, couldn’t have said it better myself. Keep playing like you are, and you’ll find yourself 2-3 after Sunday.

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Steelers lose Harrison to knee injury

Published: September 11th, 2011 | Tags: James Harrison, Pittsburgh Steelers, Week 1 injuries 2011

UPDATE: The Steelers seem to have avoided a major loss, as Tomlin said during his postgame news conference that Harrison’s knee injury “doesn’t appear to be serious.”

When the Steelers’ defense was on the field late in Sunday’s 35-7 loss to the Ravens, LB James Harrison wasn’t.

According to the Ravens’ official Twitter account, the word from the press box was that Harrison suffered a knee injury, and his return was listed as questionable.

We’ll be on the lookout for postgame comments from Steelers coach Mike Tomlin for the latest on Harrison.

– Frank Tadych

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Flacco on fines: Steelers’ Harrison is doing his job

Published: December 2nd, 2010 | Tags: Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens, James Harrison, NFL Total Access, Pittsburgh Steelers

Rivalry week for the Ravens and Steelers has brought us the latest example of Joe Cool being Joe Cool.

Flacco joined our Randy Moss for an interview Thursday to discuss the emotions involved in facing the Steelers, and he was asked if players have to guard against getting too hyped for the game.

“I guess some guys,” Flacco said. “I think we have a pretty mature team. Guys who know how to go out there and take care of business. I don’t really run into that too much because I like to stay pretty level-headed. Ray Lewis does a pretty good job of taking care of all the emotional stuff for us.”

Speaking of emotional, James Harrison will be lining up across from Flacco a little lighter this week. Harrison was fined $25,000 for a helmet-leading hit on Bills QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, running the linebacker’s tab to $125,000 this season for four separate violations, which has drawn scrutiny of the policy as well as accusations the league is targeting the Steelers.

Flacco, one of the players the rules are designed to protect and thus one of the most likely to condone them, sided with the sentiments of many players when he said he doesn’t fault Harrison for his aggressive style.

“I wouldn’t like to get fined, so I don’t like to see fellow players get fined,” Flacco said. “He’s out there playing football, and he’s doing what he’s been taught to do his whole life. This is a vicious game … you’re out there not to hurt people, but to hit people pretty hard. If they get hurt, that’s what happens. It’s kind of tough to see a guy get fined that much money for doing his job.”

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Linebacker Harrison active for banged-up Steelers

Published: November 14th, 2010 | | Tags: New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers, Week 10 inactives

Steelers linebacker James Harrison, who was downgraded to questionable on Saturday with back spasms, is active for Sunday night’s matchup with the New England Patriots.

Safety Will Allen was downgraded to doubtful Saturday because of a concussion and was ruled out of the game. Joining him on the inactive list are DE Brett Keisel (hamstring) and G Chris Kemoeatu (knee), neither of whom practiced this week. They were both listed as doubtful on the team’s final injury list.

Full inactives list:

Patriots
Darius Butler
Mark LeVoir
Stephen Neal
Rich Ohrnberger
Jarrad Page
Taylor Price
Myron Pryor
Fred Taylor

Steelers
Charlie Batch (No. 3 QB)
Will Allen
Jonathan Dwyer
Chris Scott
Chris Kemoeatu
Antonio Brown
Aaron Smith
Brett Keisel

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