James Harrison v. Roger Goodell: Advantage Harrison

... serves as inspiration for young defense 

James Harrison knows the drill: Big Brother is watching you.

In this case, Big Brother is Roger Goodell, the most unpopular and corrupt NFL commissioner in history [see previous Deflategate/Spygate stories]. He will not see the Steeler-Patriots AFC Championship game on Sunday because he is afraid of the abuse that he will take from Patriots fans who are upset over Deflategate.

Still, it must really gall him that a player who called him a crook last year is a topic of one of the key media narratives prior to the game. That player is none other that Pittsburgh Steeler linebacker James Harrison, a 38-year-old who battled Goodell last year over allegations that he was taking peformance-enhancing drugs (PEDs).

Harrison was clean, but it did not matter to Goodell.

Anyone who calls the dictator a "crook" should be eliminated in some way, Goodell thought.

Did not work that way.

Harrison key to defensive resurgence

The Steeler defense has been poor at times this season, but the aging veteran has been leading a young aggregation that has been improving throughout the season. Midway through the year, Coach Mike Tomlin, who did not think that Harrison was worth paying big bucks four years ago, inserted him into the starting lineup. He has delivered, playing 55 of 58 defensive snaps against the Kansas City Chiefs in the division game last week.

In the process, Harrison set the Steeler sack record with 79 1/2, one that may stand if he decides to retire -- again.

Harrison has also been required to take at least nine drug tests this year. Big Brother continues to keep an eye on him.

PED allegations

Goodell got on the case of Harrison and Green Bay defenders Clay Mathews and Julius Peppers after they were alleged to have used PEDs by a sleazy character named Charlie Sly, who talked about his allegations to the Al Jazeera network, which then broadcast the highly-criticized report.

Sly also included Peyton Manning, but as I reported last year, those PEDs that were alleged to be sent to Manning through his wife were actually fertility drugs. She later had twins.

Sly later recanted and said that what he told the network was not true.

The NFL said that it would investigate and found nothing wrong with any of the alleged users.

Harrison declines to meet with NFL

Harrison initially rejected the request for an interview, but after threat of suspension by Goodell, the great fascist, Harrison said this, "Whatever evidence they might have or reasoning for questioning for me is out of my control, I don't know. I wouldn't have a problem with it being filmed live. I've been prosecuted and persecuted publicly in the media by them for something I didn't do, so I don't see why we couldn't have the media there and do a live interview. They can ask the questions and I can answer them, and y'all can see whatever evidence it is they say they got."

In the interview, Harrison refused to answer questions about anything except the comments that Sly made about him. That is when he made the crook reference. "If it goes to conduct detrimental, it leans to the hands of that crook — I mean Roger Goodell — and he can do whatever he wants," Harrison said, according to USA Today. "That's just the collective bargaining agreement that the players signed."

Spends $350,000 on his body

Harrison told NFL Network's Andrea Kremer that he spends approximately $350,000 a year on "body work." This includes an acupuncturist, a dry-needling person, a physician and natural path doctor, a trainer, a masseuse and two masseurs, a physio-chiro masseur, and a chiropractor.

It is a constant battle to play at 38.

Weight Room

The list did not include any PEDs, obviously, but the most important work he does can be found in the early morning in the weight room. The Post-Gazette reported that when the team returned from Kansas City last weekend, Harrison was in the weight room at 5 a.m. despite not sleeping on the plane.

It is that dedication that has made Harrison such a role model for the younger players.

Hall of Fame

What is very clear is that Harrison has enhanced his chances at making the NFL Hall of Fame with his performance this season. He had good credentials before this -- earning NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2008 -- but this has increased his probability.

If Harrison has used PEDs, then he, or anyone else, should not be inducted. There is no evidence that he has ever done so, however, so his chances of making it now are good.

That must rankle Goodell, who has zero influence on the HF selections. Those are made by the Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee, which is made up a 48 persons, none of whom has NFL main office affiliations. That is as it should be.