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Steelers' Harrison leaves another mark

Steelers linebacker James Harrison knows how to make an impact.

He does it on Sundays in the fall, usually with such reckless abandon that he inflicts punishment on his target.

He did it again, with NFL commish Roger Goodell caught in the crosshairs.

Harrison ripped Goodell in Men's Journal magazine, and along the way took a shot at teammates Ben Roethlisberger and Rashard Mendenhall.

You can check out a story here, if you haven't heard the ruckus.

And as swiftly as his words hit the Internet, the criticism followed.

I find it ironic that the media longs for an athlete who speaks his mind yet when those comments don't agree with his or her view, the athlete is criticized.

And don't read that as a defense of Harrison. It's not.

There's plenty to dislike about Harrison's comments, which calling them over the top would be an understatement. However, who didn't think Roethlisberger's play in the Super Bowl hurt the Steelers? Anyone else think Mendenhall cost the Steelers the game when he fumbled? Although Clay Mathews made a heck of a play, too. And the point about shortening training camp and non-guaranteed contracts? Good.

The problem is, if Harrison wants to be outlandish, do it and do it only. If he wants to make a solid point, do that by itself. The points he made get lost in the rants and name-calling.

Harrsion since has gone into spin mode since the story broke. That's the only way to cover your behind, which seems anti-Harrison. But if you're facing a fine and/or suspension, that's what you need to do.

This is turning into one heck of an offseason for the Steelers agin.

It will be interesting to see what the fallout is.

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