Steelers OLB James Harrison Plans To Work Out For 6 Weeks Before Deciding Whether To Play In 2016

Update:

Steelers OLB James Harrison says he plans to train for six weeks to determine if his body will allow one more season.

“That’s the guarantee I want,” Harrison said, per Gerry Dulac.

Harrison will start training in Scottsdale, Arizona during the second week of March, per Dulac. He added that the six-week training cycle will take him to start of OTAs.

“I’m going to start the process of making sure that I can get back to where I need to be so I’m able to give 100 percent,” Harrison said, per Dulac. “If I get to that point and I’m feeling good, there’s probably a good chance – no, not probably – I will play.”

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Steelers veteran OLB James Harrison told his PR manager that he is not certain that he will return to play in 2016, despite his agent’s claims that he will honor is contract and return next season, per Gerry Dulac.

According to Dulac, Harrison met with trainers in Arizona on Tuesday and told his manager that he will only return if his body allows him to play at a high level.

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According to Bill Parise, the agent for Steelers veteran OLB James Harrison, he expects his client to honor his contract and return for the 2016 season.

“He’s under contract for one more year,” said Parise, via Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. “We plan to honor that.”

Steelers GM Kevin Colbert said Tuesday that they’re anticipating Harrison will return for the 2016 season.

Harrison previously mentioned that he was ready to make a decision about whether to return next year.

“I’m not ready to make any type of decision,” Harrison said, via the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “If you were to ask me something like that right after a loss, nobody wants to go out with a loss. It’s going to be an immediate, ‘Yeah, I’m coming back,’ not taking into account everything else. Right now, I’m not ready to make that decision.”

Harrison, 37, signed a two-year, $2.75 million contract that included a $500,000 signing bonus with the Steelers back in March of last year. He stands to make a base salary of $1.25 million for the 2016 season.

In 2015, Harrison appeared in 15 games and recorded 40 tackles, five sacks, an interception, two forced fumbles and four pass defenses for the Steelers. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 8 outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense out of 53 qualifying players.