James Harrison's dislike of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is nothing new.
The Steelers linebacker and former Super Bowl MVP has made that very clear.
But in a tell-all interview with Men's Journal magazine, Harrison took his criticism of Goodell to a new level, ripping Goodell, as well as the Patriots and his own teammate, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
"If that man was on fire and I had to piss to put him out, I wouldn't do it," Harrison said of Goodell. "I hate him and will never respect him. But up until last year, there was no word of me being dirty — till Roger Goodell, who's a crook and a puppet, said I was the dirtiest player in the league."
Harrison directed some harsh words at New England in the interview, claiming the team cheated in the 2004 AFC Championship Game after the Steelers went 15-1 in the regular season, but were beaten by the Pats 41-27.
"We were the best team in football in 2004, but the Patriots, who we beat during the regular season, stole our signals and picked up 90 percent of our blitzes [in the AFC title game]," Harrison said. "They got busted for it later, but, hey, they're Goodell’s boys, so he slapped 'em $500,000 and burned the tapes. Was he going to rescind their Super Bowls? Man, hell no!"
In the most surprising move of the interview, he had critical words for teammate Roethlisberger following last season's Super Bowl — a game the Steelers lost to the Packers 31-25.
"Hey, at least throw a pick on their side of the field instead of asking the D to bail you out again," Harrison said. "Or hand the ball off and stop trying to act like Peyton Manning. You ain't that and you know it, man; you just get paid like he does."
Roethlisberger took the blame for the loss after the game. He threw for 263 yards and completed two touchdowns, but was picked off twice.
Harrison also ripped former New England stars Tedy Bruschi and Rodney Harrison, calling them "clowns" and saying that Houston linebacker Brian Cushing is "juiced out of his mind."
The full story will be featured in the August issue and accompany a photo of Harrison shirtless with his two guns.
