The rivalry between the Cleveland Browns and the Pittsburgh Steelers is legendary, but a recent claim by former Steelers linebacker James Harrison has reignited old flames. Harrison alleges that Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin gave him “an envelope” after he was fined $75,000 for a controversial hit on Browns wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi in 2010.
The hit, a helmet-to-helmet collision, left Massaquoi with a concussion and resulted in a significant fine for Harrison. While not flagged during the game, the incident drew considerable attention, especially considering Harrison’s history of hard-hitting plays. In the same game, he also knocked out Browns wide receiver Josh Cribbs with another helmet-to-helmet hit.
Harrison’s comments on a recent Barstool Sports podcast, “Going Deep,” sparked controversy. He stated that Tomlin handed him an envelope after the fine, leaving the contents unspecified but implying a payment. He further claimed that he only used “50%” of his force on the hit against Massaquoi, adding fuel to the fire with provocative statements about his intentions had he known the severity of the fine.
Steelers president Art Rooney II swiftly denied Harrison’s claims, asserting that no such payment ever occurred and expressing bewilderment at Harrison’s comments. The NFL also picked up the story, further amplifying the controversy.
Following the backlash, Harrison attempted to clarify his remarks on Instagram, denying any connection to the “Bountygate” scandal involving the New Orleans Saints. He maintained that Tomlin never paid him to injure players and attributed the fine to the NFL’s changing stance on player safety amid emerging concussion lawsuits. He suggested the league had previously profited from selling images and videos of hard hits, including the one in question.
He argued that the league’s subsequent crackdown on such plays, including hefty fines, was a reaction to the lawsuits and a way to project a concern for player safety. He insisted that fans and media were aware of this shift and even contributed funds to help players cover the fines.
While Harrison’s clarification attempted to distance himself from accusations of intentionally injuring players, the controversy surrounding the hit and the alleged envelope remains. The incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing debate regarding player safety in the NFL and the evolution of the league’s approach to enforcing rules designed to protect players from serious injury.
