Agent: Disappointed with Steelers offers for Harrison

BasX · Mar 3, 2009

The $100 million free-agent contract given to defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth by the Washington Redskins hasn't affected negotiations between the Steelers and linebacker James Harrison. Yet, Harrison's representative is "disappointed" by the lack of progress toward a long-term contract extension for his client.

"We're struggling with this," agent Bill Parise said Monday morning. "We don't seem to be making the progress I felt we would have made. I'm disappointed but not discouraged."

Parise said he talked on "a couple occasions" yesterday with Steelers' director of football operations Kevin Colbert and Steelers' business and football administration coordinator Omar Khan.

Those discussions, Parise said, resulted in the eventual submission of a revised contract proposal for Harrison.

"It's extremely similar to the previous (two) proposals submitted," Parise said. "It's less in value than we asked for the first time, so we came down. My expectation would be that the Steelers would come up.

"We're working at this. We'll see what happens from here."

Parise said he anticipated a response from the Steelers in the next 24 to 48 hours.

The Steelers, per club policy, do not comment publicly on contract negotiations.

Haynesworth, formerly of the Tennessee Titans, agreed last week to a seven-year deal with the Redskins, one worth approximately $100 million. It included an NFL-record $41 million guaranteed.

The Steelers signed quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to a $102 million deal last year.

Harrison is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent following the 2009 season, the last year of a four-year, $5.5 million deal signed in April 2006. That contract included a $1.375 million signing bonus.

He earned a $1.2 million base salary in 2008, when he was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year and helped lead the Steelers to victory in Super Bowl XLIII.

"We're just not doing well," Parise said. "This is not going as well as it should or it could. Both sides are being challenged to get this accomplished.

"We clearly want to be here and stay here. James has a home here and family an hour-and-a-half away. I'm here, we love this and this is our goal. And our request is by no means a reach.

"We're not anywhere near Haynesworth numbers. We're nowhere near Ben's numbers. We're not asking for him to be the highest-paid Steelers player."

Although he declined to identify a timetable for getting an agreement hammered out, Parise made it clear he's operating under such a parameter.

"We're not going to do this forever," he said. "If we can't get something done in the very near future, it's going to be a negative result. There are two outcomes, good and bad. Both are on the table."

The Steelers haven't signed a free agent from another team or hosted one for a visit since the NFL's free-agency period began at 12:01 a.m. on Friday.

Still, they've been busy.

Offensive tackle Max Starks has been signed to a one-year, $8.451 million contract as the team's franchise player with the idea of eventually working out a long-term deal.

Guard Chris Kemoeatu has agreed to a five-year contract that could be worth as much as $20 million.

Offensive tackle Willie Colon has been offered a one-year, $2.198 million contract as a restricted free agent.

Tight end/fullback Sean McHugh has agreed to a three-year, $2.57 million contract with a $390,000 signing bonus.

And cornerback/special-teams player Anthony Madison has been offered a one-year deal for $1.01 million.

"The Steelers have done some interesting things this free-agent period," Parise said. "We need to fit in there. They keep saying we're the most important thing, but I don't feel the love.

"Our relationship is still strong; we're having no trouble talking. Agreeing, we seem to be having some difficultly with that."
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Agent: Disappointed with Steelers offers for Harrison

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