Former Steeler James Harrison Blasts NFL in Explanation for Mike Tomlin Payment Story

Pittsburgh Steelers pass rusher James Harrison found himself in the middle of a "Bountygate" style scandal after reports surfaced that he was given an unspecified amount of money in an envelope from head coach Mike Tomlin for knocking Cleveland Browns wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi out of a game.

Harrison, who was subsequently fined $75,000 for the hit, claims that any report that tries to connect this to the New Orleans Saints Bountygate scandal that incentivized injuring players was "BS" and that the fine was given after the NFL's concussion lawsuits in an attempt to look like they cared about player safety. He further absolved Tomlin of any blame, claiming that "at no time" did his former head coach encourage any of his players to injure someone.

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Wow y'all really comparing what I said to BOUNTYGATE?!? Mike T. Has NEVER paid me for hurting someone or TRYING to hurt someone or put a bounty on ANYBODY! If you knew the full story of what happened back then you'd know that BS fine for a Legal Play wasn't even penalized during the game. The league was getting pressure because the first concussion lawsuits were starting and they had to look like they cared about player safety all of a sudden. Before that they had been SELLING a photo of THAT SAME PLAY FOR $55 on the NFL website with other videos of the NFL'S GREATEST HITS that the league Profited On back then. When the league had to start pretending like they cared about player safety they took all those things down off their website and they started fining guys ridiculous amounts for the same plays they used to profit off of. EVERYBODY knew it - even these same media people and all the fans that were sending money to me and the team to cover the fine. AGAIN AT NO TIME did Mike T. EVER suggest anybody hurt anybody or that they'd be rewarded for anything like that. GTFOH with that BS!!! #receipts

A post shared by James Harrison (@jhharrison92) on May 15, 2020 at 7:40am PDT

While Harrison's agent claimed that Tomlin giving Harrison the envelope "never happened," Harrison himself didn't confirm or deny it.

James Harrison's agent denies the ex-Steeler's claim that Mike Tomlin handed him an envelope after he was fined $75,000 for a hit on Mohamed Massaquoi in 2010: "Never happened," per @tribjoerutter pic.twitter.com/Pu8yG5FUON
— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) May 15, 2020

Former Colts punter Pat McAfee claims that Indy special teamers used to earn $100 for tackles inside the 20-yard line, but the operation was quickly shut down.

James Harrison says there was no Bountygate2.0..

I used to give out "bounties" for tackles inside the 20 then it got SHUT DAHN #PatMcAfeeShowLIVE pic.twitter.com/eV9fzhakts
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) May 15, 2020

Sean Payton got a one-year suspension for being tangentially involved in the Saints' scandal, and Tomlin could potentially be in line for something similar if these allegations have any legs. However, if we are to take Harrison at his word, the Steelers weren't running any sort of complex scheme like the Saints were. This likely won't be the last development in this story, however.