Steelers OLB James Harrison put together one of the better defensive seasons in team history in 2007.

That may all be forgotten now.

Harrison was charged with simple assault and criminal mischief Saturday in Ohio Township. According to an affidavit filed in conjunction with the arrest, Harrison broke into the room of his girlfriend, Beth Tibbott, after she locked herself in as the result of an argument between the two.

Harrison broke the door open, and broke in half her cell phone, which she was using to call police.

Harrison left the scene, and was arrested later. The affidavit says Harrison corroborated the Tibbott told police.

Harrison was voted a starter in the 2008 Pro Bowl in Honolulu after his first season as the full-time starter. His season was lauded as a success story, given Harrison was undrafted, and was cut by the Steelers and the Ravens before returning to Pittsburgh. He replaced All-Time OLB Joey Porter, who had left via free agency in 2007.

He became the only player in NFL history to log three sacks, three forced fumbles and one interception in one game, highlighting a 38-7 thrashing of the Ravens on Monday Night Football.

Harrison is seen as the anchor of a traditionally outstanding group of linebackers in Pittsburgh. Veteran OLB Clark Haggans is a free agent, and is certain to play somewhere else in 2008. Second-year OLB LaMarr Woodley is slated to replace him, with the Steelers’ first draft choice in 2007, Lawrence Timmons, currently scheduled to provide depth at that position.

Of all teams…the Jets?

Early reports said the New York Jets had offered Steelers G Alan Faneca Four years, $32 million and $23 million guaranteed. The P-G’s Ed Bouchette wrote that Faneca will likely sign an offer by Saturday night, but not necessarily the deal he was offered by the Jets. Steelers beat writer Dale Lolley reported the Jets offer on his blog and on Steel City Insider.

Tom Rock from Newsday Magazine writes that he spoke to Faneca’s agent, Rick Smith, who said the signing is “false.”  All sides seem to confirm a deal was offered, and considering that offer would make Faneca the highest paid offensive lineman in the game, it’s likely he and Smith are merely spinning the Jets offer over to other suitors - sources say the 49ers and the Rams were involved - to see if he can’t get a better deal.

But if it is the Jets, do we begin throwing around the “hypocrite” label?

Financially, the Jets offer makes sense for Faneca. Even kind of crazy. But what’s really crazy here is the amount of energy Faneca spent in calling out the Steelers organization for not treating him fairly, and his decision, barely 15 hours into the free agency period, to choose the team that has arguably the worst reputation for dealing with its players in the league.

Before training camp in May, Faneca said:

“I’ve been asking since February to trade me, to let me go,” Faneca said. “I’ve done my piece. I’ve done my time. I’ve done everything I can for this organization. I’ve lived and breathed Steeler football for nine years and gave them everything I’ve had and helped them win a Super Bowl. In my mind, I’ve earned the right to be treated fairly.”

We don’t have to look very far to see how the Jets treat their guards.

Former Jets LG Pete Kendall- the guy Faneca is obstensibly replacing -  re-negotiated his contract in 2006, helping the Jets free up some salary cap space. He demanded a $1 million raise before the 2007 season, and the team refused to give it to him. A bitter battle ensued between Kendall and the Jets over the alleged deal.

According to Kendall, the Jets promised to re-negotiate his contract in 2007 if he performed well in 2006. Whether the Jets reneged on that promise, or they weren’t interested in renegotiating in the first place, they traded Kendall to Washington for a fifth-round pick in this April’s draft.

Once is an occurence. Twice is a trend.

Here’s Kendall’s former teammate, Laveranues Coles, accusing the Jets of the exact same thing Kendall did.

According to Coles, the team was happy with his effort, and were appreciative of all the non-statbook factors he contributed. But that’s not enough, apparently.

Said Coles to the Newark Star-Ledger:  

“I played hurt,” he said. “I ran clear-out routes for Jerricho (Cotchery). They praised me for my toughness and not worrying about my numbers. They tell me that I’m an unselfish player. I do everything they ask me to do and then when it comes to business, they tell me my production is down. That’s not right.”

 (nod to PFT on the Coles story)

The Jets are allegedly in the habit of lying to their players, and getting them to accept less money and less of a role on the team under the agreement the team would take care of them after that season. Two veteran players in two seasons have accused the Jets of those kinds of deals.

And Faneca accused the Steelers of being underhanded?

Clearly, Faneca cared little about what was fair and what was right. He wanted what was his, and nothing more.

In the end, the Steelers will remain relatively stain-free after Faneca’s tirade, but let’s stay tuned. Considering the Jets traded two picks to Carolina for DT Kris Jenkins (and gave him five years, $35 million, $20 guaranteed), it’ll be interesting to see Faneca’s reaction when they come to him in two years asking, “Hey Alan, ya think we could re-work your contract? We’ll make it up to you, I promise.”

Does Max Starks’s transition tag mean anything? Not especially, unless, of course, you consider the new name of a transition tag: The Defensive Tag.

Starks wasn’t tagged to buy more time to sign a long-term deal. He was tagged so he can buy the team some time to establish long-term starters, but get a third-round pick as compensation if/when someone signs him.

It’s all explained here, on Real Football 365

Ernie Holmes, a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers famed “Steel Curtain” defense in the 1970s, died Friday in a car accident outside Beaumont, Texas. He was 59 years old.

Holmes (nicknamed “Fats”) played alongside Hall of Famer “Mean” Joe Greene at the defensive tackle position, and L.C. Greenwood and Dwight White, the ends. With Holmes, the Steelers won two of their four Super Bowls during the decade, was a two-time All-Pro lineman, known for his unpredictable behavior, and this somewhat humorous story (depending on your perspective).

Holmes is a paramount example of how the Steelers, much like what the Patriots are doing today, and the Cowboys were able to do in the 1990s, drafted nearly flawlessly. He was an 8th round selection out of Texas Southern in 1971.

In fact, the Steelers fleeced the state of Texas for the bulk of their talent on defense, all from small Texas schools. White attended Texas A&M University-Commerce and Greene went to North Texas State University. Holmes went to Texas Southern University. While Greenwood was not a Texan, he was from Arkansas, and was a 10th round selection from Arkansas AM&N.