ON ONE

Once again James Harrison of the Pittsburgh Steelers has managed to find himself in hot water.

In a recent interview with "Men's Journal", the Pro Bowl linebacker went "Andre the Giant" on NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and even got at his own teammates Rashard Mendenhall and Ben Roethlisberger.

Regarding Goodell, Harrison said he was: "stupid…a puppet…a dictator…If that man was on fire and I had to piss to put him out, I wouldn't do it. I hate him and will never respect him." He undoubtedly will catch the most heat for using anti-gay slurs in his rant against Goodell.

Describing those comments as inflammatory would be an understatement but Harrison and Goodell have had a long-standing feud. Harrison has consistently been at the top of the leagues most fined players and believes the commissioner has personally targeted him.

I'm keenly aware that violence in football is a key to it's popularity but like Goodell I've even questioned myself internally if some of Harrison's hits crossed the line. But that's the tricky part.

In my estimation, the hits Harrison were fined for don't cross the line into a space of dirtiness or that which could be considered a "cheapshot." It's just that in real time and in game speed, the ferocity of said hits can be deemed as: excessive, exaggerated or unnecessary.

Harrison does make an undeniable point of inconsistencies from the league's office that would lead one to wonder if race plays a role in the way issues are handled, primarily fining players for illegal hits.

"I slammed Vince Young on his head and paid five grand, but just touched Drew Brees and that was 20," Harrison said in the interview. "You think black players don't see this s--- and lose all respect for Goodell?"

It's hard to place James Harrison in one lane. His actions, like snubbing to see President Obama when the Steelers visited the White House, or his constant battle with Commisioner Goodell can be revered as rebellious and anti-establishment or pegged as problematic with authority.

One thing is for certain in that it's going to be awkward in training camp. I'm curious as to see how he's going to integrate with his teammates once the lock-out is over.

"Hey, at least throw a pick on their side of the field instead of asking the D to bail you out again," Harrison said of Roethlisberger. "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."

I couldn't disagree more with his sentiment. Ben Roethlisberger is a certified champion and leader of men on the football field. He deserves his paycheck in relation to the top-tier quarterbacks in the NFL.

But as soon as he threw the franchise qb under the buss, he proceeded to contradict himself by airing out another teammate, in calling the starting running Rashard Mendenhall "a fumble machine." So which one is it, try to wing in like Peyton or hand off to the fumbling machine?

At the end of the day, I have no problem with James Harrison. He's one tough dude I would love to have on my team, on the field or in a dark alley.

Some may say his cover spread may be controversial, but we're all aware of the second amendment and if he has a license for those bad boys, God bless him.

You just have to read in between the lines: 'You want to make me the outlaw or villain Goodell? Well here it is. You made me.' Of course that's the excuse more so for shock value than genuine rebelliousness.