Kent State once sent a linebacker to the Pittsburgh Steelers who epitomized everything the Steel Curtain was about, Jack Lambert.
The current hard-hitting, versatile, and dynamic former Kent Stater in Steel City is James Harrison, the Associated Press 2008 Defensive Player of the Year.
The linebacker, who had a career-high 16 sacks to set a team record and led the NFL with a career-high seven forced fumbles, beat Dallas's DeMarcus Ware in balloting by a nationwide panel of 50 sports writers and broadcasters announced yesterday. Pittsburgh was the league's stingiest in total defense, pass defense, and points allowed. Harrison was its main hammer.
"That's something that everybody in the league would love to have, to be voted the top player in the league for that year," Harrison said. "In my mind, I think I do - and it's going to sound boring - what the defense allows me to do and what my teammates allow me to do."
Harrison earned 22 votes to 13 for Ware.
Baltimore safety Ed Reed, the 2004 winner, got eight votes. Tennessee defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth had five and Harrison's teammate, safety Troy Polamalu, got two.
Morris, Broncos talk
Raheem Morris's interviewing skills could make his promotion to defensive coordinator in Tampa Bay a moot point. The Buccaneers' 32-year-old secondary coach and defensive whiz moved up his interview 48 hours and met with the Broncos about their coaching vacancy yesterday. He's the third candidate to speak with Broncos owner
Pat Bowlen, who fired
Mike Shanahan after 14 seasons. Morris earned a promotion from secondary coach to defensive coordinator in Tampa Bay following the departure last week of longtime assistant
Monte Kiffin, who's joining his son,
Lane, at the University of Tennessee . . . Several reports out of New York say the Jets have contacted
Brian Billick, former Ravens head man, about their coaching vacancy. Also, a person familiar with the search told the AP that the Jets will interview Cardinals offensive line coach
Russ Grimm Thursday in Arizona about the opening . . . Former Giants coach
Jim Fassel is among the candidates the Rams could interview for their coaching position this week. General manager
Billy Devaney received clearance over the weekend to speak with Ravens defensive coordinator
Rex Ryan, Vikings defensive coordinator
Leslie Frazier, Dolphins secondary coach
Todd Bowles, and Cowboys wide receivers coach
Ray Sherman . . . Packers coach
Mike McCarthy released six assistants, including defensive coordinator
Bob Sanders. Tomlinson ailing
A groin injury is dogging
LaDainian Tomlinson to the point that he might have to sit out the Chargers' playoff game at Pittsburgh on Sunday. "I don't know. It's tough," the running back said after the Chargers' light workout. "This is a tough injury. I would probably venture to say it's probably the toughest of my career. We'll see what happens." The injury, sustained in the final regular-season game, robbed Tomlinson of his burst and shiftiness to the point that he came out of Saturday night's 23-17 overtime wild-card win over the Colts after scoring on a 3-yard run early in the second quarter.
Darren Sproles took over after that. Sproles had 328 all-purpose yards, including the winning 22-yard touchdown run . . . Steelers quarterback
Ben Roethlisberger (concussion) returned to practice and said he expects to play against the Chargers . . . Arizona wide receiver
Anquan Boldin has a strained left hamstring and his status is uncertain for Saturday night's playoff game at Carolina.
Millen at the mike
Matt Millen will be offering his opinions on football during NBC's Super Bowl pregame show. The former Lions team president, architect of the NFL's first 0-16 squad, will appear on the network again after serving as a studio analyst Saturday during its playoff coverage . . . Former Vikings great
Carl Eller sued the Minneapolis Police Department, alleging officers violated his civil rights, used excessive force, and concealed videotape evidence when they subdued him during an arrest last April . . . A Florida man is suing Chargers running back
Michael Bennett and a former Tampa Bay teammate, saying they attacked him at an International House of Pancakes.
Brian Gordon says Bennett, offensive lineman
Anthony Davis, and another man assaulted him in the restaurant parking lot in Tampa Oct. 13.
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