I was fully prepared to give you a score-by-score breakdown of who I thought was going to win the British Open and two players that I think will finish in the top 10 this weekend at Royal St. George.
A new story, though, has taken away some of that thunder, so I'll just tell you who I believe will have a good showing in the English town of Sandwich:
Winner: Jason Day
Top-10 Finishers: Alvaro Quiros, Hunter Mahan, Robert Karlsson
While driving home today, radio reports on the different outlets had James Harrison in the news for critical comments he made about Roger Goddell in the August issue of Men's Journal. By the way, doesn't the name 'Men's Journal' sound like something I would carry in my satchel to record my rendezvous with Richard Gere? This is not a shock. No one on the players side of the negotiations probably thinks fondly of Mr. Goddell. After all, Goddell is meant to be the impartial face of the league, but in these negotiations, he has become the face of the owners.
I did enjoy the part about Harrison referring to Goddell as both a puppet and a dictator. I will detail on what platform the words "puppet" and "dictator," are used simultaneously, unless Harrison told Men's Journal something like, "Goddell acts like a dictator to the players. Do you like this hand puppet I made?"
Harrison took the time, though, to criticize Ben Roethlisberger, the Steelers quarterback who has made plenty of bad decisions in his life. Rashard Mendenhall also could not escape Harrison's blame, calling him a "fumble machine."
Mendenhall responded with, "I don't have a problem with what [Harrison] said because I know him."
OK, glad that's settled.
Roethlisberger is a different matter. Here is a list of people that don't care for Ben Roethlisberger:
* the AFC North
* Georgia and Nevada
* all women sans fiance (Additionally, checkout the intense reporting here by James Walker - thanks James.)
Teammates should not make that list. Teammates have disagreements and we as fans should have learned by now, those players should settle their own matters privately. Roethlisberger has already had his captaincy rightfully removed from his list of responsibilities. Whatever Ben's problems were off the field, he's looked to remedy them. On the field, he has been nothing less then a great player, no matter what you think of his character.
It's difficult to pinpoint what Harrison's motives are for making these comments - as well as the possible questions the reporter conjured to get such abrasive remarks. For now, the NFL really can't react to these comments with the labor bickering still ongoing. It does create some fodder for a day or two about how crazy Harrison is, how the Steelers gave Green Bay three touchdowns and how Goddell is an evil super-genius.
The lockout, however, will end. I'm not sure what the commissioner will do because Harrison is, after all, just ranting and hasn't committed a crime except for first degree hurt feelings. However, I have an idea what Mike Tomlin and Art Rooney II might be looking to do.
Harrison will be 33 this year and is under contract by the Steelers through 2012 with options through 2014. He, like Roethlisberger, is a valuable member to the Steelers, but at what point does the verbal baggage finally stop? Steelers fans have their varying opinions on both men, whether to discard them or offer forgiveness, but both are undeniably top talents at their profession
Tomlin and Rooney are going to meet with Harrison about his comments and get to the bottom of his angst. At the end of the day, I can see Tomlin and Rooney giving Harrison the choice of how he wishes to proceed:
* Contribute to the team at come to us with your problems
* Leave
I think Harrison, when he weighs his options, will ask for a new team. It's not going to be something the organization wants, just like they don't want Hines Ward drinking and driving, Santonio Holmes getting high, Mendenhall damning bin Laden haters, or Roethlisberger in Georgia dive bars. Tomlin and Rooney are not reactive to these many mishaps, just like they won't succumb to media and fan scrutiny at the drop of a hat. But after weighing the facts of the case and advocating for what's best for the team, they will attempt to trade Harrison and he will not be in a Steelers uniform when they tee it up this season.
The sad irony is the two guys largely responsible for winning Super Bowl XLIII will be exiled unceremoniously. I hope Harrison decides to take the upstanding path and meets with the team, Mendenhall and Roethlisberger. I just don't think it's in his nature.
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