The three vehemently denied any connection to Sly and Sly later recanted his story, saying, “there is no truth to any statement of mine”.
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The seemingly ageless Harrison is coming off a season that saw him register 40 tackles, five sacks and one interception as a situational player. The NFL believes this falls under the “conduct detrimental to the league” category.
The NFLPA’s letter, on which he was copied, disputes that the NFL can punish Harrison under Article 46 of the CBA, which covers commissioner discipline.
Harrison’s agent, Bill Parise, told CBS Sports NFL Insider Jason La Canfora that Harrison would be open to an interview.
The 14-year veteran said his only motivation for meeting with the commissioner is that his suspension would hurt the Steelers. During NFL investigations, it’s not, “Anything you say can and will be used against you”; it’s, “Anything you say may be twisted and warped and distorted to fit our predetermined narrative”.
Harrison also remains an effective player at an advanced age. I never took a PED in my life.
Harrison said he wouldn’t have a problem with filming the proceedings.
“When it came down to it, if it went to a longer situation, I got the suspension”, said Harrison. Whatever evidence they think they may have or reasoning for questioning me is out of my control.
The league cleared recently retired quarterback Peyton Manning, who was a central figure in the report, shortly after interviewing him.
When asked for a reason to explain his refusal, he bluntly responded, “I’m not going to answer questions for every little thing that some Tom, Dick and Harry comes up with”.
Birch’s memo to the union said suspensions would start the day after the August 25 deadline, and would end at the discretion of Commissioner Roger Goodell once interviews had been completed.
The NFL Players Association called it a “public shaming”.
James Harrison has chose to meet with Commissioner Roger Goodell and the conversation is likely to be quite frosty. “Most recently, the NFLPA has attempted to prevent the interviews by submitting for each player a half-page statement, which you advised should be treated as a sworn statement given in a legal proceeding, and which you contend should fulfill the players’ acknowledged obligation to cooperate with the investigation”.
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In July, the National Football League made the announcement that it closed its investigation into Peyton Manning the former Denver Broncos quarterback, who Sly implicated as well in a conversation he recorded.
