PITTSBURGH -- James Harrison's snarling tenacity made the Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker one of the NFL's most intimidating players for nearly a decade.
Big hits -- some legal, some not so much -- also turned the outspoken five-time Pro Bowler into focal point for a league-wide crackdown on helmet-to-helmet contact.
Harrison's outlaw image made him beloved in Pittsburgh but reviled elsewhere. His onerous contract, however, no longer worked for a team with serious salary cap issues. The Steelers released the former Defensive Player of the Year on Saturday when the two sides could not agree on a more cap-friendly deal.
"It's been a great run but all good things must come to a end," Harrison posted on his Twitter account on Saturday afternoon. "Thank you Steelers Nation I will miss you all!"
Pittsburgh general manager Kevin Colbert and Harrison's agent Bill Parise had spent the last few days trying to iron out a new deal but couldn't reach any common ground. Harrison was entering the final two years of a $51-million extension he signed in 2009 and was scheduled to make $6.57 million in 2013.
Harrison was set to make $7.6 million in 2014. By releasing Harrison, the Steelers create $5.105 million in cap space.
They've already put that money to good use, too.
A source told ESPN's John Clayton that the Steelers gave $1,323,000 tender offers to four restricted free agents -- running back Jonathan Dwyer, running back Isaac Redman, wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders and defensive tackle Steve McLendon.
Harrison -- who turns 35 in May -- will find himself looking for work for the first time since he became a fixture on the right side of Pittsburgh's 3-4 defense in 2006.
