Notebook: Harrison takes out unruly fan
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By Joe Bendel
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Sunday, December 25, 2005
CLEVELAND -- An unruly Browns fan made the critical mistake of running onto the field Saturday in the fourth quarter of the Steelers' 41-0 win.
He quickly found himself on the turf. Face first.
Steelers linebacker James Harrison took matters into his own hands when the man ran in the direction of Steelers running back Verron Haynes, then continued toward the Steelers sideline. Harrison waited until the culprit turned his back, then performed a WWE body slam.
Harrison, a native of nearby Akron, held the man on the ground until security hand-cuffed him and took him away with 9:17 remaining.
"I basically took him down because when he first came out, he took off after 'V,' then he was backing up near our sideline," Harrison said. "I don't know if he had anything on him or whatever. So I felt like, with his back to me, I could take him down without risking injury to myself or my teammates and hold him there until the proper authorities came."
Steelers teammates celebrated the move by Harrison.
"I thought I was the biggest outlaw in Cleveland," said linebacker Joey Porter, referring to his pregame fight last season with Browns running back William Green that caused both to be ejected. "If something happens from the league (and Harrison is fined), guys are going to chip in. That was a laugh I'm going to remember forever."
Steelers right tackle Max Starks said Harrison operates what he termed, "The Silverback Security Agency." Harrison's nickname among teammates is Silverback.
"He made the mistake of taunting James," Starks said, shaking his head. "That's the wrong guy on our entire team that you do that do. He got what he deserved."
http://pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-rev ... 07370.html
