Marvin Harrison is still looking for a new home
As NFL training camps open around the league, Marvin Harrison, one of the best wide receivers of all-time, is still looking for a home.
Sure, he will be 37 next month, but not only is Harrison the best receiver in free-agency, but also possesses tons of veteran leadership that a lot of the young receivers in the league could use.
I’ve always been a huge advocate of the “player-coach” idea, and although I don’t know Marvin personally, from what I gather from his reputation around the league, he would be a pretty good one. He has always been a consummate professional on and off the field, and even at the age of 36, he can still bring a deep threat in the NFL.
In 2008, his numbers may not have been stellar, but they weren’t terrible, either. He caught 60 passes for 636 yards, a 10.1 yard per catch average, and hauled in 5 touchdown passes. That’s as many touchdowns’ as the receiving corps of the Miami Dolphins caught, combined! (hint hint)
The only thing other than age that may be keeping teams away is the story of the man who was shot by a gun owned by Harrison. Although the man is suing Harrison, criminal charges have been dropped. Could you really envision Marvin Harrison being involved with shooting somebody?
Look, I’m not saying that you want to build a franchise around the guy for years to come, but for 1 or maybe 2 years tops, he can bring more than a serviceable receiving threat, a great role-model, and veteran-leadership to someone’s roster.
Can I imagine Harrison shooting someone? To be honest nothing would surprise me from any profession alathlete. Who knows what these guys do behind closed doors. As far as him helping out a team it would almost seem a forgone conclusion he would bolster any roster. But the NFL more than any other league is is excellent at evaluating a player’s ability to still be affective. There is some reason he hasn’t been picked by a team. The public just isn’t aware of it. My gut tells me he will be picked up by someone (hello Parcells) but only time will tell where he will end his career.
Phil
July 22, 2009 at 3:51 pm