The Pittsburgh Steelers are coming off a very rough loss at the hands of the Miami Dolphins last Sunday night, and now sit with a 2-5 record on the year. Naturally, losing comes with anger and frustration, and a 2-5 record is sure to bring that out of even the best of people. In the last media availability before Sunday's matchup with the undefeated Philadelphia Eagles, Najee Harris spoke and fielded some questions about the offense, TJ Watt returning, and more.
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 23: George Pickens #14 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown during the second quarter against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on October 23, 2022 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
After fielding a question about Watt, a reporter asked Harris about comments that Matt Canada made about the offense being close to "getting it together," and replied with a detailed response that made some of the other reporters question whether there is tension inside the Steelers offense and the locker room as a whole:
"We're close..." offers up a long pause, "We're close, but we need to fix some s**t."
A reporter then said Canada thinks this will become a tremendous offense. Harris replied:
"It is, 100%. But like I said, we need to fix some s**t," Harris said, "inside this, inside here, before we get to that."
By the sound of his tone and just off of what he is saying, it is fair to assume that he is alluding to tension inside the offense between the players and/or the coaching the staff.
"Some things, it's more like, I say between the team. We talked to each other between the team rather than to social media. We see what's going on here as a team, and it's not something we want to talk about towards the media."
Harris continues:
"It's not like it's anything bad, but if we want to achieve, it needs to be more accountability from each other, as in players too. It starts with us."
A reporter questions Harris about the attitude of the players in the offense, and he opens up more about what could be happening:
"The attitude is how the men talk to each other. It's only coming from a good place. We don't mean it any bad way, we are just trying to win games. We're trying to come together as a team and turn stuff around, so hearing stuff that you probably don't want to hear is probably what we need. We need accountability from players, execute more rather than blaming other people, and that starts with us."
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 23: Jevon Holland #8 of the Miami Dolphins hands the ball to Najee Harris #22 during the third quarter against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on October 23, 2022 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)
Harris is not used to losing, playing at Alabama and on a very good high school team as well. But he inferred that it is easy to be a leader and be a captain on a winning team, but what is telling is how the players and the team as a whole responds when down. The question is if the team can change this blame culture and focus on just flat out playing winning football.
What do you think, #SteelerNation? Do you see some tension inside the Steelers offense and maybe the locker room as a whole? Do you believe Matt Canada when he says the offense is going to become tremendous? Can the Steelers get rid of this new mindset developing in the locker room with an upset over the undefeated Philadelphia Eagles? Let me know in the comments below or @anthonyravasio on Twitter.
MORE STEELERS NEWS
- The Steelers 2010 QB Room Delivered Again In Entertaining Footbahlin With Ben Roethlisberger’s 9th Episode
- Steelers’ Struggling 3rd-Year WR Chase Claypool Not Stressed By Trade Rumors; Won’t Need To Be For Now
- BREAKING – Sources Close to Steelers’ TJ Watt Confirm Watt Will Absolutely Play During Week 8 In Philadelphia
