How’s this for a little AFC North intrigue?
The Bengals and ex-Steelers outside linebacker James Harrison are meeting Thursday, Joe Reedy of the Cincinnati Enquirer and Mike Garofolo of USA Today reported Thursday. The Steelers released the 35-year-old Harrison in March and have moved on from him, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported in March.
Harrison starred as an outside linebacker in the Steelers’ 3-4 scheme. Cincinnati, meanwhile, employs a 4-3 front. He could project as a strong-side linebacker in the Bengals’ base defense as well as a defensive end in passing situations. Manny Lawson, who started on the strong side for the Bengals in 2012, departed in free agency.
The Bengals, who want to build via the draft, spent the early portion of free agency retaining their own players. However, they have started to shop a little more of late, with Karlos Dansby, Akeem Jordan and Felix Jones among the players they have met.