By Teresa Varley
Steelers.com
Linebacker James Harrison stopped by the team's practice facility on Tuesday, the player's day off, and received some good news while he was there.
Harrison was told by team owner Dan Rooney that he made the Pro Bowl for the second consecutive year.
"It feels good that everyone feels that I played to that level that I deserve to go to the Pro Bowl," said Harrison. "I am just real happy to get the opportunity to go there."
Harrison will be joined on the AFC Pro Bowl squad by two of his defensive teammates, linebacker James Farrior and safety Troy Polamalu. Harrison and Polamalu will both be starters.
Harrison has tied the Steelers team record with 15 sacks, with two regular season games still remaining. He also has forced seven fumbles, including one that resulted in a safety against the San Diego Chargers.
"It's definitely how I want to play year in and year out, to a Pro Bowl caliber," said Harrison. "To have peers select you to that, it feels good."
Harrison has probably taken one of the most unlikely routes to Hawaii, coming into the NFL as a rookie free agent and starting off on the practice squad.
"In the offseason when I get the opportunity to look back once the season is over with, I sit back and I am a little amazed," said Harrison of how far he has come. "This year I came in and wanted to do better than I did the previous year."
And that was asking a lot considering last year he made the Pro Bowl and was voted the Steelers MVP by his teammates.
While Harrison is thrilled with his selection, he knows he wouldn't have made it without a little help from his friends.
"I credit my teammates as much as I credit myself," said Harrison. "Without them doing their job, I can't do my job. Without Coach LeBeau calling the defenses that he calls at the times he calls them, then we don't do as well as a unit as we have done this year."
