PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison is tired of critics calling the defending AFC champions’ defense too old.
The former NFL Defensive Player of the Year says people are always saying defenses are too young or too old. He believes the Steelers, who will have eight defensive starters at least 30 years old on the field when they open the season at Baltimore on Sunday, are just right.
Pittsburgh returns all 11 starters from a unit that led the league in scoring defense a year ago, though several have been slowed by nagging injuries during the preseason.
Coach Mike Tomlin expects the defense to be at full strength against the Ravens and claims Harrison — who has been dealing with a balky back — was “sandbagging” during training camp.
