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Steelers Release Linebacker Harrison

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Defensive player James Harrison was released from the Steelers Saturday.

Harrison first announced that he will be leaving the team in a tweet.

The tweet read: "It's been a great run but all good things must come to a end. Thank you Steelers Nation I will miss you all!"

WEB EXTRA: KDKA's Bob Pompeani interviews James Harrison following his release:

"There's probably some sadness, disappointment, but it kind of something that we both - the team and myself - saw coming after things didn't go the way we wanted them to go," Harrison told KDKA.

Jason LaCanfora who writes for CBS Sports said that the team could not work out a contract with the linebacker.

LaCanfora said in a tweet: "Need cap space, age and injury a concern."

The Steelers released a statement Saturday afternoon confirming that Harrison has been released.

"We have informed James Harrison that we have released him," Steelers General Manager Kevin Colbert said in the statement. "James has been an integral part of our success during his years in Pittsburgh and has helped us win two Lombardi Trophies during that time. We appreciate all of his efforts and wish him the best."

Read the Steelers full statement here.

KDKA Sports' Bob Pompeani said on The Fan that he wasn't surprised by the move -- saying the player likely didn't want to budge on his salary.

Harrison had two years left on his contract, which was scheduled to pay him a $6.5 million this year -- and another $7.5 million in 2014.

The team had reportedly wanted to cut his salary, but now he'll have to take the gamble that another team is willing to pay him the same amount.

Pompeani: "Did it strictly come down to money, and if so, was it the case where they needed to get money back and you weren't willing to meet them where they wanted to go?"

Harrison: "It just came down to, they weren't comfortable with doing what I wanted to do, and I wasn't comfortable with doing what they wanted to do. That's all it came down to."

The linebacker says he believes he has a few more years left in his career.

"I figure I have at least two, three, possibly four years to go out there and be productive," said Harrison.

Harrison was originally signed as a undrafted free agent in 2002 and was defensive player of the year in 2008.

He also a made five trips to the Pro Bowl from 2007 to 2011.

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