Steelers GM Kevin Colbert: It Wasn't Personal With James Harrison
PITTSBURGH (93-7 The Fan) - With the 2013 NFL Draft approaching, Pittsburgh Steelers General Manager Kevin Colbert checks in with Vinnie & Cook on Sportsradio 93-7 The Fan and gives a complete update on the black and gold.
Colbert goes over some of the moves the Steelers have made so far this off-season, including letting James Harrison go.
Some think that both sides took things personally, which led to Harrison's departure for Cincinnati.
"Not personal at all," Colbert replies. "James will always be a Steeler in our hearts. He's the author of one of the most memorable plays in Steeler history, if not NFL history and Super Bowl history. He certainly helped us win the two championships while we were here and helped us get to a third. James will always be a very, very important and loved Steeler."
Now that Emmanuel Sanders will be in Pittsburgh for the upcoming season, Colbert is thinking about the receiver's long-term future.
"Our hope is that he turns into the player we think he can be, and then lock him down to something longer," Colbert reveals. "[Sanders] has indicated that he wants to be here. He was just doing his due diligence when he had the opportunity to see what his market was."
Colbert also takes a look at how the Steelers are approaching the draft, and he addresses how important character issues are when evaluating a draft prospect.
"In a perfect world, you get a great player that's healthy and is a great kid, and those are few and far between," Colbert says of his process. "The first part of our job is to get the facts. If there is an issue, is it something that's workable or is it something you'd rather not deal with it? You try to make those decisions and try to get the best kids you can."
Colbert also sizes up the Steelers' needs, reveals whether drafting a quarterback could be in the cards this year, and stresses how important the draft is to building the team.
