DALLAS - James Harrison is nicknamed “Deebo” for a reason. The former Steelers linebacker looks and acts like he could still play in the NFL at 47.
Harrison was named to five Pro Bowls and two All-Pro teams in a 15-year career. He was part of two Super Bowl-winning teams, and in 2008, he was the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year.
Search Harrison’s name on YouTube or Instagram, and you’ll likely find him lifting weights like toothpicks.
We mention Harrison’s name here in regard to Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and restraint.
Throw in the word professionalism, too.
In Thursday night’s season opener, Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter spat onto the chest of Prescott before the first play from scrimmage. Six seconds into the game, Carter was ejected.
What it took for Prescott - who admitted to spitting first on the ground - to maintain his composure speaks to why the Cowboys believe he’s one of the team’s leaders. And why, before trading him, team officials wanted star edge rusher Micah Parsons to get more aligned with Prescott on leadership.
You can lead in different ways on and off the field. Yet what Prescott didn’t do was impressive in itself.
Which brings us back to Harrison, who commented on his podcast with former teammate Joe Haden about what happened Thursday night.
“Most disrespectful thing in the world you can do is spit on somebody,” Harrison said on the Deebo and Joe podcast. “If somebody would go on and spit on me, go ahead and get my bail money together, like, I’m going to jail. I want to say that I would be able to control myself being in that situation.”
Harrison then added of Prescott’s offensive line: “There’s no way in hell they saw that.”
The former Steeler noted the season-opening game would end before it started.
“It’s an all-out brawl,” he said. “Both teams, y’all just canceled the first regular season game, that’s not going to stop.”
You could take what Prescott did as baiting Carter into doing something foul. Prescott said he was trying to spit on the ground and heard Carter talking trash. Prescott spit on the ground to avoid hitting a teammate and approached Carter to find out what was being said.
In the midst of the “conversation,” Carter let it fly.
“I don’t wish for anybody to get out of the game,” Prescott said. “I’m sure he probably regretted that to some extent. I’m pretty sure he knows that I didn’t try to spit on him or wasn’t even aiming to spit on him. So something that’s probably going to get a lot of coverage and a lot of attention that I feel sorry for him in the sense of, yeah, I mean, I know how excited each and every one of us are right to kick off the season and the season opener, and hell of a player like that doesn’t even get a chance in the first play. Unfortunate circumstances.”
Carter apologized for his actions and likely will be fined. His ejection forced the Cowboys to adjust blocking schemes because one of the top interior players was gone.
The Cowboys rushed for 119 yards with seven running plays resulting in first downs. It was a mild success in the run game. But the Cowboys lost the game.
And while winning the opener would have provided more joy in Carter’s absence, the night still showcased Prescott’s leadership - or rather, his composure.
“Yeah, I was more surprised,” Prescott said of why he kept calm. “I mean, honestly, it hit me more on my collar, I guess, than straight skin, thankfully. But yeah, I was just more surprised. I mean, like I said, I was insulted that he even thought I tried to spit on him. So then for him to react and spit, I’m sure it’s not something he’s proud of.”
The aftermath of SpitGate leaves the Eagles dealing with Carter’s immaturity, while the Cowboys continue to marvel at their quarterback and what he brings to the team.
“It was crazy,” defensive end Sam Williams said. “Spitting is like, I feel like it’s just not even disrespect. It’s hateful. I don’t know man. Just don’t spit on me, please. We both going to be in the locker room.”
It’s another reason Prescott is the leader of this team: He’s the example of the leadership the Cowboys need going forward.