Harrison repeats as team MVP

He’s the first Steeler to repeat since Hines Ward.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — James Harrison is a repeat selection as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ most valuable player. Not that any of his teammates were surprised.

Harrison was chosen again Wednesday by his teammates for the highest honor awarded by the team, the first player to repeat since wide receiver Hines Ward in 2002-03. Ward shared the award in 2002 with linebacker Joey Porter.

“I don’t think it was an issue,” quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said of Harrison winning. “It might have been unanimous. I think everybody saw that coming because he does what he does. He’s pretty spectacular.”

Before Harrison, the last player to be chosen by himself in successive seasons was linebacker Levon Kirkland in 1998-99.

“It shows that they [teammates] respect and admire you; it makes you feel like you are that valuable to the team,” Harrison said.

Harrison was cut three times by the Steelers and once by the Ravens. He didn’t become a starter until Porter was released last year and subsequently signed with Miami. Since moving into the lineup, Harrison has been chosen as an AFC Pro Bowl starter twice in two seasons.

Does getting two MVP awards and two Pro Bowl selections in as many seasons prove how many people were wrong about him when Harrison wasn’t drafted out of Kent State?

“It is all right,” he said.

Harrison set a Steelers single-season record with 16 sacks this season, with one game remaining Sunday against Cleveland, or an average or more than one sack per game.

“I feel like I did better than last year,” he said. “I would attribute it to the offseason work and really getting a good feel for myself and a better understanding of the defense. The other 10 guys around me are doing their job and coach [Dick] LeBeau calls a great defense,” Harrison said.

The only other players to win the Steelers MVP award in successive seasons were running back Jerome Bettis in 1996-97 and quarterback Terry Bradshaw in 1977-78.