Steelers’ Harrison: Trophies earned, not given

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison doesn’t expect a trophy just for showing up. The same goes for his sons.

The 2008 NFL Defensive Player of the Year took to Instagram on Saturday to say he was returning two awards his sons James III and Henry received from a local athletics event run by former Steelers quarterback Charlie Batch.

Harrison wrote while he’s very proud of his two boys — who are both in elementary school — “these trophies will be given back until they EARN a real trophy.”

The 37-year-old says he doesn’t want his sons to feel entitled, adding “cause sometimes your best is not enough, and that should drive you to want to do better.”

Smith angers Jets

The New York Jets flagged Geno Smith for a false start.

Smith was photographed by the New York Post playing catch with a friend outside his New Jersey apartment Saturday, two days after the quarterback had jaw surgery. Smith had plates and screws inserted into the jaw, which was broken by a punch from then-teammate Ikemefuna Enemkpali on Tuesday.

The newspaper published a front-page image of Smith, his face swollen with black bandages on each cheek.

“He shouldn’t be doing it right now,” coach Todd Bowles said Sunday. “We handled that internally. We had that discussion.”

Bowles also added that the matter “wasn’t that big of a deal.”

Smith is expected to be sidelined 6-10 weeks after being slugged by Enemkpali, who was released shortly after the incident and claimed on waivers by Buffalo.