Peers Name James Harrison Toughest Player in AFC North

Yesterday, the Ravens re-signed Terrell Suggs for six more years, and it only cost them $38 million in guaranteed dough. He'll pull in $33 million in bonuses the next two seasons, and that makes him the league's highest-paid defensive player and second overall, behind just Peyton Manning.

This must be very disconcerting for Steelers linebacker James Harrison, the 2008 Defensive Player of the Year, who got a new contract earlier this offseason (worth $18 million less in guarantees than Suggs). Because football players -- especially the unpredictable, maniacal types -- draw most of their motivation from being disrespected. Or something.

For the most part, the whole "we're being disrespected!" angle is media driven, but I could see Mike Tomlin quietly reminding Harrison (who affectionately goes by Deebo in the Steelers locker room) of Suggs' contract shortly before he takes the field against the Ravens this fall.

One problem: any motivational advantage could be equalized by Ray Lewis, the NFL's version of Tony Robbins, sans the humongous whopper choppers. That's because, according to ESPN.com's James Walker, Harrison -- not Lewis -- was named the AFC North's toughest player by his peers. I have this vision of Lewis, upon learning the news, immediately retiring to his basement dance floor, like a mad scientist to his lab, and incorporating a "I WILL NOT BE DISRESPECTED BY HARRISON" message into his pre-game shimmy. All in the name of motivation.

There's more, of course. In talking to AFC North players, Walker also verified what we've all known for years: people not associated with the Steelers really hate Hines Ward.

One division rival who voted for someone else told Walker, "I really don't want to vote for Hines ... But he's definitely a tough player."

I'm guessing that was Keith Rivers. Or Suggs.