James Harrison, Environmentalist, Admits He Guessed on Super Bowl Pick-Six

The Cardinals trailed the Steelers 10-7 when linebacker Karlos Dansby intercepted quarterback Ben Roethlisberger at the Pittsburgh 34-yard line with two minutes to go in the first half of Super Bowl XLIII.

Seven plays and 1:42 later, Arizona had a first-and-goal from the 1. Best case: the Cards headed to the locker room with the lead. Worst case: a tie. Unimaginable case: NFL Defensive Player of the Year James Harrison pick-six'ed Kurt Warner (video after the jump), resulting in a 10-point swing that had as much to do with the game's ultimate outcome as the Big Ben-to-Santonio pass-and-catch in the back of the end zone during the last drive.

But here's the thing: Harrison was supposed to blitz on the half-ending, game-changing play. If he had, Boldin would have been wide open, Warner would have hit him in stride and the Steelers might still be sitting on five Super Bowl titles.

Sometimes it's better to be lucky.

"I actually wasn't supposed to drop on that play, I was supposed to blitz," Harrison said Friday. "All night, we were a step late. We had an all-out blitz and I figured if I stepped (out) I could hold my tackle ... (then) I would drop off and they would have to do a quick slant." ...

"Technique, opportunity and all that other stuff met (on that play) - and a little bit of luck," Harrison said. "Sometimes you just feel that might be the play that does it. I guess coach LeBeau didn't mind it too much."

In addition to having a knack for big plays, Harrison is also an environmentalist. At least that's his explanation for rolling into Latrobe for Pittsburgh's training camp in a Smart Car. Harrison told SteelCityInsider.com's Jim Wexell that it's "Not that much on gas. Other than that, there's a lot of room, but not for the suitcases. It's fast, too. It'll go 90, 95.... I just want to help the environment."

I think there might be a marketing opportunity in there somewhere for the Smart Car folks. James Harrison, Smart Car spokesman, gives the company all sorts of credibility with the 18-34 male demographic that they'd otherwise never, ever (ever ever) get. And, of course, it's good for the environment.