New Cincinnati Bengals linebacker James Harrison said Tuesday that he spares no expense to make sure his body is ready for the grind of an NFL season, estimating he spends at least $400,000 annually. [+] EnlargeAP Photo/Al BehrmanJames Harrison, 35, says he spends thousands on a regimen that enables him to maintain a healthy body 11 seasons into his NFL career.
"My body is what helps me to make money. Whatever there is that I need to do to try and make myself better or get myself healthy, I'm going to do it," Harrison said. "It wouldn't be unreasonable to say that I spend anywhere between $400,000 to $600,000 on body work, as far as taking care of my body, year-in and year-out." After he was released by thePittsburgh Steelers, Harrison had to work out for the Bengals, who wanted to make sure he was beyond a knee injury that sidelined him during training camp and forced him to miss the first three games last season. He was in Arizona working out when the Bengals offered a two-year deal last month. He said he uses a hyperbaric chamber in Arizona, and has his own staff of acupuncturists, massage therapists and homeopathic doctors. He'll bring them with him to Cincinnati, where he joined his new team for the first time this week. "I'm still not able to do certain things, but as far as my physical health, I'm able to train a lot harder than I have been over the last two, three offseasons," Harrison said. "I'm able to do a lot more weight [lifting]. I'm able to just do a lot more things that my body physically couldn't do because of injury, or whatever it may be." The 2013 season will be the 35-year-old Harrison's 11th NFL season. He said it's essential for NFL players to spend money to maintain their health if they want to ensure longevity in the game. "If you want to be able to stay in this business for a while, you're going to have to take care of your body. You want to do that, you're going to have to spend money. It's not cheap," he said. AFC North blog
The Bengals return their defense virtually intact from last season, when it finished sixth in yards allowed. Adding Harrison will upgrade a position where they needed some depth. It'll also bring in someone accustomed to winning playoff games. "He gives you that swagger and that seal," cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones said Tuesday, after working out at Paul Brown Stadium. "You know when you mail off the letter you make sure you put a stamp on it. Well, he's the stamp." Jones spent some time with Harrison reminiscing about their head-to-head encounter in Dallas in 2008, when the linebacker hit him on a punt return and injured his neck. Jones fell on the ball, and Harrison dived on top of him. "I muffed a punt and he almost killed me," Jones said. "We talked about it today. That was the first time I hurt my neck, then I re-injured it again when I was here. I told him if he was down (on the field), I probably would have done the same thing." Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
geez why so much? is that including all the food he eats, liquid he drinks, supplements and personal trainer fees? I like his mindset but thats a ton of money
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NFL: James Harrison Spends Estimated 400k-600k A Year On Own Body
AP Photo/Al BehrmanJames Harrison, 35, says he spends thousands on a regimen that enables him to maintain a healthy body 11 seasons into his NFL career.
ESPN.com's Jamison Hensley writes about all things AFC North in his division blog.
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