Sean Payton doubts NFL will investigate James Harrison's envelope claim

New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton doesn't believe the NFL will investigate James Harrison's claim that Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin gave him an envelope after his hard hit on former Cleveland Browns wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi during the 2010 season.

"If people are waiting for the league to investigate that, they shouldn't hold their breath," Payton said, according to Luke Johnson of the New Orleans Advocate. "I think what took place with us back in (2012) in so many ways was a sham, and yet there wasn't a lot we could do with it. The players were vindicated, but from a league or coaching standpoint, there is no union. There is no representation."

Harrison didn't specify what was in the envelope Tomlin allegedly gave him.

"The G-est thing Mike Tomlin ever did, he handed me an envelope after that," Harrison said in an interview on Barstool's "Going Deep" podcast. "I'm not going to say what, but he handed me an envelope after that."

In 2012, the NFL suspended Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams and Payton for a full year after paying out bonuses for injuring players. The pool was alleged to have been in operation from 2009-11.

Steelers president Art Rooney II denied Harrison's claims through a statement Thursday.

"I am very certain nothing like this ever happened," Rooney said to Pro Football Talk. "I have no idea why James would make a comment like this but there is simply no basis for believing anything like this."

Harrison was fined $75,000 for the hit, which gave Massaquoi a concussion. Rooney had defended Harrison's tackle in 2010, saying "the play was a legal hit."

Harrison won two Super Bowls over 14 years with the Steelers through three different stints. The 2008 Defensive Player of the Year retired in 2017 with five Pro Bowl appearances on his resume.

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