Harrison clarifies stance on anthem protesters: 'That's their right'

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison clarified his views on players protesting during the national anthem after a fake story claimed he said a teammate "better be in a wheelchair" if he's sitting for The Star-Spangled Banner.

"That's up to the individual," Harrison told Sports Illustrated's Jonathan Jones on Thursday. "If they feel like that's something they want to do, that's their right."

Harrison has twice been wrongly quoted as saying he'd have an issue with anthem protesters.

In 2016, a tweet Photoshopped to look like it was from the 39-year-old read, "If you are on my team and not standing for Anthem better be because a broken leg or I'm gonna give you one. #EyesonuCK."

This week, former NHL star Jeremy Roenick tweeted a screengrab of a Facebook post written by "Happy Gilmore" with the headline reading, "Steelers' James Harrison - "Anyone on my team sits for the anthem, they better be in a wheelchair."

However, Harrison never said that.

Regardless, Roenick's tweet was retweeted over 3,300 times and still hasn't been deleted, despite the Steelers confirming its inauthenticity.

"I mean, I guess it speaks to the gullibility of people," Harrison said. "Just because you read something on social media doesn't make it true. If you were to do that and believe everything that you hear or see, written or there, the world would be in a real bad place. And we're already in a tough place now."

In the age of "fake news," Harrison's predicament isn't unique - and the veteran pass-rusher hopes it can be combated with more thought from audiences.

"I mean, I think the source was what, Happy Gilmore or something? C'mon," Harrison said, laughing. "Let's use a little bit of common sense."