In the world of professional sports, competitive edge is everything.

One could argue that competitive edge is the difference between, say, Kobe Bryant and Vince Carter. Or even Tom Brady and Carson Palmer.

The main point is that talent levels – for the most part – are fairly equal at the professional level. It’s the commitment to hard work that can enable an athlete to get above the plateau that usually develops from complacency. Hard work, along with confidence emanate from players who have a fire that burns within them to be victorious each and every time that they can.

While there are many ways to gain and maintain such a fiery spirit, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison is clearly providing a blueprint that all up-and-coming athletes should follow on how not to gain a competitive edge.

Yesterday, reports hit the airwaves of Harrison letting loose on his dotted-line boss (NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell), and his teammates (Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger and RB Rashad Mendenhall) during an interview session with Mens’ Journal.

“My rep is James Harrison, mean son of a b**** who loves hitting the hell out of people. But up until last year, there was no word of me being dirty — till Roger Goodell, who’s a crook and a puppet, said I was the dirtiest player in the league. If that man was on fire and I had to piss to put him out, I wouldn’t do it. I hate him and will never respect him.”

OK, we all knew that Harrison wasn’t happy about the money that he was fined because of his ‘legal’ – as he would put it – hits. But legal or not, the nature of each of them was at least questionable. And for a guy who is quickly gaining a ‘headhunter reputation,’ you can bet that he’s not going to get the benefit of the doubt. His malicious comments won’t endear him to anybody, and have undoubtedly turned him into the ‘Rasheed Wallace of the NFL.’

Sorry, but it’s hard for most people to feel that a speedy, 240 pound beast with the green light to crumble offensive players is a victim in any shape, fashion or form.

But hold up…Harrison wasn’t done.

Harrison's 'me-against-the-world' persona will keep him under the constant eye of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

The former NFL Defensive Player of the Year had this to say about Roethlisberger’s most recent Super Bowl performance:

“Hey, at least throw a pick on their side of the field instead of asking the D to bail you out again. Or hand the ball off and stop trying to act like Peyton Manning. You ain’t that and you know it, man; you just get paid like he does.”

The outspoken Ohio native went on to call Rashad Mendenhall “a fumble machine” – referencing the running back’s 4th quarter turnover which the Packers converted into a touchdown.

With this, what Harrison needs is clear – a good, old-fashioned butt whoopin’.

The star linebacker has certainly crossed a line that cannot be re-drawn. Also, included in the Mens’ Journal session was a snippet of Harrison giving high praise to safety Troy Polamalu – further planting a divisive seed among the offensive and defensive players of the team.  Someone in Pittsburgh’s locker room desperately needs to find a way to reel this guy back in for the good of the organization. 

Having a ‘me-against-the-world’ attitude could be beneficial is an individual sporting environment. However, Harrison is a member of a good football team – one that is fresh off of an appearance in the country’s most popular sporting event – and he’s belittling the efforts of his teammates.

This is one of the rare occasions in which the do’s and dont’s of corporate America can be directly applied to the world of professional athletics.

Do motivate yourself to be the best in what you do. Work hard to achieve your dreams.

Don’t throw your boss and teammates under the bus to get there.

T Lamont is the owner, administrator and author of all content for Ball or Nuthin\'. Feel free to contact T Lamont with a question or comment at ballornuthin@gmail.com.  All created Ball or Nuthin' content is the sole property of T Lamont. Read more from this author