As a person, even long-time Colts teammates — let alone fans and media — don't know much more about Harrison than the day he arrived in 1996.

That was the way he wanted it.

There were no tear-filled goodbyes Tuesday when Harrison was released after refusing to take a pay cut. He wouldn't attend a farewell news conference thrown by Colts owner Jim Irsay, who had unsuccessfully tried to change the wide receiver's mind. Harrison didn't even bother issuing a statement thanking fans and the franchise like every other athlete of his stature would.

Then again, he isn't your average superstar.

The only time Harrison has ever wanted any exposure was on the gridiron itself. He avoided reporters and never sought to become a commercial pitchman like Peyton Manning, with whom he formed the most statistically successful quarterback-receiver tandem in NFL history.

Away from the field, Harrison continued to spend far more time in his hometown of Philadelphia than in the city where he played. Even in this gawker age of sports figures having their personal lives splashed across the internet, Harrison managed to keep a low profile until a weapons incident last April dragged him into a spotlight he never sought.

Dennis Dixon was shot by one of Harrison's registered guns. Harrison proclaimed innocence to the Philadelphia police and was never charged because it couldn't be determined who fired the weapon. Dixon, who has filed a civil suit against Harrison, was recently sentenced to six months probation for lying about details on the initial police report.

Harrison has never addressed the allegations with the media. In fact, he didn't grant any interviews during the 2008 season.

Such silence only adds to the mystery of where Harrison will play next.

He isn't a No. 1 receiver anymore. He turns 37 in August. Harrison's catches (60), yards (636) and touchdowns (5) in 2008 were his lowest totals for a season in which he played at least 15 games. And that was in an offense where the Colts passed on 62 percent of their snaps. Despite what the Colts have proclaimed, Harrison simply wasn't the same player he was before a serious knee injury in 2007.

This isn't to say Harrison will lack suitors in free agency, especially if he's willing to become a No. 2 or No. 3 receiver (and accept the corresponding lower salary). Two of the Colts' AFC South rivals — Tennessee and Jacksonville — need help in the passing game. Harrison may relish having a guaranteed opportunity to show Indianapolis twice in 2009 that his release was a mistake, similar to when Brett Favre tried to finagle a trade from Green Bay to Minnesota last offseason.

I could list a dozen other teams where I wouldn't be stunned to see Harrison land. But one is clearly the most intriguing — Philadelphia.

The Eagles have sorely lacked impact receivers for most of this decade, but DeSean Jackson emerged as one as a rookie in 2008. With the exception of Terrell Owens in 2004, no Philly wideout had snared as many passes (62) for as high an average (14.7 yards) during the Donovan McNabb era. To better spring Jackson deep, the Eagles could use another intermediate target who would draw coverage and complement receivers Kevin Curtis, Jason Avant and Hank Baskett.

Arizona's Anquan Boldin and Cincinnati's T.J. Houshmandzadeh would be perfect in that role. Both also have more shelf life than Harrison. But acquiring either would have major salary-cap ramifications for an Eagles team already dealing with the pending free agency of two key veterans (safety Brian Dawkins and left tackle Tra Thomas) as well as McNabb's lobbying for a new contract.

Even if the Cardinals were to place Boldin on the trading block, Philadelphia would have to provide high draft-pick compensation as well as a new contract to a player who believes he is grossly underpaid. Money is also an issue when it comes to signing a coveted free agent like Houshmandzadeh.

Harrison wouldn't cost as much and could prove just as effective as a short-term fix for an Eagles team that fell just short of reaching Super Bowl XLIII. While he has lost a step, experience can help Harrison compensate. He is still a precise route-runner with more receptions (1,102) than any player ever except Jerry Rice.

But does Harrison want to play for the Eagles if the franchise is interested, especially knowing the extra public attention locally would threaten the privacy he has worked so hard to maintain? And what is most important to Harrison in his decision-making process — money, his projected role in the offense or the best perceived chance to win a second Super Bowl ring?

Answers to those questions will be obvious when Harrison joins a new team. Just don't expect to hear them directly from his lips.