Posted on 01/20/2006 10:31:23 AM PST by beyond the sea
Reporters and cameramen surround Troy Polamalu in the visitors' locker room at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis. You lean in to try to hear what the Pittsburgh Steelers safety has to say, but it's fruitless. Polamalu barely speaks above a whisper. And you think: This is the guy who terrorized Peyton Manning?
Another anecdote, from a few years back: Polamalu asks USC teammate Alex Holmes for permission to take out his sister, Theodora. Holmes wouldn't let anyone else on the team talk to Theodora, let alone date her. But he tells Polamalu, ``Of course. Nothing could make me happier.''
Holmes accedes because Polamalu ``is such an exceptional person.'' You hear this and think: This is the guy who gives offensive coordinators nightmares?
Polamalu is indeed that guy. Soft-spoken off the field, teeth-rattling hitter on it. Mild-mannered, generous person, maniacal, intimidating player.
In many ways, Polamalu embodies the defense for which he toils: The first-glance perception and the reality are separate entities. The Denver Broncos must contend with both in the AFC championship game Sunday. It's no easy task.
Polamalu's bedevilment of the Colts included seven tackles, two pass breakups and three near-interceptions. The previous week, in a victory over Cincinnati, he had six tackles, a half-sack and an interception no replay review could reverse.
``That's becoming normal for him, to be pretty much the most dominant player on the field,'' said Holmes, who not only became Polamalu's brother-in-law but also plays tight end for the Miami Dolphins. ``That's a crazy thing to say in the NFL.''
(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...
Nope, we've called a temporary Cease Rain just for the game. We'll be back to our usual drizzle on Monday. :-)
he's better than both.
I fi were an opposing player and he had the ball, the hair would be a handle to tackle him with.
I should be a liberal... answer id YES! Broncos can run on anybody!
Me too. When they called a penalty and I heard the cheering, I though, Oh, it was against Pittsburgh> Nope, there were so many Steeler fans it sounded like a home town cheer, for the wrong team.
In a perfect world you dont want anyone in your secondary shorter than 6'. The Bears Mike Brown is only 5'10' as well
I understand that some fans live in the past. They yearn for a return of the glory days. Keep yearning.
I noticed from your previous post that you omitted a word. Let me correct it for you:
This thread is about the OVERRATED Steelers and Broncos.
There, much better. Go Hawks!
Oh my God! They're supermen!
Exactly that hair would get yanked out as soon as I got a chance and if the helmet came off i'd head butt him. My coaches taught us to play dirty in jr.H and HS I cant help it. :D
Big games, experience matters! Although Steelers were the AFC runner up to New England...funny how NE beat them in Pittsburgh last year and Pitt is on the road to Denver...oh well...Broncos rule!
and I LIVED off of them in the regular season FFL...about 75% of the time!
we have the experience.
oh well, we'll see who rules.
You have no profile...you from Penn? This should be the best played game for a long time...I have to believe that AFC wins the SB. Turnovers tells the story....stay tuned!
Mike, Tatum, Ron...run to daylight!
They have been interviewing pulmonary docs on TV in Pittsburgh all week and they said aside from the need to keep well hydrated, the altitude will not make any difference to well conditioned football players who exert energy in short bursts as opposed to endurance athletes. I'd imagine basketball players probably have a tougher time than football players in Denver.
If the altitude were that big a factor, the Broncos would never lose a home game. The only thing it might mean is that the Steelers might bring in Jeff Reed from 55 yards vs the normal 45.
Amen, brother, Crush the Broncs!!!
yeah, anderson and bell combined for a total 88 yds against the pattycakes last week. what are they goin' to do against a real defense?
Anderson = 56 yds 2 TDs...that's all we needed against the 2 time Super Bowl champions...the ones that beat Pitt in AFC Cahmpionship last year I believe...hope they better than 88 yards!
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