Troy Polamalu

Dec13

Another day, another big play for Polamalu

It’s not the wondrous athletic ability or the incredible sense of anticipation or even the big hair that makes Steelers safety Troy Polamalu the best defensive player in the NFL.

It’s something much simpler.

Polamalu cares.

That’s evident during the week as the Steelers prepare for their opponent. “Most guys are playing pool or pingpong at lunch and after practice,” linebacker Larry Foote said. “Troy’s on his computer, studying the offense. He knows every formation. If he even gets a sniff of something coming, he’s all over it.”

It was evident in the Steelers’ 23-7 win Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals. For the third consecutive week, Polamalu made the play of the game, this time returning a second-quarter interception for a 45-yard touchdown that tied the score, 7-7. But he pulled up on the run, aggravating a calf injury that keeps him from practicing on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Clearly, he was in pain as he limped to the bench. Many of his teammates didn’t want him to go back in, better to have him for the game Sunday against the New York Jets and in the playoffs beyond. Even the coaches felt that way. But Polamalu played every play. “That’s Troy,” safety Ryan Clark said. “You can’t keep him down. He wants to be out there for his guys.”

Most of it all, it was evident long after the game when Polamalu finally emerged from the shower and limped to his locker. He ended the Bengals’ final possession with another interception, but, instead of being tackled or just going down, he lateraled the ball wildly to teammate Bryant McFadden, who was lucky to pick it up. It was a dumb play by Polamalu — defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau reminded him of it as he walked off the field — but it was relatively meaningless at that point of the game. Not to Polamalu, as it turned out. Did I mention he cares? “First and foremost, I’d like to apologize for that play at the end of the game,” he said. “It was incredibly arrogant and selfish and foolish of me.” When pressed later if the play really bummed him out that much, Polamalu turned his face into his locker to gather himself, then looked at the television cameras, nearly in tears, and said, “Yeah, it does.”

It’s that humility that makes Polamalu so popular with his teammates. OK, it’s all the big plays he makes, too. “He’s not afraid of the moment,” Clark said. “He’ll tell me in the huddle, ‘I’ve got to make one. It’s time.’ And then he’ll make the big play.” The two interceptions against the Bengals. The fourth-quarter sack of Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco and forced fumble that led to the winning touchdown against the Ravens a week earlier. The diving interception at the Steelers’ 1 in Buffalo the week before that. But the humility doesn’t hurt. Asked about the significance of his first interception against the Bengals, Polamalu said, “I thought the play of the game was [linebacker LaMarr Woodley's] interception [and 14-yard touchdown return in the fourth quarter].” Asked about how well he has played the past month, he said, “I think our defense is playing good as a whole.”

Don’t think for one second that Polamalu’s teammates and coaches don’t notice.

“Troy’s the real deal, on and off the field,” Foote said.

Added coach Mike Tomlin, “I’m glad Troy is on my team. This guy … No one is playing as good as Troy Polamalu in football right now in my opinion. When we need a play, he provides it.”

That was the sentiment all across the locker room Sunday. But there also was concern. “I just hope he’s not hurt bad,” linebacker James Farrior said.

Polamalu wanted nothing to do with the injury talk. “I feel all right, thank you,” he said. He knows quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is playing on a broken foot and with a broken nose. He knows every player on the team has some sort of ailment. It’s that time of year. He’s not about to complain.

Foote said he not only expects Polamalu to play against the Jets, he figures he’ll make a play to win the game. “It’s like Michael Jordan and Kobe,” he said. “They drop 40 on you like it’s nothing. They do it so often that everybody gets used to it. They take it for granted. That’s the way it is with Troy. It seems like every week he’s putting his name in the history book and we all take it for granted. You have to step back and remind yourself, ‘We’re watching one of the all-time greats.’ ”

That’s why Foote was surprised when the NFL Network released its list of the top 100 NFL players of all time last month and Polamalu wasn’t included. Jerry Rice was No. 1 and Joe Namath No. 100. Baltimore safety Ed Reed was No. 88, which Steelers fans will find especially galling.

“Trust me, Troy will be high on that list before he’s done,” Foote said. “Game by game, he’s walking a lot of those guys down. We’re lucky to be playing with him.”

The rest of us are lucky to be watching him.