Harrison Named Defensive Player of the Year

by ncoolong on Jan 5, 2009 2:08 PM EST Comment 61 comments

The NFL announced Monday morning that Steelers OLB James Harrison has been named the 2008 Defensive Player of the Year. His teammate, SS Troy Polamalu, finished fifth in the yearly ballot of 50 votes from the Associated Press.

Harrison led the Steelers with 16 sacks, and led the NFL with seven forced fumbles in becoming the first Steeler since Rod Woodson in 1993 to win the award. He also set the Steelers franchise record for sacks in a season.

Harrison received 22 votes of 50 total. Dallas LB DeMarcus Ware finished second with 13 votes and Baltimore's Ed Reed received eight.

Tennessee DT Albert Haynesworth received five, and Polamalu received two.

Harrison joins Woodson and Joe Greene (1974), Mel Blount (1975) and Jack Lambert (1976) as the Steelers Defensive Players of the Year.

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I'm smiling right now

The award couldn’t have gone to a better guy. I have it on very good authority that 92 is one of the nicest guys on the team despite his ferocious on-field demeanor.

Let’s hope he can add a SB MVP to his hardware collection.

by JHolmes on Jan 5, 2009 2:12 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Seriously...

I’m, like, shaking at work. I live in Minnesota, there aren’t many Steelers fans around here, but I’m positive the ones we do have are feeling the same thing.

While no one is going to go for the individual award over the team award (Super Bowl), you know Harrison’s teammates are just as excited as we are about this.

by ncoolong on Jan 5, 2009 2:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Most of the guys on the team don’t have a history of domestic violence though.

by steelguy99 on Jan 5, 2009 4:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

this might be bias but...

i want Troy to get SB MVP…ive loved him since i was born, and he was and still is my favorite player. and just two years ago, i found out that i was born the same day (April 19) as him. so i hope that he gets MVP, but congrats to Silverback…he deserves it.

"The grass may be greener on the other side, but it still has to be mowed"
-PsycoSalameh43

by PsycoSalameh on Jan 5, 2009 4:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I’ll be happy if any steeler gets the SB MVP.

by steelguy99 on Jan 5, 2009 4:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Super Bowl talk?

HEY FOOTBALL GODS, JUST IN CASE YOU WEREN’T LISTENING, THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT THE SUPER BOWL ALREADY OVER HERE!!! YOU BETTER COME TAKE CARE OF THIS.

"When Bellotti attempted to shake the hand of Oklahoma State quarterback Zac Robinson after the game, Robinson offered his left hand. His right was swollen and battered from the Ducks' defense."

by MarineCorpsDuck on Jan 5, 2009 4:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

lol

ncoolong, you have brought this upon us.

charity standing orders

by BadMaafala on Jan 5, 2009 4:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Too late now

I’m telling! I’m telling! You are gonna be sooooo busted.

"When Bellotti attempted to shake the hand of Oklahoma State quarterback Zac Robinson after the game, Robinson offered his left hand. His right was swollen and battered from the Ducks' defense."

by MarineCorpsDuck on Jan 5, 2009 4:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You’ll notice I didn’t say it was going to happen or that it’s bound to happen. I would say the same thing at the beginning of the year.

by steelguy99 on Jan 5, 2009 5:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

AWESOME!

Good job Deebo! Keep it up!!!

by Cdsumm on Jan 5, 2009 2:12 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Congrats to James Harrison!

Glad to see him get a little recognition!

by WolfpackSteelersFan on Jan 5, 2009 2:18 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I'm already hearing

the naysayers who support Ed Reed, Demarcus Ware and Albert Haynesworth. They all feel their players should have won and they all have a strong argument but there was no better “all around” defender than James Harrison. He rushed the passer, covered receivers and stopped the run. On top of that he spent time on Special Teams while the other candidates sat and rested on the sideline.

There’s no doubt Harrison’s numbers are aided by the scheme the Steelers use in which outside linebackers get most of the glory, but James Harrison has taken advantage of his opportunity and taken it to an unparralelled level. He deserves this award and his detractors can whine all they want.

Congrats James and lets see some of that Defensive MVP unleashed in the playoffs!

by Steev1705 on Jan 5, 2009 2:23 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

And don't forget his long snapping!

Oh, wait, never mind. Let’s forget about that!

by Jonny B. on Jan 5, 2009 3:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

His Special Teams Player of the Year bid fell short

Ya think long-snapping had something to do with it??

by ncoolong on Jan 6, 2009 5:58 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Awesome

I was kinda surprised. What with Dallas being “America’s team” and DeMarcus Ware scalping 20 sacks I figured he had it on lock.

But it appears the voters have a brain and can look past the first set of numbers. When you realize Harrison makes more GAME CHANGING plays then just about anybody, hes your man!

Its really a cool story too, you gotta be proud of the guy

by Mechem on Jan 5, 2009 2:26 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I think Ware's fate was sealed,

When the Cowboys failed to qualify for the playoffs. If only they could have beaten us in December., it may have swayed some votes—maybe not 5 votes but who knows?

by Jonny B. on Jan 5, 2009 3:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Typical Deebo

Harrison says that his winning an individual award was a team, or, at least, defensive effort. No one would blame Harrison, who was cut 138 times by 33 teams (one in NFL Europe), if he felt vindicated by this award. But he’s a team player all the way:

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=Andi39uvhveQFscT.n4iDmI5nYcB?slug=ap-apdefensiveplayer&prov=ap&type=lgns

Compare this with Chris Johnson, who cried about not getting the Rookie of the Year trophy, despite the fact that he wasn’t even the leading rookie rusher and split time at his position. I hope we get to play the Titans again.

by CarlWeathersMustache on Jan 5, 2009 2:28 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

He is a very humble man

It is a really nice thing to see. He never acts like he deserves it. Even though he could have chosen to literally tear in half all the competition so that he was the only choice. He has a very good composure about him.

by Mechem on Jan 5, 2009 3:04 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Congrats to Harrison

on a much deserved DPOY award. I for one thought that Ware would win the award because of his sack total.

But what struck me the most from this posting was the fact that the Steelers had the DPOY 3 years in a row, from 74-76. That’s ridiculous.

by NoCal-SteelCity on Jan 5, 2009 3:08 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Well deserved

Great player, and from what I’ve seen he seems like a good guy too. I think your entire defense should take him out on Saturday night and just get HAMMERED drunk. You should stay up well into the morning hours celebrating. If a few guys get arrested without harming anyone, that wouldn’t hurt either. Hell, I bet you we’d even pick up the tab.

"When Bellotti attempted to shake the hand of Oklahoma State quarterback Zac Robinson after the game, Robinson offered his left hand. His right was swollen and battered from the Ducks' defense."

by MarineCorpsDuck on Jan 5, 2009 3:29 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

you wouldnt want that

Harrison gets mad quite easily and Big Snack can most certainly hold his liquor.

A pissed off hungover Silverback would eat Ignatius for breakfast.

by Mechem on Jan 5, 2009 4:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm telling you

You don’t want Ignatius to come out. Dude is intense. He’s one step above Sexy Rexy Grossman.

"When Bellotti attempted to shake the hand of Oklahoma State quarterback Zac Robinson after the game, Robinson offered his left hand. His right was swollen and battered from the Ducks' defense."

by MarineCorpsDuck on Jan 5, 2009 4:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

look man

I love personally breakin out peoples full names. But Ignatius? Come on now Ignatius Rivers? Sounds like what happened to cleveland when their river caught on fire or something….

We need to bring back Najeh Trenadious Monte Davenport (Dookie) to put the hurt on San Diego (German for Whales Vagina)

by Mechem on Jan 5, 2009 5:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Hey

I live in that vagina. And I must say it’s warm year round. Except right now it’s colder than a witch’s titty in mid january. Brrrrrr son!

by SoCalSteelerFan on Jan 6, 2009 2:43 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It is warm

I will give you that.

And how cold can it be? Its been about 18 here in Detroit for the last 2 weeks. And pretty much one day of sunlight.

by Mechem on Jan 6, 2009 10:31 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Holy sweet Jeebus

that was hilarious. I want to know who wrote that. It’s just the best.

by SoCalSteelerFan on Jan 6, 2009 2:42 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Above post was about the Sexy Rexy thing.

by SoCalSteelerFan on Jan 6, 2009 2:44 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

ever see the movie Celtic Pride?

Pretty awesomely awful movie. They kidnap the CEltics opponents star player and get him shitfaced.

by Blitzburgh on Jan 6, 2009 3:08 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Who won the game? Maybe as a reward the team can give Harrison a paid day off. He could take it…say…this coming Sunday. He’d still get his game check, but he wouldn’t have to even show up. That sounds like a good reward to me.

"When Bellotti attempted to shake the hand of Oklahoma State quarterback Zac Robinson after the game, Robinson offered his left hand. His right was swollen and battered from the Ducks' defense."

by MarineCorpsDuck on Jan 6, 2009 2:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

heh

It’s really to touching to see that you have the best interests of all the players in our organization at heart. We can give Deebo the day off, but I’m sure he won’t be happy unless y’all give Rivers this Sunday off too in compensation for how he was unjustly ignored by the Pro Bowl voters. I mean, come on – the highest rated QB in the league!

by acrollet on Jan 7, 2009 12:45 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I know right? I can kind of see why though. At the time the voting was done, it looked like a lock that we’d miss the playoffs. I bet if you did the voting now, he’d be in and Cutler would probably be out…and I’m not so sure it’s fair that he misses it either. I tell you what: We’ll have LT sit out and you have Harrison sit out. Deal? That sounds like a pretty good deal to me.

"When Bellotti attempted to shake the hand of Oklahoma State quarterback Zac Robinson after the game, Robinson offered his left hand. His right was swollen and battered from the Ducks' defense."

by MarineCorpsDuck on Jan 7, 2009 12:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

If you swap LT for Rivers we’ve got a deal.

by steelguy99 on Jan 7, 2009 12:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t really think you guys are ready for Billy Volek. That just wouldn’t be fair for you. How about if Ignatius Rivers plays instead of Phillip Rivers?

"When Bellotti attempted to shake the hand of Oklahoma State quarterback Zac Robinson after the game, Robinson offered his left hand. His right was swollen and battered from the Ducks' defense."

by MarineCorpsDuck on Jan 7, 2009 1:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Oh! Or give us Dennis Dixon. PLLLLEEEEAAAASE?

"When Bellotti attempted to shake the hand of Oklahoma State quarterback Zac Robinson after the game, Robinson offered his left hand. His right was swollen and battered from the Ducks' defense."

by MarineCorpsDuck on Jan 7, 2009 1:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

If Dixon get thrown in their in the Wildcat,

and we convert on a third and short what is your reaction going to be?

by Jonny B. on Jan 7, 2009 1:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Oh man. Don’t do that to me. Please. I guess I would root for a 56-55 win for the Chargers where Dixon has 8 TD’s, but then on the final drive he throws a perfect pass to Sweed, who catches it and runs into the endzone, but pulls a DeSean Jackson and celebrates at the 1 yard line, causing a fumble that we fall on and win.

Honestly, if Dixon becomes a considerable part of the Steelers offense and starts playing a lot, I’m going to have to take a long, hard look in the mirror and some changes might be in order.

"When Bellotti attempted to shake the hand of Oklahoma State quarterback Zac Robinson after the game, Robinson offered his left hand. His right was swollen and battered from the Ducks' defense."

by MarineCorpsDuck on Jan 7, 2009 2:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Fortunately for you you probably won’t have to worry about it. My guess is by the time he’s developed his contract his up and get goes somewhere else – as a starter. Too early to tell, but he looked awfully good for his value in the pre-season.

by steelguy99 on Jan 7, 2009 2:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

LOL

First we got you buying a Terrible Towel and now we got you rooting for our future backup QB/Slash (ala Kordell Stewart). A few more days and the conversion will be complete!

by Jonny B. on Jan 7, 2009 11:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Dennis Dixon = Oregon Ducks Legend

"When Bellotti attempted to shake the hand of Oklahoma State quarterback Zac Robinson after the game, Robinson offered his left hand. His right was swollen and battered from the Ducks' defense."

by MarineCorpsDuck on Jan 8, 2009 10:55 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Wow! Truly an historic accomplishment.

What a list to be included in! Greene, Blount, Lambert, and Woodson—All HOFers (or about to be). And to think. Greene, Blount, and Lambert did it in successive seasons! Will Polamalu, and Woodley be next?

Certainly, Troy’s turn will be coming. I’m suprised he only took two votes away from Harrison this season. I think it’s safe to say we signed the two best players who EVER played at Kent State University—Jack Lambert And James Harrison.

Unbelievable. Congratulations Mr. Deebo. You did it the old fashioned way. You earrrrrned it.

by Jonny B. on Jan 5, 2009 3:31 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Polamalu

I don’t get why he doesn’t get more love. The dude is a beast. I think he’s the best defensive player in the league right now.

"When Bellotti attempted to shake the hand of Oklahoma State quarterback Zac Robinson after the game, Robinson offered his left hand. His right was swollen and battered from the Ducks' defense."

by MarineCorpsDuck on Jan 5, 2009 3:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

He's definately the straw that stirs the drink.

It’s his all around, all over the field play, that allows others to do their thing.

by Jonny B. on Jan 5, 2009 3:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Polamalu...

definetly should get more credit…

"The grass may be greener on the other side, but it still has to be mowed"
-PsycoSalameh43

by PsycoSalameh on Jan 5, 2009 4:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think Troy gets plenty of love. Getting the 5th most votes for DPOY isn’t exactly a disgrace. He’ll be All-Pro this year too. He’s had an outstanding year, and when you account for backups, he’s probably the most indispensable player on our team. Still, I can’t blame the AP for giving Harrison the top spot.

charity standing orders

by BadMaafala on Jan 5, 2009 5:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

He did get No. 2 in the Play of the Year category

…says ESPN, anyway. his interception of Ignatius Rivers (thanks for that, by the way) in Week 11 lost out to that anti-gravity catch by Antonio Bryant.

by ncoolong on Jan 6, 2009 6:02 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

still

i think troy’s pick beats bryants td, much harder to catch a ball when its not being thrown to you…

by tannofsteel84 on Jan 6, 2009 11:49 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I’m shocked, very surprised.

Very happy, good for Harrison. Now lets have him live up to that award and rip it up on Sunday.

by steelguy99 on Jan 5, 2009 4:11 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

congrats

The award is richly deserved. I see this nomination being a good motivator to tear Philip Rivers’ throat open.

by 36chambers on Jan 5, 2009 4:45 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

graphic

"When Bellotti attempted to shake the hand of Oklahoma State quarterback Zac Robinson after the game, Robinson offered his left hand. His right was swollen and battered from the Ducks' defense."

by MarineCorpsDuck on Jan 5, 2009 4:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Im just glad

Haynesworth didnt get it. I personally dont like him much ever since he stomped on that guys head. And to me, he is NOT that crucial to that defense’s success.

by Mechem on Jan 5, 2009 4:47 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

The headstomp was pretty classless, for sure.

by steelguy99 on Jan 5, 2009 5:01 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Graphic!

Hope the Ravens stomp on Haynesworth’s head.

by SoCalSteelerFan on Jan 6, 2009 2:48 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Just thought of this

What kind of contract will 92 be looking for now that he has this award under his belt?

by JHolmes on Jan 6, 2009 9:23 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I think it will be reasonable

Absolutely he deserves a deal. And I fully believe we get one done. However it should not be some sorta Joseph Peezwald 7 million dollars. Im thinking around 4 a year would be perfect for the next 3. He is 30+

by Mechem on Jan 6, 2009 10:32 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

More than Haynesworth getting stomped....

Hope the Ravens and the Titans stomp each other to death. The more beaten up and injured they are, the better. Let them all be bloodied and concussed a week before we get to them.

by Homer J. on Jan 6, 2009 9:25 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Ideally

In a perfect world a meteor would hit that field and destroy them all

by Mechem on Jan 6, 2009 10:32 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Oh c'mon

Imagine you’re a meteor – traveling all the way across the galaxy, passing all kinds of stars, moons, planets, and other heavenly bodies – then you crash in Tennessee!?!?!

I can’t imagine any self-respecting meteor going for that.

by Varmint on Jan 6, 2009 12:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Lawl

This is kinda true. the Meteor should do itself justice by destroying the Mass-holes or all of canada.

by Mechem on Jan 6, 2009 3:59 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

heres another article on Harrison's award

nothing new but hey, its something to read about the Steelers

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-apdefensiveplayer&prov=ap&type=lgns

by shleeve on Jan 7, 2009 1:50 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Great article back in 2005

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_398120.html

by vin2k on Jan 8, 2009 11:45 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Great Article!

It really puts things into perspective from then to now. My favorite part was Greg Lloyd on Harrison—“Harrison wasn’t hired for his disopsition.” Love it.

by Jonny B. on Jan 8, 2009 12:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs