Steelers News: Troy Polamalu, a no-brainer for induction into the Hall of Fame

The Pittsburgh Steelers 2019 season is officially over. After finishing the year 8-8, the Steelers, and their vast fan base, has another long offseason awaiting them. Just because the games are done doesn’t mean we stop providing you with features, commentary and opinions to tide you over throughout the offseason!

Today in the black-and-gold links article we take at how Troy Polamalu is a no-brainer selection to be a first ballot Hall of Famer.

Let’s get to the news:

• As if he needed any more endorsement from any of us, but Troy Polamalu being a Hall of Famer is a no-brainer.

Labriola on why Troy Polamalu belongs

By: Bob Labriola, Steelers.com

Jack Buck was behind the microphone doing the play-by-play, but it was in a different sport in a different era. Still, the words he used that night in Los Angeles to describe what Kirk Gibson did during Game 1 of the 1988 World Series could apply to so many of the football moments authored by Troy Polamalu in venues in so many different NFL cities.

”I don’t believe what I just saw.”

Troy Polamalu was 7 years old when the Dodgers faced Oakland in the 1988 World Series, and his own career as a professional athlete would begin 15 years later when the Pittsburgh Steelers made him their first-round pick in the 2003 NFL Draft. During his 12 seasons, Polamalu played in 158 regular season games, and he started every one of those except for the 16 during his rookie year.

He amassed 783 tackles, with 32 interceptions and seven fumble recoveries for a total of 39 takeaways; he had 12 sacks and 14 forced fumbles; and he scored five defensive touchdowns. He was voted to the Pro Bowl eight times, he was voted first-team All-Pro four times, and in 2010 he was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year. But such a bland recitation of statistics and accomplishments just doesn’t begin to describe the player Polamalu was, or put into context the impact he had, or come close to explaining the human highlights film he always will be.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• A look back at the last time we will see Steelers playing football until training camp.

More Steelers takeaways at the Pro Bowl

By: Mike Prisuta, Steelers.com

Sights and sounds from ESPN’s broadcast of the 2020 Pro Bowl on this afternoon at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla.:

T.J. TD: Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt was a big part of what became the splash play of the game when he recovered a fumble on fourth-and-goal from the AFC 9-yard line early in the fourth quarter and returned it 82-yards for a touchdown.

Watt picked up the ball after it had been knocked from Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins’ grasp by Jaguars defensive end Calais Campbell and carried it all the way into the opposite end zone. Watt even extended the ball back in the direction of Cousins, who was in pursuit the entire way back down the field, at about the 15-yard line and then executed a slide upon crossing the goal line.

Watt beat Steelers defensive tackle Cam Heyward to the recovery.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• Predictions for the Hall of Fame...does Alan Faneca get in?

Our Hall of Fame votes: 57 NFL analysts pick the 2020 class

By: ESPN Staff Writers

THE LOCK

1. Troy Polamalu: 227 points

Safety: Pittsburgh Steelers, 2003-14

Résumé highlights: Two-time Super Bowl champion (XL, XLIII); four-time first-team All-Pro; last defensive back to win Defensive Player of the Year Award (2010).

Key stat: 32. Polamalu had 32 career interceptions, and also forced 14 fumbles, recovering seven.

They said it: ”His actions as a human being were just as impressive as any of the many inhuman plays he made on the football field.” — Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert

CLOSE CALLS

4. Alan Faneca: 69 points

Guard: Pittsburgh Steelers 1998-2007; New York Jets 2008-09; Arizona Cardinals 2010

Résumé highlights: Super Bowl champion (XL); nine-time Pro Bowl selection, six-time first-team All-Pro.

Key stat: 12. Faneca is one of just 12 guards in league history to be first-team All-Pro six or more times — the other 11 are already enshrined in Canton. His teams were among the league’s top five in rushing six times in his 13 seasons.

They said it: “It started with him. He was the guy up front.” — Hall of Fame linebacker Brian Urlacher

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

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