Troy Polamalu just might be the best to ever play his position. Will be sad to see him go.... fierce hitter!!!
Troy Polamalu to retire after 12 seasons with the Steelers.
- Thread starter NYJDraftKing
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Hoping that Calvin Pryor can be even 2/3 the player Polamalu was.
I agree he should get all the film of him and watch it...he basically was a mad freelancer but it worked...
Ronnie Lott was a total freak and played SS as well as or better than any player in NFL history.
The fact he played CB & FS so often as well, (63 career INTs), presaged the coming trend that LeRoy Butler would perfect in the 90s, but Lott would retire with only 8.5 recorded sacks in his 14 year (1981-1994) career.
(Sacks were not tracked prior to 1982.)
LeRoy Butler redefined the position while in Green Bay, by demonstrating that Strong Safetys not only have to be hitters, but pass coverage guys as well.
23 passes defended & 6 INTs in 1993, Butler changed the face of the SS position forever.
Butler was the first Safety to ever join the 20/20 club, (20 sacks/20 INTs), and continues to hold the INTs by a Strong Safety record with a career 38.
(Free Safetys get more INTs.)
Troy Polamalu may have been an even bigger hitter than Lott, and he just as easily could have played FS his entire career.
As good as Troy was, he never managed to join the 20/20 club, with just 12 career sacks to go with those 32 INTs.
In HYATT™'s opinion, those (3) SS are the best there has ever been at the position.
All deserve HoF status, (LeRoy has been cheated long enough now), & anyone else who might have been good here and there for a season or three, just does not measure up to those 3 players.
The fact he played CB & FS so often as well, (63 career INTs), presaged the coming trend that LeRoy Butler would perfect in the 90s, but Lott would retire with only 8.5 recorded sacks in his 14 year (1981-1994) career.
(Sacks were not tracked prior to 1982.)
LeRoy Butler redefined the position while in Green Bay, by demonstrating that Strong Safetys not only have to be hitters, but pass coverage guys as well.
23 passes defended & 6 INTs in 1993, Butler changed the face of the SS position forever.
Butler was the first Safety to ever join the 20/20 club, (20 sacks/20 INTs), and continues to hold the INTs by a Strong Safety record with a career 38.
(Free Safetys get more INTs.)
Troy Polamalu may have been an even bigger hitter than Lott, and he just as easily could have played FS his entire career.
As good as Troy was, he never managed to join the 20/20 club, with just 12 career sacks to go with those 32 INTs.
In HYATT™'s opinion, those (3) SS are the best there has ever been at the position.
All deserve HoF status, (LeRoy has been cheated long enough now), & anyone else who might have been good here and there for a season or three, just does not measure up to those 3 players.
Injuries, no doubt, were in part due to his aggressive nature. I saw some unbelievable hits/tackles by Polamalu over the years. Unfortunately, that type of player usually doesn't last long. Pryor will probably have a shorter career than most, too.