Update: Polamalu Retired Unhappy With Steelers Brass

[Favre4Ever+ 4,476]

Troy Polamalu's clock to Canton can start now. The definitive Pittsburgh Steeler of the team's recent titles told the Uniontown Herald-Standard that he has decided to retire.

"I did not seriously consider playing elsewhere," Polamalu said in a phone interview with Jim Wexell. "It was just whether or not I wanted to play."

We can't say that Polamalu re-defined the safety position because he was one of a kind. It's not like there are youth coaches out there teaching kids to play like Polamalu, because his unique skill set would be impossible to recreate. An eight-time Pro Bowl player, Polamalu was one of the most dominant safeties in league history during his four seasons as a first-team All-Pro. He won the 2010 Defensive Player of the Year by mixing big plays, run stopping, well-timed blitzes and a rare instinct for knowing where quarterbacks would throw, sometimes before the quarterbacks knew.

Around the NFL will have more on this story soon.

 

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000484645/article/troy-polamalu-retires-after-12-seasons

 

The NFL lost a great one.

Edited May 15, 2015 by Zack_of_Steel

[oochymp 2,393]

I look forward to seeing his HOF induction in five years

[BigBen07 285]

Always a Steeler! Farewell, Troy, you had a great career! Thanks for the memories!

[Zack_of_Steel+ 3,014]

Makes me tear up a bit. ;_;

Not afraid to say that I think he's in the conversation for greatest ever.



http://pit.scout.com/story/1536060-steelers-great-troy-polamalu-retires?s=68

 

"It's all about family," said Polamalu in a phone interview. "I live here in Pittsburgh now, and since the end of the season I've had a chance to enjoy my family on a level I never had before. It was awesome.

...

"I did not seriously consider playing elsewhere," Polamalu said. "It was just whether or not I wanted to play. I had talked to a lot of people about what I should do with my situation, and what they kept saying back to me, and which was not a sufficient reason, was 'Troy, you played 12 years in the NFL, you won Super Bowls, won individual awards. There's nothing left to prove. You have a legacy.' And I just kept saying, 'First of all, I don't care about a legacy. Second of all, I play the game because I enjoy it.' That's the reason to keep playing.

"Like I said, what it came down to was definitely family. If I'm in my fourth year, fifth year, even if I'm in my 10th year, I'm playing in Alaska. But when I started this process and started to debate whether I should come back or should I play, that was kind of the sign for me to say 'Whoa, if you're just even debating it maybe you shouldn't play anymore,' because what I do know about this game is it takes a lot, a lot, of commitment just to be an average player."

...

"Thirty-three is obviously significant because of Christ being 33; and 12 years, 12 apostles," he said. "I'm not superstitious by any means but I always thought that if I played 12 years and retire from football at 33 and give my life and give my body and give my blood to this game, I think that would be a pretty significant landmark in my life."

Polamalu said that his wife, Theodora, did not ask him to retire, and that "She was the most supportive person. I would ask her, 'What do you want me to do? What should I do?' And she would say, 'Troy, I'm not here to tell you what you should do. I'm here to support you in whatever decision you want to make.'"

What will Polamalu do in retirement?

"Well, that's the big question," he said. "That also was part of the hesitation. What am I going to do now? I think the best I can do is make up for lost time, and that's with my family. Thank God football has provided me the ability to be able to sit back and see what the options are. But I'll definitely be the best father I can possibly be."

Polamalu is the father of seven-year-old Paisios and five-year-old Ephram, boys who are often seen darting around the Heinz Field locker room and the training-camp fields at St. Vincent College.

"Maybe it was a sign for me to retire when I chase my kids around and couldn't catch them," Polamalu said with a laugh. "It was either a sign for me to retire or a sign for them to begin training."

Polamalu does see good possibilities ahead for the Steelers.

"Part of the reason I wanted to come back was they're talented. They're really talented," he said. "I think it's an exciting time to be a Steeler, but, man, there have been years where I thought we weren't going to be very good and we were great, and there were years that I thought we were going to be great and we weren't very good. You just never know.

"I do know one thing is that talent doesn't win Super Bowls. There's got to be another component there. The personality of a team changes from year to year. I do think the team next year can be really successful. How successful, only time will tell."

The personality of this team will certainly change without Polamalu, who may have been a bigger factor throughout his career in the locker room and team meetings than on the field. But time marches on for everyone, and Polamalu was struck by that notion on Thursday.

"It's our Holy Week this week. Our Easter is on Sunday," he said. "I've been in church and had a lot of time to contemplate. It actually hit me today in church that, 'Man, you know what? You're done. You're done. Your training is done. Your getting in your stance in football is done.' It actually hit me in the middle of church. I was like, all right, man, it's time to start living. Because I've been living the dream."

Edited April 10, 2015 by Zack_of_Steel

[seanbrock 1,684]

As much as I hate to say it he's the best safety I've seen play the game. Dawk is my favorite player of all time, but he's second best for me. Polamalu just had so much range, was so physical, but also had ball skills and could cover with the best of them. A lot of people look at Ed Reed with all his INT's and say he was the best, but Polamalu was just so much more versatile and impacted the game so much more imo. It's funny how easy it is to forget just how dominant the Steelers defense was in the last decade, especially the year they won the Super Bowl. He was just so fun to watch. Nobody dove over a pile to make plays like Polamalu and nobody could play in the box quite like him. One of the quietest and most humble stars I've ever seen too. He let his play on the field do the talking which is a rarity this day in age. I'd say he's got to be one of the 10 best to ever do it, maybe top 5. First ballot hall of fame without a doubt.

[.AirMcNair. 1,232]

About fucking time.

 

Been terrorizing the Titans for years.

[Favre4Ever+ 4,476]

I wouldn't even really compare him to Ed Reed, they just did two very different things with their very different roles. Ed Reed was that ball hawking center fielder and I absolutely loved to watch him play.

I also loved to watch Troy play but for different reasons. That isn't to say he didn't have a nose for the football and not saying he wasn't a ball hawk in his own right because... hello...



But what I loved so much about his game, and you mentioned it... Was him playing in and lining up in the box. I have never seen a player so intelligent... so disciplined... so focused as Troy when it comes to timing out snap counts crashing down on the line and making a huge tackle for loss before the offense even realizes what happened.

 

And also as you mentioned, it is practically impossible to not like the guy. He had so much charisma and just had an aura about him that makes inspires and motivates other people. I have never really played football, much less on the level of the NFL... But I imagine that is somebody that I would want to follow out onto the field... Somebody who I would want to break a huddle with, and somebody I would want to be proud in me.

I don't know if there are too many players I have watched that have played this game with more heart and passion than Troy Polamalu.

I may be setting my expectations a little high, but I expect his speech as he enters Canton to be just as heart-felt and passionate. Like his career, it should be one for the ages, and I can't wait.

Edited April 10, 2015 by Favre4Ever

[Sarge+ 3,436]

My favorite player of all time. Wahhhhhh.

 

Thanks for the memories. And thanks for always giving it your all no matter what. The Steelers and the league couldn't have asked for a better ambassador of the sport. Never is a long time, but I'm not sure we will ever see another player like this. Oh well. That's what YouTube highlight videos are for.

 

 

Really shows everything he was capable of. I could watch that all day every day. Not just one of the best safeties ever to play, but also one of the most exciting to watch. Every week you knew he was going to make an impact, but you just didn't know how he would do it each week. Would he get after the QB? Would he make a game-changing INT? Or would he rob backs and receivers of extra yards due to his unmatched open field tackling abilities?

 

It'll be so weird not seeing him anymore. But the NFL was a better place because of him. Enjoy your retirement and the rest of your life, Troy.

[SteVo+ 3,702]

Yeah, I'm comfortable calling Polamalu the greatest safety of all-time. Obviously there's modern bias for me (and most of us), but I think it says something that both Sean and I are so willing to rank him higher than Brian Dawkins. This guy was simply incredible, and a pleasure to watch.

Edited April 10, 2015 by SteVo

[Thanatos 2,847]

An amazing player and an amazing person. Sad to see him go, but it was time.

 

Farewell to one of the all-time greats. I fully expect him to be a first ballot hall of famer.

[FartWaffles 1,857]

Best playmaker to ever play the safety position. You and your lovely locks will be missed. He's definitely a player I will reminisce about to my future children, and personally I think that is the best compliment I can give to a football player.

[RazorStar 4,025]

Hell of a career, Troy. Looking forward to seeing the Samoan in the hall in six years.

[BigBen07 285]

My favorite player of all time. Wahhhhhh.

 

Thanks for the memories. And thanks for always giving it your all no matter what. The Steelers and the league couldn't have asked for a better ambassador of the sport. Never is a long time, but I'm not sure we will ever see another player like this. Oh well. That's what YouTube highlight videos are for.

 

 

Really shows everything he was capable of. I could watch that all day every day. Not just one of the best safeties ever to play, but also one of the most exciting to watch. Every week you knew he was going to make an impact, but you just didn't know how he would do it each week. Would he get after the QB? Would he make a game-changing INT? Or would he rob backs and receivers of extra yards due to his unmatched open field tackling abilities?

 

It'll be so weird not seeing him anymore. But the NFL was a better place because of him. Enjoy your retirement and the rest of your life, Troy.

If you look up the definition of 'explosive' you'll find a pic of Troy right next to it.

[Dutch 874]

I hate seeing greats retire. It takes away from the game but I can say that it was a blast watching Troy play over the last 12 years. Troy was definitely one of the most instinctual players I've ever seen. He just knew what the offense was trying to do and put himself in the best situation to disrupt the play. Troy is definitely in the conversation of one of the best to play the game but I don't know if he's a lock for first ballot. Does his career warrant it? Most definitely but life is hard for safeties trying to get into Canton. The position is overlooked and undervalued and there is loads of competition at other positions to get in. Safeties rarely make it to the final 15 for possible inductees. I think it's only like 8 or 9 safeties in the Hall altogether.

 

There have been a few stand out star safeties over the last decade or so. Brian Dawkins, John Lynch, Darren Woodson, but Troy was definitely a good notch ahead of all of them. And ofcourse, you can't mention Troy without Ed Reed. Both of those guys were the golden standard of safeties during their tenure. They had different games but were incredible at what they did. Troy stayed more near the line of scrimmage and dominated but he also made great plays down the field. Reed dominated center field but he also could make a play near the line of scrimmage. You can't go wrong with either player but I'd have to nudge a little towards Ed Reed. I have to go for the ball hawk because it was almost impossible to throw his way. And at the end of the day as a defensive player, you can't make more of an impact than creating turnovers and Reed was king at that. Then on top of that, he was the best taking it back for 7. But again, you can't go wrong with either and both are first ballot players in my eyes.

Edited April 10, 2015 by Dutch

[Zack_of_Steel+ 3,014]

[Dutch 874]

Sensitive topic I know especially considering the rivalry but those two players careers are so closely connected being arguably two of the best safeties to ever play the game and played at the same time AND in the same division. They are going to be compared forever. Accept it and expect it.

Edited April 11, 2015 by Dutch

[Zack_of_Steel+ 3,014]

I only expect it from dumb people.

[Dutch 874]

Because expecting players to be compared in the NFL is so uncommon.

[blotsfan 2,112]

Obvious first ballot HOF. I remember the first game after the Cardinals - Steelers Super Bowl when he singlehandedly dominated on defense. I don't remember a ton of the game lol, but I don't think I've ever seen a safety play as good of a game as that.

[Zack_of_Steel+ 3,014]

Obvious first ballot HOF. I remember the first game after the Cardinals - Steelers Super Bowl when he singlehandedly dominated on defense. I don't remember a ton of the game lol, but I don't think I've ever seen a safety play as good of a game as that.

 

Opener against the Titans where he caught the one-handed INT?

[blotsfan 2,112]

Yeah. Wasn't just the pick though. He was making plays all over the field all game.

[Zack_of_Steel+ 3,014]

Yeah. Wasn't just the pick though. He was making plays all over the field all game.

 

Yeah, I remember this one play where he made a tackle in the flat that was just plain awesome.

 

I looked it up after my guess and something I'd forgotten was that he hurt his knee and didn't play the second half of that game. Crazy that he left such an impression on you in only the first half, though he did have 6 tackles and the interception.

[Shotgun 442]

I've always been a fan of Polamalu. I used to pull up the Steelers games just to watch him play. It was definitely time for him to hang it up, but still sucks to see him go. I'll probably always consider him the GOAT at the safety position.

[Zack_of_Steel+ 3,014]

I've always been a fan of Polamalu. I used to pull up the Steelers games just to watch him play. It was definitely time for him to hang it up, but still sucks to see him go. I'll probably always consider him the GOAT at the safety position.

 

Off topic, but great to see you around, Shotgun. You should post more often.

[Sarge+ 3,436]

Yea that Titans game was insane. Never saw a safety take over a game like that in all facets of play.