LOOKING AHEAD

	Polamalu

Steelers vs. San Diego Chargers, 4:05 p.m. Sunday, Heinz Field. TV: KDKA. Radio: WDVE-FM (102.5), WBGG-AM (970) and the Steelers Radio Network.

NOTEBOOK

Although he has not started a game, S Troy Polamalu was the overwhelming winner of the Steelers' rookie of the year in a vote by the local chapter of the Pro Football Writers Association of America. Cornerback. Kick-returner Ike Taylor finished second.

Polamalu plays in the team's nickel and dime defenses and on a number of special teams. He leads the special teams with 22 tackles, 14 solos. He has 25 tackles on defense, 14 solos.

He acknowledged a slow start this season.

"The beginning of the season for me was pretty rough with learning everything, and not actually playing very well," said Polamalu, the 16th pick in the draft from Southern Cal. "I really started to feel comfortable late in the season. But I am very excited. I am trying to focus one week at a time. I am not really looking forward to next season, but I am getting ready for San Diego now."

Polamalu became the 20th winner of the Joe Greene Great Performance Award that began when Louis Lipps won it in 1984. The winners have ranged from a punter (Harry Newsome in 1985) to a current Steelers assistant coach (S Darren Perry in 1992) and two-time All-Pro G Alan Faneca (1998).

"I was really the only rookie that pretty much played this year," Polamalu said. "But obviously, it is nice to get an award like this to let me know I am on the positive track."

SS Mike Logan, who kept Polamalu from starting, won the Chief Award in a vote of the writers. The award is presented to the member of the Steelers' organization who best exemplifies the spirit and cooperation with the media. The award was established by the team's late founder, Art Rooney. It's no surprise that Logan would cooperate with the media -- his dad, Mike Harber, is a longtime cameraman for KDKA-TV. Logan, who graduated from McKeesport High School and played at West Virginia University, wouldn't mind working in the media some day. He has been around it much of his life.

"I had the great opportunity to do a lot of things with my father when he was out there shooting commercials. I got to meet a lot of great athletes. I got to shoot a commercial with [former Pirates] Johnny Ray, Steve Blass. I have been able to carry his tripod around, and that thing is heavy. I owe a lot to my Pops. Just seeing him, a working man, going to work every day, lugging that big camera around. To me, he was my hero. Just him working and me having the opportunity to be with him, he brought me up the right way, and I have a lot of memories stored away because he always had that camera rolling at some great family times."

Logan replaced Lee Flowers at strong safety and started 13 games this season. He's the team's third-leading tackler with 83 tackles, 64 solo. He also has a sack, five passes broken up and is tied for the team lead with two fumbles recovered. He joined the Steelers in 2001 as a free agent from Jacksonville. He's playing in the final year of his contract and might leave as a free agent.

"Obviously, with Troy Polamalu coming along and starting to pick up this defense and play, they are paying him pretty well. I feel like I took advantage of the opportunities I had this year. Coming off that serious knee injury [from last season], I think there were a lot of questions and I think I quieted a lot of critics. Right now, I am looking week to week and I am taking advantage of every opportunity I get. We still have two games left in this season and we will see what happens afterward."

Jets FS Tyrone Carter has been fined $7,500 by the NFL for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Steelers WR Hines Ward Sunday in the fourth quarter. But Jets DB Aaron Beasley has not yet heard from the league about a possible fine for hitting Steelers QB Tommy Maddox in the head, even though Beasley said after the game he expected a fine.

The start of Sunday's game against San Diego is 4:05 p.m., only the second home game not to start at 1 p.m. this season. The other was a Sunday night game against Cleveland.

RB Jerome Bettis was the only one of four Steelers listed as probable who did not practice yesterday.

The injury report:

Steelers: Out -- OT Marvel Smith (neck). Probable -- LB Kendrell Bell (groin), RB Bettis (knee), LB James Farrior (knee), WR Hines Ward (knee).

San Diego: Out -- OT Courtney Van Buren (knee). Questionable -- TE Stephen Alexander (groin), C Jason Ball (ankle), G Kris Dielman (hamstring), OT Damion McIntosh (ankle), G/T Solomon Page (ankle), TE Justin Peelle (concussion). Probable -- WR David Boston (neck).