Cook: Steelers' Polamalu has more to give
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Steelers safety Troy Polamalu intercepts pass against the Falcons in the fourth quarter at Heinz Field during Sunday's game.
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His Steelers teammates were long gone Sunday, off into the night to start their celebrations, when All-Pro safety Troy Polamalu finally emerged from the shower. It was more than an hour after the 15-9 overtime victory against the Atlanta Falcons at Heinz Field. There is no truth to the rumor that Polamalu needed that long to deal with his $1 million hair. None at all.
Although that news might not surprise you, this rebuttal to a little more widespread, unsubstantiated speculation might: Polamalu did not play a good game.
Here's The Man Himself:
"Other than the one play, it wasn't what I thought it should have been."
That "one play" was terrific, of course. It should have won the game for the Steelers in regulation. With 1:45 left, Polamalu used his incredible closing speed -- "His zero-to-60," teammate Bryant McFadden called it -- to get to and step in front of a pass in the right flat for Falcons wide receiver Roddy White. The interception was spectacular enough. That Polamalu got his feet down inbounds in Lynn Swann-like fashion at the Falcons' 30 made it seem almost otherworldly. What a shame that Steelers kicker Jeff Reed missed a 40-yard field goal a few plays later.
The effort by Polamalu had his teammates talking afterward. "No one else makes that play," linebacker James Farrior said. "I told [Larry] Foote that Troy is the greatest player I ever played with. Foote couldn't come up with anyone any better." It had the Falcons talking. "Thought I made a pretty good throw, but, against him, you have to be perfect," Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan said. Here's guessing it had the hair-products people who built a wonderful advertising campaign around Polamalu's hair talking the most. They look like geniuses for insuring that famous hair for $1 million.
And what did Polamalu have to say about the play?
Typically, not so much.
"I got lucky."
Polamalu was more concerned about his mistakes. There were a bunch, he said. Missed assignments and missed tackles. "Yeah, especially the pass down the middle to [tight end] Tony Gonzalez [that went for a 20-yard gain in the third quarter]. That could have been a game-changer. If that had been a receiver, it could have gone for a touchdown ...
"I don't know what it was. A lack of focus. A lack of intensity. I just don't know."
I know exactly what it was. How about a lack of playing time? Polamalu hadn't been in a real game since Nov. 15. He missed the final seven games last season because of a left knee injury. Even a superstar needs time to get back on top of his game. Polamalu will be better Sunday in Tennessee against the Titans and better the Sunday after that in Tampa, Fla., against the Buccaneers.
First Published September 14, 2010 12:00 am
