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Pittsburgh Steelers
Same knee. Same player. Same team without him.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are in bad shape with All Pro Safety Troy Polamalu going down once more this season, he’s only appeared in five games and saw limited time in two of those. But his presence is sorely missed.
In just five games, Polamalu has three interceptions. Couple that with his inexplicable ability to lead a team to greatness and you’ve got a serious problem when he can’t be on the field.
The best parallel I can personally draw to this injury is the one suffered by former Pittsburgh corner back, Rod Woodson, in 1995.
Polamalu’s injury isn’t as serious as Woodson’s was, but both were knee injuries and both plagued a Steelers defensive back that was vital to the team’s success.
Woodson didn’t see the injured reserve list in that 1995 season, coach Bill Cowher wanting him to play in the Super Bowl should they make it. And make it they did, losing to the Dallas Cowboys.
The Steelers are 2-3 when Polamalu is out, or if he only sees limited action (like in the Bengals game) this season. Sufficed to say, he’s perhaps the one indispensable player on the defense.
Look at last year, Polamalu played in and started all 16 games of the regular season, amassing 73 total tackles along with seven interceptions. This year the long haired USC product has only 20 tackles.
20 tackles and three interceptions. Not bad for a player who’s missed so much time.
The good news as far as his injury is concerned is that it’s a completely different ligament in his knee this time and not his MCL being further injured. This time it’s his PCL.
According to Head Coach Mike Tomlin, Polamalu’s in a very good state of mind, helping safety Tyrone Carter prepare for his sixth start in place of a Steelers starter (five times for Polamalu, once for Ryan Clark).
That’s exactly what Woodson did in 1995.
With Polamalu out for certain against the Kansas City Chiefs, Carter will once again get the starting nod. And he’s more than capable of playing the safety position in the NFL. His phenomenal showing against the Denver Broncos is evidence of that.
But he’s no Polamalu.
I think I speak for every Steelers fan out there when I say: Get better soon, Troy.
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Am I the only one that notices that this is nothing less than the Madden Curse?
Yeah, I see it too.
Kinda sad really.