Lady Steel
04-10-2015, 10:40 PM
Even though there are names like Mike Webster, Jack Lambert, Lynn Swann, John Stallworth, Mel Blount, Terry Bradshaw, Franco Harris, Joe Greene and Jack Ham on the list of the Steelers' all-time greats, Troy Polamalu belongs right there among them.
At least that's what Steelers president Art Rooney II thinks.
For that matter, that's what chairman Dan Rooney believes, as well, and he was the man in charge during the most successful era in Steelers' history that produced nine Hall of Famers in the 1970s.
“I look at it that he was one of the great players we've had,” Dan Rooney said. “You go back, some of the great players like Mel Blount and Rod Woodson (as players in the defensive backfield) and he ranks right up there with them.”
The Steelers on Friday announced Polamalu's intentions to retire after 12 seasons with the team that included eight Pro Bowls, four first-team All-Pros, a defensive player of the year award and two Super Bowl titles.
Even though Polamalu's statistics don't measure up with some of the all-time best at the position, he always will be thought of as a play-making safety who had a flair for the dramatic.
“His unique style of play will be remembered among the all-time Steelers,” Art Rooney said. “His passion for the game of football on the field and his willingness to be a contributor to the community make him a very special person.”
In Art Rooney's eyes, the Steelers might not have won Super Bowl XL against Seattle and XLIII against Arizona if the organization didn't trade up 11 spots in the 2003 draft to No. 16 to select Polamalu.
“There is no doubt that Troy was a key player in those Super Bowl years, so it would be hard for me to imagine that we would have been able to win those Super Bowls without Troy,” Art Rooney said.
http://triblive.com/sports/steelers/8146828-74/polamalu-steelers-rooney#axzz3Wy685kqM
At least that's what Steelers president Art Rooney II thinks.
For that matter, that's what chairman Dan Rooney believes, as well, and he was the man in charge during the most successful era in Steelers' history that produced nine Hall of Famers in the 1970s.
“I look at it that he was one of the great players we've had,” Dan Rooney said. “You go back, some of the great players like Mel Blount and Rod Woodson (as players in the defensive backfield) and he ranks right up there with them.”
The Steelers on Friday announced Polamalu's intentions to retire after 12 seasons with the team that included eight Pro Bowls, four first-team All-Pros, a defensive player of the year award and two Super Bowl titles.
Even though Polamalu's statistics don't measure up with some of the all-time best at the position, he always will be thought of as a play-making safety who had a flair for the dramatic.
“His unique style of play will be remembered among the all-time Steelers,” Art Rooney said. “His passion for the game of football on the field and his willingness to be a contributor to the community make him a very special person.”
In Art Rooney's eyes, the Steelers might not have won Super Bowl XL against Seattle and XLIII against Arizona if the organization didn't trade up 11 spots in the 2003 draft to No. 16 to select Polamalu.
“There is no doubt that Troy was a key player in those Super Bowl years, so it would be hard for me to imagine that we would have been able to win those Super Bowls without Troy,” Art Rooney said.
http://triblive.com/sports/steelers/8146828-74/polamalu-steelers-rooney#axzz3Wy685kqM