i dont really judge single players on superbowls. thats why i wrote that. so didnt forget that. and if you say one person is better becase of the one stat–that he has won more superbowls–i am going to say ed reed is better because he has more pics (or tds, or blocked kicks, or punt returns, or forced fumbles, or records).

but nice try.

somesome, why so sad? This story was about Defense Player of the WEEK, not the month, not last year, etc. I assume you can read headlines? I hope we meet for the AFC championship. Good chance for a different outcome IMO. I don’t think the Steeler’s defense will put everyone back in coverage. They will most likely look to harrass Brady.

GO STEELERS!!

Polamalu played all 16 games in 2004. The Steelers led the NFL in both total defense and scoring defense and went 15-1 with a rookie quarterback, before finally falling to the dynastic Patriots in the AFC title game.

Polamalu played all 16 games in 2005. The Steelers went 11-5 and won three straight playoff games on the road before finally capturing the franchise’s first Super Bowl title in a quarter century. Pittsburgh’s defense surrendered just 15.5 PPG in the postseason.

Polamalu played all 16 games in 2008. The Steelers again led the league in both total defense and scoring defense, captured the AFC’s No. 2 seed with a 12-4 record and won their second Super Bowl in four years.

Polamalu has played all 13 games so far in 2010. The Steelers are 10-3, positioned for the AFC’s No. 2 seed and again a prime contender to win the Super Bowl.

Pittsburgh, in other words, is clearly better when Polamalu spends the entire year on the field. The Cold, Hard Football Facts bear out this contention, too. Polamalu has missed 19 games in his career. The Steelers are better by every measure when he’s on the field.

whammy!!!

and the ravens are no better or worse without reed they win some games , have a good defense maybe even win a playoff game or two but thats about it

BOTH are GREAT players. But they play different styles. Comparing them through stats is like trying to quantify if an apple tastes better than an orange.

Inferiority complex? Really pulled that one out of your ass, didn’t you?

Arguing about the use of “we” when speaking of the them one supports? As if you’ve never done that? Dude, EVERY fan does that. Thats what being a fan is; identifying with a team, and making it a personal thing. Dumbass.

You forgot another comparison between Polamalu and Reed.

Troy 2 Rings and Ed 0 Rings

but nice try.

Player A has accomplished far more in his career. He has better stats year in and out.

Player B has not accomplished what player A has, but player B has been lucky enough to hop on the train to a couple of Super Bowl…

Therefore, player B is the better player.

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How about , with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line, if player B got a pick six to seal the game against player A’s team while player A had no picks and only 2 tackles that day?

As for the projections and should have and would have … Steelers missed the playoffs last year so no chance for a threepeat and chnaces for Ravens not making the playoffs requires the Ravens to lose out.

As for Suggs, this article has nothing to do about safety but about defensive player of the week, position irrelevant.

Steeler fans are just funny, only read what they want to read and leave the rest off.

Troy Palomalu is a great player, I would love to have him on my team. Whether he or Ed is better is purely argumentative.

As for offense, Flacco is the second highest rated QB since week 2 we consistantly score TDs which the Steelers havn’t in 10 quarters. You are only a FF ahead of us. As long as the Ravens don’t lose (and they sure have a good chance to lose this weekend) you have to win out to win the division THAT is how close you are to winning the division.

“Inferiority Complex?”

________________________________

Actually, I think Steeler Nation has a Superiority Complex.

Player A has accomplished far more in his career. He has better stats year in and out.

Player B has not accomplished what player A has, but player B has been lucky enough to hop on the train to a couple of Super Bowl…

Therefore, player B is the better player.

Inferior complex? We have 6 Super Bowl wins. We are better than you. And, everyone else.
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Ha ha.. what’s all this “we” stuff? Are you actually on the team? Troy, is that you posting?

I love how some of this dingbats talk like they’re actually *on* the team. “We”, my ass. You have nothing to do with it, so how about using “they” or “the Steelers” instead of “we”?

troy polamalu: 392 tackles, 26 ints, 2 tds, 8 forced fumbles…

Now now–the stats show James Harrison had a better November than Terrell Suggs, but Suggs got the award because he has less fines…so stats have nothing to do with these awards–it’s defensive players that change the outcome of the games. Obviously without Troy, we don’t win…

But since Troy has started playing a more traditional safety role in the past few years, he’s really eclipsed Reed, IMO.

Reed is tremendous, almost always in the right place at the right time, amazing with the ball, etc.

But the last 3 years, Polamalu has been playing more like…well…Ed Reed, playing deeper more frequently, playing pass coverage more often than blitzing or playing in the box.

Polamalu is simply a better athlete than Ed Reed. Since 2008 he’s made a handful of plays that haven’t really been seen from any other player in the league.

Had Troy been playing the position he’s playing now his whole career, I suspect even the numbers would work out in his favor. And there IS something to be said for making the biggest impact when the game is on the line. Troy has single handedly won games for Pittsburgh the past few years.

Either way, I suspect they will both end up in Canton some day, and they will both deserve it. Both guys have a lot of respect for each other, and understand how special it is to be in the same division with each other. We’re lucky to be able to watch these guys playing in the same era…incredible players.

I can understand how you could compare Troy to Ed however, they do not play the same positions. Ed is a “free safety” which means he plays further from the line of scrimmage which is the best way to get interceptions. Troy on the other hand is a “strong safety” , he plays closer to the line of scrimmage which means more run stops. Your post omitted a few things that make this point very important to their individual stats. Through 106 games, Troy has a total of 393 solo tackles but he also has124 assisted tackles giving him a total of 517. Don’t forget that Troy only played 5 games last year. Ed has 125 games, 406 tackles, 80 assisted tackles. Total of 486. Ed has played 7 games this year and has 25 tackles 4 interceptions while Troy has played 13 and has 62 tackles, 6 interceptions.

His athletisicm combined with his awareness and physicality are totally unparalleled in the game today by any other safety.

Divisional colleague Ed Reed used to be his equal, but injury has removed him the debate.

i was mostly just saying that troy is nothing compared to reed in terms if ints, touchdowns, and special teams which is not debatable. and in my opinion, that makes reed a much better all around player.

and troy doesnt really have anything to show he is better than reed (unlike ed). not that stats mean everything but when someone is better in almost every stat category, i think that says something. not that troy is bad, but reed just makes bigger plays (touchdowns, block kicks, 100+returns, punt returns)…although troy has made some big ones the last two weeks.

The only one to compare him to is super-great Ronnie Lott.

Ed was invisible last Sunday night – although he did plenty of whining after the game.

Troy stole the show…again
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so what Suggs was defensive player of the month.
What is it with Steeler fans inferior complex to constatnly have to compare themselves.

Your D plays great, your O is one of the 5 worst for the last three weeks. So what?????
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This article wasn’t about any linebackers or offense but if you would like to go there, that would be fine.

Your D even with Suggs playing as well as he has is a shell of its former self. You O is almost as pathetic. You got lucky in overtime against Houston. Congrats.

Compare you say! The Ratbirds have admitted they model themselves after the Steelers and every other team in the Division. We have SIX RINGS, more than any team in the league. There’s no one who compares to that.

Signed Steeler Nation.

whammy!!!

Signed – Steelers Nation

If Polamalu wasn’t hurt last year, we might be talking about the Steelers going for a three-peat this season.

Just sayin’.

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“Inferiority Complex?”

…I’m completely comfortable supporting a team with the most Super Bowls!

But have to agree about the comparisons. They serve no useful purpose. I love Troy and think he’s not only great, but a truly unique player and fascinating to watch. But Reed is also a fantastic safety. Happy both are recovered from their injuries this season and thankful I get the chance to watch so much great defense in the AFC North.

Congrats, Troy!!