I’m not so sure. Comparing their stats reed blows troy out of the water. Heck, Reed has almost 1500 yards in interception yardage, that changes and wins games.

Id be happy with either. Reed is 33, troy is 30. Both playing at an elite level still. Combined they have almost 90 picks between then. Reed has 54.

Id argue they are the best players at their positions. Best game changing FS and SS playing at the same time we will probably ever see.

Id die to have him on my team

your perception of the Super Bowl is a bit interesting… in my view the Steelers are lucky to have been even close by the end of that game… there were SO many dropped passes that should have been easy catches by the Packer Offense… the Score SHOULD have been way outta control if you ask me… the Packer OFFENSE gave away a few TDs it should have had easily with the amazing throws of Rodgers… the Steelers got beat down WAY worse than the score suggests.. and anyone with any type of football knowledge that watched it could see… I myself am jealous of the way the Packers played that night… I can only dream that the Ravens can come through like that when they play the Steelers… Aaron Rodgers just looked like he knew what he was doing… He had the sparkle in his eye and picked apart the Steeler secondary… and IMO Rodgers should be in the top 5 on the NFL 100 list because anyone that can defeat the Steeler defense in that manner deserves recognition

Bottom line. They are both badasses! Though they both are listed as “Safety” they do not play the same position.

No, it’s not because you’re a Ravens fan that I didn’t agree. It’s because, though I think he’s very talented, I’m a long, long, long way from seeing Aaron Rodgers as the next Tom Brady. A long way. The Packers defense carried the day and the exceptional player in that game was Clay Matthews–who should have been the MVP. The Packer defense handed the offense three scores and the game still came down to the final play. And I have to bite my typing fingers because, heaven forbid, you say anything in front of Pack fans to indicate that you don’t think Rodgers is the second coming of Slingin’ Sammy, Unitas, Brady, and Montana combined. Well, my goodness, then you must just be a sore loser

(Hint: One of my all-time favorites wore #4 )

Reed was coming back from off-season surgery and took ample time to recover. He was healthy when he returned. What’s phenomenal is that he did more in just over half a season than everyone else at his position did in a whole season. Troy suffered his injury in mid-December. He was playing through significant pain throughout the playoffs and was off his game against all our opponents. He wasn’t a factor against Flacco and Sanchez, either … so that would mean their look-offs are just as impressive as Aaron’s. I’ll buy that

@ahostiletakeover …

Like I’ve said, Troy and Ed play different positions and different games. Troy’s not a cover guy–that’s not his role in our defense. And Tomlin was right; Troy at 75 percent is better than Mundy at 100 percent. We couldn’t make the playoffs in 2009 without Troy, and we made the Super Bowl with a substandard Troy playing throughout the playoffs.

Troy didn’t allow the breakdown in protection that put Matthews in Roethlisberger’s face and resulted in Nick Collins’s pick six. Troy didn’t fumble the ball at a crucial point in the game (another brilliant Matthews play). If Troy had been 100 percent, maybe he could have come up with a superstar play to carry the day. But Troy at 75 percent didn’t cost us the game.

1. Polamalu
2. Reed

Heh.

understood… but the point im making is that even with worse pain and suffering… Ed Reed still went WAY beyond his ability WITH the injuries… Troy played phenomenal all year with his injuries too… i watched him jump over a lineman for heavens sake and make a tackle! i think it may have been more than once too! talk about amazing skill… so what difference did it really make in the SB? Reed didn’t seem to find trouble pushing the envelope and finding a way to make a play all year… in your side of the argument then you are saying that Troy couldn’t push that barrier with his injuries… so with all that in mind… im still giving the edge to Ed Reed (but not by much)… i may be a Ravens fan… but im not the boneheaded biased person many fans are… i think outside the box… if my name wasn’t Raven4Life21 and i never told you anything about myself would my opinion make a difference??? I could have said im a Giants fan for all you know… Believe me, i LOVE my Ravens but i am also one of their harshest critics… don’t let the Purple blind my side of the argument… cuz I’m not being biased… I’m being truthful as a fan of football… not as a fan of the Ravens… and all he has done has made him my favorite player… i didn’t just pick him cuz he’s a Raven… before that it was Joe Montana, Jerry Rice and Merton Hanks from back in the day… just don’t tell Ray Lewis i said that ok?

I’m all about defensive football and there are few players in the league I’d rather watch than Reed. I think what he did last season coming off that surgery was phenomenal. I meant that about not comparing Reed and Polamalu–different positions, different styles. So I’m not going to debate who played better with worse injuries. My comment about Troy in the playoffs was that his injury kept him from playing his game–and it did.

I did not go back and study Troy’s play in the Super Bowl. As I said, my congratulations to the Packers on playing the superior game and winning the day. But I’m sure you’ll understand that I’m not taking a Raven fan’s word that anything other than Troy’s injury made the difference in Troy’s game that night

I watched the replays over and over on my DVR because I wanted to see what he did so I can HOPE that Flacco figures it out lol… He may have been injured… but Rodgers’ look aways completely crossed Troy up every time… it wasn’t like he was slow to the take… he literally was completely fooled… but it wasn’t his speed that was the factor… i see what you’re saying but the injury was not the X-Factor… Aaron Rodgers lookoffs were so great that I found myself looking the other direction from my couch… If Troy was a step or two away from making a play I would agree with you… but unfortunately Rodgers took him COMPLETELY away from the play… not just a step or two… but i will say this… I really hope that we get this season going and both are fully healthy for the Sept 11th game in Baltimore cuz it’s like the Super Bowl to me! and there’s no better matchup to watch than these two teams at their healthiest… btw… Ed Reed was far from healthy when he grabbed those 8 INT’s in 10 games this passed season… he was hurting more than Troy was i guarantee it cuz his injuries were worse and more painful… Troy played more games but Ed Still trumped him with worse injuries…

I rest my case…

That was a good post until the nonsense about the Super Bowl. I’m taking nothing away from the Packers. They played a great game and I congratulate them on their win; their defense was particularly impressive. But Troy was injured and unable to play his game. Using that game as an example of a QB figuring out how to exploit his weaknesses is like using Reed’s limited play in 2009–caused by injuries–as an example of his limited capabilities. Troy was a nonfactor throughout the playoffs because he was injured, not because he wasn’t playing well or because any opposing QB had his number. That simply isn’t accurate.

Denver Broncos are on their way to becoming one of the top defenses in the league, in a few years the “Orange Crush” will be back. Mark my words.
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hahahahahaha…and you prolly gave yourself the Thumbs Up right? Right? :>)

Everyone in the NFL plays hurt, but that’s what they get paid to do.
Nobody is twisting these guys’ arms telling them they have to play in this league. If they don’t want to play football (a violent and impactful sport) then go get another job.

Ed Reed is the best FREE SAFETY in the game.

Troy Polamalu is the best STRONG SAFETY in the game.

They play two different positions, but they are compared so heavily because they are on oppostie teams of the most fierce rivalry in the NFL.

However, if analysts MUST compare the two, Ed Reed has made more memorable plays over the course of his career, through his many interceptions, blocked punts, punt returns, and overall coverage skills. Polamalu is great, and will go to the Hall of Fame as well as Reed. However, as proved in the recent Super Bowl, his coverage skills are mediocre. Bottom line. Polamalu can make plays, but he needs to work on coverage.

Ed Reed is also older, so Polamalu still has more years left to make more plays, but right now the edge goes to Ed Reed as the better player.

As far as this article is concerned, and the last, stupid editorial line…of course a player with 10 years in the league sees the end. Especially a player who has been injured on more than 1 occasion, and one who puts it all out on the field every Sunday. he is simply gettign older, smarter, and playing the game a bit more intelligently so he can preserve his body for after football. Reed is a sure fire HOF 1st time out.

As for Reed vs. Polamalu debate:

Both are unbelievably brilliant at what they do and the instincts they possess… and they both play different positions although similar Reed Free Safety Polamalu Strong Safety… they have different responsibilities as well… They both are the best at what they do at their position… I may hate the Steelers but I have the utmost respect for Troy Polamalu and love watching him in action… They are as equal as it gets in skill at their position…

But…

I’ve never seen ANY QB find Ed Reeds weakness…

Aaron Rodgers exploited Troy Polamalu’s weakness on the National Stage at the Super Bowl… before that I never knew Troy had a weakness…

Game, Set, Match…

ED REED!

Let’s revive this debate when Troy once again comes up lame against the Pats. Surely, anyone who sucks against a team whose success rode on videotaping must not be much of a player, right Steelers fans?
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Guess you’re being a facetious, but I’m a Steelers diehard who does not believe the Pats’ success had anything to do with videotaping. They earned their wins. As for their success against us … well, BB and Tom just seem to have LeBeau’s number … for the moment anyway. It happens.

Ed Reed is the best Safety in the game. Troy is a close second. Who knows where Taylor would have been, but he was developing into a great one in his own right.

SO – REST IN PEACE SEAN.

IOW – how many of you have been out there and gotten hurt like these people? If you haven’t you should just shut up cause you don’t know sheeeeit about it.

Reed the consumate safety…and a big game player…Troy P gets badly exposed by great QB’s [ ie Super Bowl, or anytime he plays Brady or Manning]….as a guesser and gambler.

Packers took advantage of Troy’s guessing games in SB…and made him look bad…as Brady has everytime he plays them.

Reed on other hand…one of greatest coverage ‘readers’ ever…something Troy cannot do….No contest, though both very good.