Got my new copy of USA Today's Sports Weekly today. It had the rankings for NFL safeties - as voted by the staff of Sports Weekly.
The Steelers' Troy Polamalu edged Baltimore's Ed Reed for the top spot.
It's a case of comparing apples and oranges - they really do different things from the safety position - but there's no arguing Polamalu and Reed are the league's top players at that position.
What was surprising, however, was that Ryan Clark - you know, the Steelers' other safety - picked up four votes.
12 comments:
They may play the position differently, but Polamalu plays it better. Troy does all the things Ed Reed does and more. There are things Troy does that Reed couldn't dream of doing. Reed is weak against the run and just lacks Troy's athletic ability. Then again, I consider Troy Polamalu to be a top-5 player in the league, at any position, when healthy.
When Ed Reed vaults over the Steelers offensive line to stop Ben Roethlisberger on a 4th and inches, let me know.
Even the most ardent of Steelers fans has to admit that Reed can also do some things that Polamalu does not. His ball skills are second to none.
Could Troy do that? Perhaps. But he doesn't. Reed is one of the best ballhawks in NFL history.
Yes, no one can deny Reed is maybe even one of the best ball hawks ever. But unlike Troy he never shows up in big games. That's what, imo, has set the two apart
Truly some of the best talent ever in those two though
I'm not going to cut off Ed Reed at the knees to make Troy look taller, he's a Hall of Famer. It's really not fair to either of them to compare the two, they play the position so differently.
Clark receiving votes is a joke, I think he's average at best. The whole "perfect compliment for Troy" thing is just a myth. They said the same thing about Chris Hope, and even Tyrone Carter looked like an All-Pro playing next to Troy. I'm certain Ryan Mundy would be the "perfect compliment for Troy" too if he got the chance.
The reality is that Clark was awful in 2009 when Troy was hurt, along with Ike Taylor, Willie Gay, Ty Carter, and everyone else in the secondary.
don't knock hope. he was good and also played well after leaving the steelers.
clark is above average on his good days, but certainly not a difference maker, imo. therefore, i'm surprised he got any votes.
if i had to describe clark as a player i would use the two words: smart and tenacious. sound right?
Hey Dale, I was wondering if the Steelers players were getting together as a group to workout together like you hear a lot of other teams doing?
Troy is an incredible ballhawk in his own right. He's had 17 picks over the past 3 seasons and that doesn't include the playoffs. And his picks are unreal. '09 Season opener vs. Tennessee? '08 Chargers? 2008 AFCCG pick 6? He can play cover safety and still make incredible sacks, strips, tackles for loss and a plethora of other incredible plays.
Ed Reed is a great ballhawk. I'll admit that -- he is great. He's going to the Hall of Fame. But he's a one trick pony compared to a master of all trades. Troys incredible versatility puts him ahead. He's revolutionizing the safety position.
Troy has redefined his position and as a unique player he deserves the top spot but anyone who describes Ed Reed as anything other than a hall of fame player is a homer. nothing wrong with rooting for the home team but if you know football you know Ed Reed is special.
Just feel fortunate that you get to watch them both so often.
And no, there aren't any organized large scale workouts by the Steelers. There's some guys working together, but that's about it.
Both are amazing. I think Polamalu has a slightly bigger impact though.
I think if you asked Troy to drop back and be a ball hawking safety like Ed Reed he could do it and be almost as good.
If you asked Ed Reed to play near the line of scrimmage and make the kinds of players that Troy does I don't think he could even come close.
Thus I feel Troy's versatility makes him the better player.
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