The Case For Troy Polamalu Winning The NFL MVP.

Before any of you start to tell me how crazy I am, at least hear me out. I know that the award always goes to an offensive player. This year, Peyton Manning and Drew Brees are fighting it out, and one of them are going to win. I know this.

Next, you will probably say something to the effect, Polamalu has missed too many games to be considered the MVP. How can someone who has missed more than half the season be the MVP?

My answer to that is simple. MVP stands for Most Valuable Player, right?

In the Steelers opening game against the Tennessee Titans, Polamalu was a complete animal before he injured his knee. The Titans were held to seven first downs in that half. While Polamalu had seven tackles, two for losses, and an interception.

After the injury to Polamalu, Tennessee marched 71 yards in three plays for a touchdown.

Polamalu missed the next three games, in which the Steelers lost two of them, both pass plays in the closing seconds of the game. In both instances, Polamalu would have been playing the zone in which the winning score was thrown.

Before anyone asks how I know that, it is because both touchdowns were thrown to the strong safety side of the field.

Polamalu came back against the Cleveland Browns, in which he had four tackles and an interception.

The next week, Polamalu had six tackles, all of them solo, and 2 passes defensed.

Against the Denver Broncos, Polamalu had three solo tackles, an interception, and two passes defensed.

Polamalu also added on tackle, in three plays against the Bengals, also knocking Cedric Benson out of the game.

This is not taking into account the intangibles that Troy Polamalu brings to the table. Between his ability to cover the entire field, blitz from anywhere, and fake the blitz, and get back to his zone faster than anyone else in the game.

Anyone that watches the Steelers on a regular basis knows that, when Troy Polamalu is in the game, the Steelers defense is a completely different unit. They play with more physicality, because they know that Troy will be able to cover any mistakes that anyone on the field makes.

I know that Troy Polamalu will not win the NFL MVP award, but if he does not win at least the Steelers MVP this year, then someone that does not deserve the award is going to get it.