Troy Polamalu Is The MVP

My NFL fantasy league gave me first draft pick and the first choice I tried to make was the Steelers defense.  Little did I realize that when my league gave me first choice, it was only *after* the league captain had chosen the Steelers defense and *then* said I had first choice of picks. HMMMM.  At any rate, I chose many of the Steelers offensive players, including of course Hines Ward.  I laughed out loud when I realized that Big Ben was available for a QB because I'd never choose him and in fact, no one ever chose him in our league.  He is so over rated that it is unbelievable.  And for the record, I hate it when a game is won, particularly the SB and the credit is given to the QB but that's another article. 

When Troy was injured, I knew it was problematic but little did I realize just HOW problematic.  The Steelers defense is great together but Troy is the super glue that holds them together.  As soon as he was out, the defense completely fell apart.  He has been there game after game to watch and support his team but even he is so frustrated at the bumbling that the defense is doing that in one game the camera got a shot of him actually trying to show the defensive player where to go.  I think he stopped quickly because he realized he isn't the coach but the frustration and anguish shows on his face weekly. 

I didn't even begin watching football until a few years ago when my husband was watching a game and when I passed by our TV, I saw this relatively small (in comparison to other players) player take down a moving giant by diving down, grabbing the ankles because it was the only part of the player Troy could reach, and hold on, skidding sideways and taking down the player.  It was like watching David take down Goliath.  I kept watching and began to realize this was no ordinary player.  Even I, as a non-watcher of football, knew that at the time.  Since then I have become an avid football watcher and am amazed week after week at the moves and radar Troy has for knowing where the ball and the players are going to be.  Think about how when Troy intercepts the ball and can run it in for a TD.  He knows where the players are going to be and how they are going to run to try to stop him so he is able to avoid them and run it in.  The fact that the NFL stole one of Troy's TDs from him is abominable (2008-2009 season) and when the Steelers won the SB, the trophy is handed to Big Ben -- I almost fainted when I saw that.  They should have had Troy up there accepting the trophy as HE is the reason the Steelers win game after game.  All you have to do is remove him from the equation and the Steelers can't win.  It is as simple as that. 

I am not taking away anything from the offense of the Steelers because they do a remarkable job!  They give Ben enough time in the pocket to eat a sandwich, protecting him the whole time -- and Hines Ward is a one man wrecking machine.  But when it all comes down to it, without Troy, the Steelers are unable to win because the defense counts so much on him to be there.  In one game, the announcer actually said "if Polamalu were playing, he'd have never let that play go through".  They were talking about the defense allowing another team get up the field way further than they should have been able to do and they knew Troy wouldn't have allowed that to happen. 

Watch out teams, Troy will recover and be back and when  he is, the Steelers will take the SB again.