NFL Debate: Safety First, Ed Reed or Troy Polamalu?

Often times when you have two elite players that play basically the same position, there will be the debate of "which one is better?" Most of the time, there is no right or wrong answer, it is just based on preference and opinion. The same rings true with safeties Ed Reed and Troy Polamalu.

Both of these veterans have had their position on lockdown for many years. They have been the anchor of two elite defenses in the AFC North.

Polamalu is more of a physical defender, making plays at the line of scrimmage and punishing receivers downfield. Reed is the ultimate ball hawk, reeling in twice as many interceptions as Troy.

Since they technically don't play the same position, it is obvious that they would be be starting Pro Bowl safeties seemingly every year in the AFC. The question is, if you have a franchise and can only sign one of them, which one do you go after?

It's hard to say which one is more durable, as they have both had significant injuries recently. If you are going to determine which one has "more miles left" on the tires, it would probably be Polamalu. Reed contemplated retirement last year, but he came back and played up the same level that he always has. Neither of them get much help from anyone else in their secondaries, so they must shoulder a big load every game.

For me, I have always preferred the ball-hawking skills of Reed over what Troy brings. I acknowledge that Polamalu is an exceptional player and a future Hall-of-Famer, but I think that Reed can change the game with just one play.

The fact is, this is one of the closest debates between two players that play a similar position. Much like Brady and Manning, you really can't go wrong here with Reed or Polamalu. There is no clear-cut winner in this debate, so no matter which way you go, they will always be neck and neck, all the way into Canton.