Polamalu may be done for the year (1 Viewer)

[AhrnCityPahnder]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4725821

PITTSBURGH -- With the Pittsburgh Steelers fast running out of games and his left knee still not healed, star safety Troy Polamalu isn't certain if he will be back this season.

Polamalu is hopeful of playing again, but he said Tuesday there is no definitive date for his return.

Polamalu's latest injury, to his posterior cruciate ligament, was initially expected to be less severe than the medial cruciate ligament injury that kept him out of the Steelers' second through fifth games. But he won't play Thursday night in Cleveland, the fourth consecutive game he's missed with his latest injury.

The Steelers have 10 days off after Cleveland until their next game, and there is a chance the five-time Pro Bowl player could be ready to play Dec. 20 against Green Bay. However, Polamalu hasn't been cleared to practice, much less play.

Asked what it will take for him to play again this season, Polamalu said, "A whole lot of feeling. A whole lot of prayers. God willing, hopefully, I'll be able to play. We'll see what the doctor says."

Polamalu did not say when he is scheduled to be examined again, although it is expected to be after the Steelers (6-6) play the Browns (1-11).

Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward has made relatively fast comebacks from knee injuries by using a hyperbaric chamber, a device that increases the amount of oxygen circulating in the body and supposedly hastens injury recovery.

Polamalu said he's also used the device, as well as other remedies.

"I've exercised all legal options," he said.

Polamalu's lengthy injury layoffs have visibly affected a Steelers defense that was the NFL's best statistically in 2007 and 2008, but has slipped this season. The Steelers have allowed more points (99) in the fourth quarter than all but two other teams, losing leads in the final quarter during five of their six losses.

The Steelers have permitted a league-high nine touchdown passes in the fourth quarter, plus 1,037 yards passing -- more than any team except Arizona (1,206).

"Honestly, I don't think one person would make a difference in how this season has ended up for this team," Polamalu said, dismissing his own impact on the defense.

Regardless, the Steelers are 4-0 when Polamalu is on the field for more than a handful of plays and 2-6 when he isn't. They haven't not lost a game when he's been on the field in the fourth quarter.

"When we lose and I'm out there, I can always point a finger at myself," he said. "Not being out there ... it almost feels worse. We're playing well, we're just not playing well when we need to play well. We're putting 3½ quarters together, we can't put that final part together."

 

[jamil]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4725821

PITTSBURGH -- With the Pittsburgh Steelers fast running out of games and his left knee still not healed, star safety Troy Polamalu isn't certain if he will be back this season.

Polamalu is hopeful of playing again, but he said Tuesday there is no definitive date for his return.

Polamalu's latest injury, to his posterior cruciate ligament, was initially expected to be less severe than the medial cruciate ligament injury that kept him out of the Steelers' second through fifth games. But he won't play Thursday night in Cleveland, the fourth consecutive game he's missed with his latest injury.

The Steelers have 10 days off after Cleveland until their next game, and there is a chance the five-time Pro Bowl player could be ready to play Dec. 20 against Green Bay. However, Polamalu hasn't been cleared to practice, much less play.

Asked what it will take for him to play again this season, Polamalu said, "A whole lot of feeling. A whole lot of prayers. God willing, hopefully, I'll be able to play. We'll see what the doctor says."

Polamalu did not say when he is scheduled to be examined again, although it is expected to be after the Steelers (6-6) play the Browns (1-11).

Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward has made relatively fast comebacks from knee injuries by using a hyperbaric chamber, a device that increases the amount of oxygen circulating in the body and supposedly hastens injury recovery.

Polamalu said he's also used the device, as well as other remedies.

"I've exercised all legal options," he said.

Polamalu's lengthy injury layoffs have visibly affected a Steelers defense that was the NFL's best statistically in 2007 and 2008, but has slipped this season. The Steelers have allowed more points (99) in the fourth quarter than all but two other teams, losing leads in the final quarter during five of their six losses.

The Steelers have permitted a league-high nine touchdown passes in the fourth quarter, plus 1,037 yards passing -- more than any team except Arizona (1,206).

"Honestly, I don't think one person would make a difference in how this season has ended up for this team," Polamalu said, dismissing his own impact on the defense.

Regardless, the Steelers are 4-0 when Polamalu is on the field for more than a handful of plays and 2-6 when he isn't. They haven't not lost a game when he's been on the field in the fourth quarter.

"When we lose and I'm out there, I can always point a finger at myself," he said. "Not being out there ... it almost feels worse. We're playing well, we're just not playing well when we need to play well. We're putting 3½ quarters together, we can't put that final part together."

wow.

 

[Morton Muffley]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4725821

PITTSBURGH -- With the Pittsburgh Steelers fast running out of games and his left knee still not healed, star safety Troy Polamalu isn't certain if he will be back this season.

Polamalu is hopeful of playing again, but he said Tuesday there is no definitive date for his return.

Polamalu's latest injury, to his posterior cruciate ligament, was initially expected to be less severe than the medial cruciate ligament injury that kept him out of the Steelers' second through fifth games. But he won't play Thursday night in Cleveland, the fourth consecutive game he's missed with his latest injury.

The Steelers have 10 days off after Cleveland until their next game, and there is a chance the five-time Pro Bowl player could be ready to play Dec. 20 against Green Bay. However, Polamalu hasn't been cleared to practice, much less play.

Asked what it will take for him to play again this season, Polamalu said, "A whole lot of feeling. A whole lot of prayers. God willing, hopefully, I'll be able to play. We'll see what the doctor says."

Polamalu did not say when he is scheduled to be examined again, although it is expected to be after the Steelers (6-6) play the Browns (1-11).

Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward has made relatively fast comebacks from knee injuries by using a hyperbaric chamber, a device that increases the amount of oxygen circulating in the body and supposedly hastens injury recovery.

Polamalu said he's also used the device, as well as other remedies.

"I've exercised all legal options," he said.

Polamalu's lengthy injury layoffs have visibly affected a Steelers defense that was the NFL's best statistically in 2007 and 2008, but has slipped this season. The Steelers have allowed more points (99) in the fourth quarter than all but two other teams, losing leads in the final quarter during five of their six losses.

The Steelers have permitted a league-high nine touchdown passes in the fourth quarter, plus 1,037 yards passing -- more than any team except Arizona (1,206).

"Honestly, I don't think one person would make a difference in how this season has ended up for this team," Polamalu said, dismissing his own impact on the defense.

Regardless, the Steelers are 4-0 when Polamalu is on the field for more than a handful of plays and 2-6 when he isn't. They haven't not lost a game when he's been on the field in the fourth quarter.

"When we lose and I'm out there, I can always point a finger at myself," he said. "Not being out there ... it almost feels worse. We're playing well, we're just not playing well when we need to play well. We're putting 3½ quarters together, we can't put that final part together."

wow.

i assume the writer is referring to this year...in which case, perhaps not SO "wow"

 

[poopdawg]

Bye bye what small chance they had at the playoffs. Pitt has one of the worst secondaries in the nfl right now. Willie Gay is absolutely worthless and everytime an opponent launches the ball downfield you cant help but think a big offensive play is coming every single time. They have zero heart and that duck that murphy caught amidst FOUR DBs is inexcusable considering three of them were just standing there with their thumb up their ###.

Its come to the point that i am forced to start any WR playing against pitt.

 

[Ghost Rider]

Funny how no one is talking about James Harrison, last's year defensive player of the year; he has been the invisible man lately. I think it is pretty clear now that Polamalu is far more valuable to that defense than Harrison is.

 

[jamil]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4725821

PITTSBURGH -- With the Pittsburgh Steelers fast running out of games and his left knee still not healed, star safety Troy Polamalu isn't certain if he will be back this season.

Polamalu is hopeful of playing again, but he said Tuesday there is no definitive date for his return.

Polamalu's latest injury, to his posterior cruciate ligament, was initially expected to be less severe than the medial cruciate ligament injury that kept him out of the Steelers' second through fifth games. But he won't play Thursday night in Cleveland, the fourth consecutive game he's missed with his latest injury.

The Steelers have 10 days off after Cleveland until their next game, and there is a chance the five-time Pro Bowl player could be ready to play Dec. 20 against Green Bay. However, Polamalu hasn't been cleared to practice, much less play.

Asked what it will take for him to play again this season, Polamalu said, "A whole lot of feeling. A whole lot of prayers. God willing, hopefully, I'll be able to play. We'll see what the doctor says."

Polamalu did not say when he is scheduled to be examined again, although it is expected to be after the Steelers (6-6) play the Browns (1-11).

Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward has made relatively fast comebacks from knee injuries by using a hyperbaric chamber, a device that increases the amount of oxygen circulating in the body and supposedly hastens injury recovery.

Polamalu said he's also used the device, as well as other remedies.

"I've exercised all legal options," he said.

Polamalu's lengthy injury layoffs have visibly affected a Steelers defense that was the NFL's best statistically in 2007 and 2008, but has slipped this season. The Steelers have allowed more points (99) in the fourth quarter than all but two other teams, losing leads in the final quarter during five of their six losses.

The Steelers have permitted a league-high nine touchdown passes in the fourth quarter, plus 1,037 yards passing -- more than any team except Arizona (1,206).

"Honestly, I don't think one person would make a difference in how this season has ended up for this team," Polamalu said, dismissing his own impact on the defense.

Regardless, the Steelers are 4-0 when Polamalu is on the field for more than a handful of plays and 2-6 when he isn't. They haven't not lost a game when he's been on the field in the fourth quarter.

"When we lose and I'm out there, I can always point a finger at myself," he said. "Not being out there ... it almost feels worse. We're playing well, we're just not playing well when we need to play well. We're putting 3½ quarters together, we can't put that final part together."

wow.

i assume the writer is referring to this year...in which case, perhaps not SO "wow"

I was referring to the double negative... had to read it a few times.

 

[fasteddie_21]

Seriously, why is this news?

I mean, as soon as he got hurt in the same knee again this season, did everyone not assume he wasn't going to come back?

Same could be said for Portis too...had either of them come back to play this season, THAT would have been the surprise.

Esp. w/ Pitt out of the hunt, for all intents and purposes, why shouldn't he take the safe route and let it heal completely?

 

[Evilgrin 72]

Funny how no one is talking about James Harrison, last's year defensive player of the year; he has been the invisible man lately. I think it is pretty clear now that Polamalu is far more valuable to that defense than Harrison is.

While I agree (and said as much last year when Harrison won DMVP) that Polamalu is by far their most irreplaceable player, I wouldn't exactly call Harrison the invisible man. I think he has 10 or 11 sacks in 12 games.

 

[Lascelle]

The Madden Curse is a cruel mistress.

Seems like Troy has received a disproportionate amount of its attention this season, though.

What does Fitzgerald have in his back pocket that so many other cover athletes don't (apart from the Polamalu meat shield)?

 

[Sabertooth]

Pretty weak to just quit on the team because the playoffs are out of the picture. So is everyone else supposed to pack it in too? Does Roethlisberger shut it down?

 

[Godsbrother]

I have been hearing rumors about this for a couple weeks now. Seems like a no-brainer though: if he is hurt he sits out the rest of the year.

And while it is true the Steelers are 4-0 with him and 2-6 without him, most if not all of those losses could have been wins if other aspects of their team were playing well. Special teams cost them several games this season and that has nothing to do with Polamalu. The offense has also had troubles in the redzone -- turn one of those redzone failures into a successful trip against the Bengals, Chiefs or Raiders and it would have resulted in victories.

Not having Troy is huge but it isn't an excuse for the losses this year.

 

[fred_1_15301]

Pretty weak to just quit on the team because the playoffs are out of the picture. So is everyone else supposed to pack it in too? Does Roethlisberger shut it down?

Ok fishy. Run along now............

 

[Sheriff66]

 

[Doug B]

Pretty weak to just quit on the team because the playoffs are out of the picture. So is everyone else supposed to pack it in too? Does Roethlisberger shut it down?

Two knee ligament injuries in one season? He should have been on IR a long time ago.

 

[FUBAR]

Regardless, the Steelers are 4-0 when Polamalu is on the field for more than a handful of plays and 2-6 when he isn't. They haven't not lost a game when he's been on the field in the fourth quarter.

I was referring to the double negative... had to read it a few times.

so they lost every game when he's been on the field in the fourth quarter?

 

[FUBAR]

Pretty weak to just quit on the team because the playoffs are out of the picture. So is everyone else supposed to pack it in too? Does Roethlisberger shut it down?

Two knee ligament injuries in one season? He should have been on IR a long time ago.

one wonders when Hines Ward will call Troy a #####.

 

[fred_1_15301]

Pretty weak to just quit on the team because the playoffs are out of the picture. So is everyone else supposed to pack it in too? Does Roethlisberger shut it down?

Two knee ligament injuries in one season? He should have been on IR a long time ago.

one wonders when Hines Ward will call Troy a #####.

Hines will probably be sitting out this week with a Hammy so I seriously doubt you'll hear anything from him.

 

[Copeman]

This not only sucks for Troy, but it sucks for the Steelers, and it really sucks for any fan of the NFL. He's a fun player to watch. No one can deny that. Remember the first half against Tennessee (first game this year)? That's what Troy brings every game.