Polamalu beats Matthews for top defensive player!!

[FISHINGURU]

DALLAS (AP)—Now that the voters have chosen Troy Polamalu over Clay Matthews for The Associated

Press 2010 NFL Defensive Player of the Year award, the two stars can prove their worth against each other on the field.

In the Super Bowl.

Pittsburgh safety Polamalu received 17 votes Monday from a nationwide panel of 50 media members who cover the league, edging Green Bay linebacker Matthews by a hair—two votes.AdChoices

Despite missing two games, in which Pittsburgh went 1-1, Polamalu became the sixth Steeler to win the award. He had seven interceptions this season along with 63 tackles, but made his mark with big plays. In a late-season victory at Baltimore, his leaping tackle forced a fumble that set up the winning touchdown.

That victory catapulted the Steelers to the AFC North title. Now, they are in the Super Bowl for the third time in six seasons, where they face Matthews and the Packers.

“I don’t imagine their game plan changing over one player,” Polamalu said. “We don’t single out anybody. Anything we achieve here is done as a team, as a whole.”

Added Steelers linebacker James Harrison, who finished third in the

balloting with eight votes and won the award two years ago: “Troy brings this defense from a ‘C’ defense to an ‘A’ defense. He’s someone that you have to account for in the secondary.”

So much so that one opponent called the eighth-year pro the NFL’s top player, regardless of position.

“With all due respect, I honestly think Troy Polamalu is probably the greatest player I’ve ever played with or even seen play in person,” gushed Jets receiver Santonio Holmes, who was the MVP of Pittsburgh’s 2009

Super Bowl win over Arizona. “Everybody has their one person they think is the greatest player. In my eyes, I think he’s the greatest player I’ve ever played with.”

Polamalu has had better statistical years than 2010, including the 2008 championship season and in 2005, when he had a career-high 91 tackles and three sacks as the Steelers won the title. He hasn’t had any season where he made more big plays than in 2010.

That fit perfectly with defensive coordinator Richard LeBeau’s claim that Polamalu is the most versatile defensive back he’s ever worked with. And LeBeau has been involved with the NFL for about a half-century and is in the Hall of Fame.

“I know Troy is going to do the right things,” LeBeau said.

Matthews did plenty of things correctly in only his second pro season, enough to make the All-Pro team thanks to 60 tackles, 13 1/2 sacks (fourth in league), an interception return for a touchdown and, like Polamalu, a penchant for delivering decisive plays.

“Game-changing plays,” Steelers linebacker LaMarr Woodley said with emphasis. “I mean, you look at all

the plays Troy’s made—game-changing plays. … So many game-changing plays to go out there and help win football games. Things that he (does), not only in the secondary—coming up, tackling backs in the backfield. Troy does it all.”

Matthews said it would have been a “unique honor” to win in his second year. His goal, he said, is to become “world champions.”

Added Matthews: “Despite defensive player of the year, I get the chance to play Sunday for the world championship.”

Considered the lesser of three linebackers drafted in the first round in 2009 from Southern California, Matthews has had the biggest impact of that trio. Yes, Brian Cushing was the league’s top defensive rookie in ’09, but

he tailed off in 2010 while Matthews was surging.

Matthews’ sensational season came while facing consistent double-teaming.

“You really just attack it,” said Matthews, whose father and grandfather played in the league and whose uncle, Bruce, is a Hall of Fame offensive lineman. “I think last year, obviously, was about winning the one-on-one battles. Towards the playoffs, that’s when I saw the increase and it’s kind of continued. … So you deal with it, you try and beat one, then another, and get to the quarterback.”

Polamalu and Matthews take their competition to Dallas Cowboys Stadium on Sunday. They already are considered marketing adversaries, with Polamalu’s jersey the top seller in the league, and both vying for hirsute superiority.

“Well, I can guarantee you my hair’s more expensive,” Polamalu said.

Also receiving votes for AP Defensive Player of the Year were Chicago end Julius Peppers with six and

linebacker Brian Urlacher with two; and Baltimore safety Ed Reed and nose tackle Haloti Ngata, one

each.

[SkunkedAgain]

I hope that this is all the fuel Matthews needs to go out and win the Super Bowl.

[snoozebutton]

Both deserving of it.

[FISHINGURU]

Yeah they were the best 2 players on defense this year, Clay started out real strong the first 2 games until teams started to game plan for him.

If Ed Reed would of played a full season he could of won it.

[zamboni]

Both deserving of it.

Agreed and I hate the Packers. Matthews is a beast

[Antero]

Matthews did seem to level off a bit after teams elected to double team and run away from him, However, by choosing that tactic they opened up opportunities for other players to blitz (Sheilds, Woodson) and have one one ones on the line ( Raji, Jenkins).

NFL offenses can take a player out of a game, however that will allow others to step up, so in a odd way Matthews was just aa productive by occuyping 2 or 3 blockers.

[FISHINGURU]

Clay really didn't even have that great of a season as far as stats go, I mean most you guys think Jared Allen is a piestain and say he had a horrible year and can't tackle but he had the same amount of tackles as Clay and he is a DE. Clay only had 3 more sacks after having 6 in the first 2 games, after alot of people thought he would break the all time sack record.

[klecker]

Clay really didn't even have that great of a season as far as stats go, I mean most you guys think Jared Allen is a piestain and say he had a horrible year and can't tackle but he had the same amount of tackles as Clay and he is a DE. Clay only had 3 more sacks after having 6 in the first 2 games, after alot of people thought he would break the all time sack record.

Must be long hair envy!

70 LB

6 DE

3 DL

84 DB

Had more tackles than Mathews. The NFL doesn’t keep stats of QB pressures. After a little Google, Mathews was ranked #20 in weeks one to week ten.

Palamalu stats were not even that impressive. 70 some DB’s had more tackles than him.

[FISHINGURU]

What part of your post is supposed to make sense?

[klecker]

Must be long hair envy!

70 LB, 6 DE, 3 DL, 84 DB. Had more tackles than Mathews. The NFL doesn’t keep stats of QB pressures. After a little Google, Mathews was ranked #20 in weeks one to week ten.

Palamalu stats were not even that impressive. 70 some DB’s had more tackles than him.

Its a fashion statement award. How or why did Ed Reed get a vote?

A lot of other players had a better year and were more of a force on the feild.

[JosMN]

Clay really didn't even have that great of a season as far as stats go, I mean most you guys think Jared Allen is a piestain and say he had a horrible year and can't tackle but he had the same amount of tackles as Clay and he is a DE. Clay only had 3 more sacks after having 6 in the first 2 games, after alot of people thought he would break the all time sack record.

Pretty ridiculous that Jared Allen had the same amount of tackles as Clay, since Clay has been double teamed most of the time since week 2, and Allen wasn't at all - don't put Jared in the same rankings as Mathews ability wise, it isn't even close...

[LMITOUT]

- don't put Jared in the same rankings as Mathews ability wise, it isn't even close...

Without a doubt.

[harvey lee]

Mathews is good but I would not say he is that much better than Allen. Ok Packer pusher's, tell me how much better he is.

[JosMN]

Mathews is good but I would not say he is that much better than Allen. Ok Packer pusher's, tell me how much better he is.

Well, #1, the Packers run a 3-4. Allen does not have the speed, or the athletic ability to drop back and cover recievers or run the blitz packages in a 3-4 defense. Dont get me wrong, he's a quality 4-3 "bull rusher" and will get his sacks once in awhile, but he wouldn't hack it in a 3-4. He would look more out of place than Brett Favre did on the bench this year. Why do you think the Packers got rid of Aaron Kampman, cause he couldnt drop back into coverage and run down the field with receivers or run the stunts of the 3-4. Allen is a lot like Peppers, straight up field and get the quarterback. I'm just saying, Allen does not have the abiltiy that Mathews has - not saying that Allen is not a quality player, cause he is.

[mrklean]

well said, they thought they could make kampman into a backer at that didnt work out at all

[FISHINGURU]

It is pretty rediculous that a pass rushing DE has the same amount of tackles as an LB. I wasn't knocking Clay I like the guy, I was more mentioning how some people were whining that Jared can't tackle but he has as many tackles as a player that got runner up defensive player of the year and he only had a couple less sacks. Jared also had more INT's and Passes Defended.

I wouldn't be so quick to count Jared out as a 3-4 LB, he could be good standing getting a free release. He barely drops back and had 2 INT's, 1 for a TD and 6 passes defended. Clay had 1 INT for a TD and and 4 passes defended. Not bad for Jared considering he had a bad year and Clay got Defensive runner up. I don't follow your logic, Kampman couldn't play linebacker so that means Jared can't.

The stand up 3-4 LB's have an advantage, they get placed on either end with blitz's designed for them to get free lanes at the QB, thats why they are all the sack leaders these day. Ware, Hali, Wake, Mathews, Suggs, all beasts that get free runs at the qb's.

As for Polamalu, he had them stats and didn't even play like 3 or 4 games, not to mention most the games he did play he was limping and injured. When you talk about DB stats you better mention INT's. He came up with some monster plays that helped them win a couple games when they needed it the most. Thats why he ended up winning the award.

[LMITOUT]

Was the "defensive player of the year" playing last night?

Unfortunate they don't wait to vote until after the season as I'm betting the outcome would have been different.

[FISHINGURU]

Would you go on a date with Clay if he asked you if you were single?

[LMITOUT]

LOL! I have an unhealthy bromance with The Claymaker and would spoon with him if he asked.

[Crm7290]

Something about his hair I bet....

[SkunkedAgain]

I hope that this is all the fuel Matthews needs to go out and win the Super Bowl.

Looks like I was right

[Stcloudangler]

Yeah, THAT was why