O.T. Highest Paid Safety In The NFL.....Troy Polamalu

by **Soto All The Way** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 2:10 am

LATROBE, Pa. – The way Troy Polamalu sees it, he got everything he wanted.

When it came to the negotiations that resulted in the contract extension that now binds him to the Steelers through the 2011 season, Polamalu had some specific objectives. Since all of those were met in his mind, he signed the deal that reportedly will pay him $33 million over the next five years, with $15 million of that coming in signing and roster bonuses.

"First and foremost, what mattered to me was that it was a fair contract," said Polamalu. "A lot of people are making a lot of money out there, so I wanted it to be very fair, and I wanted it to be here. Those were the most important things. I have no control over what other people make."

Control or not, this contract makes Polamalu the highest-paid safety in the NFL; what Polamalu said he can control is how he reacts to it as a player.

"(This new contract) means I have to work harder to go out and earn it," said Polamalu. "You have to earn the money. It's not for what I did in the past, but it's for what I have to go out and earn now. Go out and play hard, that's all I can do as an individual."

About a year or so after the Steelers traded up in the first round of the 2003 NFL Draft to select Polamalu, there were some whispers that he desperately wanted to return to the West Coast, where he was raised and where he attended college at USC.

"Oh, no. Never," said Polamalu when asked if that was true. "What I really wanted was the West Coast weather to come here. That was all I wanted.

"It's very exciting for my wife and I. We feel very welcome in this city, and I think this contract really puts our roots down here.

This is home. I didn't want to be a player who was jumping from team to team. I've always felt comfortable here. This organization and the tradition it has is legendary and I always wanted to be a part of it."

Polamalu has been an All-Pro in each of the last two seasons, which means he's been voted one of the two best safeties in the NFL. He has played in three Pro Bowls over four seasons, including two straight starts.

"I was very happy to get this done," said Polamalu. "The Rooneys were very fair, and I think both sides were very happy to get it done peacefully, without any uncertainty."

Despite battling shoulder and knee injuries for much of 2006, Polamalu finished third on the team last season with 82 tackles after posting a career-best 100 tackles during 2005. The Steelers first-round draft pick (16th overall) in the 2003 NFL Draft, Polamalu received the Joe Greene Award following his rookie season for being the team's top rookie.

"Troy Polamalu is a very special football player who has been a key ingredient to our success over the past few seasons," said Steelers President Art Rooney II. "We are excited to know he will be with the Steelers for many seasons to come."

by **Carlitto H@kk** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 2:15 am

This 'Burgh native thinks that
this is outstanding news!
This guy is 'quietly' one of the
classiest and best players in the league
right now.
When Troy makes the
news it's because of his play on the field
and his acrobatic tactics...
I doubt you'll EVER hear a negative word on this guy!!!

by **Soto All The Way** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 2:23 am

Carlitto H@kk wrote:This 'Burgh native thinks that
this is outstanding news!
This guy is 'quietly' one of the
classiest and best players in the league
right now.
When Troy makes the
news it's because of his play on the field
and his acrobatic tactics...
I doubt you'll EVER hear a negative word on this guy!!!

The word here was that he wanted to return to Southern Cal and play out west, but this keeps him here for pretty much the majority of his "Hardcore" playing days. I love the guy. Met him once at camp and is like talking to the most calm guy alive. But man, he is VICIOUS on the field.

Where are u from Hawk in Pittsburgh???

e-

by **Carlitto H@kk** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 2:26 am

Soto All The Way wrote:Where are u from Hawk in Pittsburgh???

e-

1988 graduate of Cannon-McMillan HS, Cannonsburg, PA...

Went to High School and saw the ROR tour with Stu (RVR)
at the old Civic Arena too!

by **larryfromnextdoor** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 2:27 am

i actually remember the day when i heard that John Elway was going to make $75k a game!! (1986??)
THAT was unreal to most people... that was the beginning of these crazy paydays...

by **Soto All The Way** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 2:32 am

Carlitto H@kk wrote:
Soto All The Way wrote:Where are u from Hawk in Pittsburgh???

e-

1988 graduate of Cannon-McMillan HS, Cannonsburg, PA...

Went to High School and saw the ROR tour with Stu (RVR)
at the old Civic Arena too!

That's cool. I'm from Baldwin and now in Pleasant Hills. We played CM in football.

I was a soph in HS I think for ROR with my girlfriend. We had regular seats and I found a 4th row floor seat ticket stub on the ground just as we walked in, so we made it to the floor and hung out around the 4th floor. That's back when everyone rushed the stage and the security pretty much didn't do a thing. Now we're old. We don't run. We just pay $400.00 for first row seats!!!!! :shock:

e-

by **Soto All The Way** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 2:35 am

larryfromnextdoor wrote:i actually remember the day when i heard that John Elway was going to make $75k a game!! (1986??)
THAT was unreal to most people... that was the beginning of these crazy paydays...

I remember when they calulated that MJ was going to make something like $1000.00 a minute durning the season with his contract with the Bulls, Nike and all his other contracts.

e-

by **Soto All The Way** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 2:58 am

Carlitto H@kk wrote:
Soto All The Way wrote:Where are u from Hawk in Pittsburgh???

e-

1988 graduate of Cannon-McMillan HS, Cannonsburg, PA...

Went to High School and saw the ROR tour with Stu (RVR)
at the old Civic Arena too!

Where in the HELL is Stu anyway.....He was supposed to help me network my house and never called.....BIATCH!!! Yo Stu, you around? Lurking?

e-

by **Socratic Methodist** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 3:04 am

Just wait until the New England Invitational.....errr....I mean the playoffs. Pitt who? Polamawho?

by **Carlitto H@kk** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 3:06 am

Socratic Methodist wrote:Just wait until the New England Invitational.....errr....I mean the playoffs. Pitt who? Polamawho?

Yea, the Pats look good on paper...
But how long will it take for
the "Moss-factor" to take root
and wreck this team??? :wink:

by **conversationpc** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 3:07 am

Other than his hair, Polamolu is a good dude. Helped me out tremendously on my fantasy team last year, too. :lol:

by **Carlitto H@kk** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 3:09 am

conversationpc wrote:Other than his hair, Polamolu is a good dude. Helped me out tremendously on my fantasy team last year, too.

Gotta love the hair!

The guy's like Jagr back in the early 90's

by **conversationpc** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 3:10 am

Carlitto H@kk wrote:
conversationpc wrote:Other than his hair, Polamolu is a good dude. Helped me out tremendously on my fantasy team last year, too.

Gotta love the hair!

The guy's like Jagr back in the early 90's

As much as I like the guy, I can't help wishing that someone would grab ahold of him by it and swing him around their head a few times. :lol:

by **Socratic Methodist** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 3:10 am

Carlitto H@kk wrote:
Socratic Methodist wrote:Just wait until the New England Invitational.....errr....I mean the playoffs. Pitt who? Polamawho?

Yea, the Pats look good on paper...
But how long will it take for
the "Moss-factor" to take root
and wreck this team???

Oh, about as long as it took for the 'Dillon-factor' to take root......

by **Carlitto H@kk** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 3:16 am

Socratic Methodist wrote:
Carlitto H@kk wrote:
Socratic Methodist wrote:Just wait until the New England Invitational.....errr....I mean the playoffs. Pitt who? Polamawho?

Yea, the Pats look good on paper...
But how long will it take for
the "Moss-factor" to take root
and wreck this team???

Oh, about as long as it took for the 'Dillon-factor' to take root......

Naw, different animal all together.
Dillon never pulled the kind of
candy-ass shit Moss has with Oakland and Minnesota.

It's gonna be interesting, though.
Belichek can probably
handle him and, for God's sakes,
how could you ever be unhappy
as a wide reciever in that offense with Brady at the helm???

But as a diehard Steelers, I hope he wrecks your team

by **larryfromnextdoor** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 3:23 am

conversationpc wrote:
Carlitto H@kk wrote:
conversationpc wrote:Other than his hair, Polamolu is a good dude. Helped me out tremendously on my fantasy team last year, too.

Gotta love the hair!

The guy's like Jagr back in the early 90's

As much as I like the guy, I can't help wishing that someone would grab ahold of him by it and swing him around their head a few times.

someone got him last season!! AND its legal ... hair tackel..

by **Soto All The Way** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 3:36 am

Someone say hair tackle.....Larry Johnson got him good here.....

e-

http://youtube.com/watch?v=eVO93amUv7Y

by **Soto All The Way** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 3:39 am

And this is why he is the highest paid safety in the league......Hands down, he is the best!!!!

He also does very little weight lifting. He works with that trainer from So Cal where he uses his own body weight and bands to train. Does a ton of balancing drills and agility drills in the off season and then during the season.

e-

http://youtube.com/watch?v=PUytbNpJFcA

http://youtube.com/watch?v=HpM1MEqRuC0

by **NealIsGod** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 5:18 am

Shit, Ed Reed is twice the safety Polamalu is. Ask anyone in the NFL who doesn't play for the Steelers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHc39asPCug

by **Socratic Methodist** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 5:28 am

Hell, when healthy, Rodney Harrison is just as good as either of them.....

by **Soto All The Way** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 6:15 am

NealIsGod wrote:Shit, Ed Reed is twice the safety Polamalu is. Ask anyone in the NFL who doesn't play for the Steelers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHc39asPCug

Reed? Harrison? U R both hitting that CRACK PIPE too much......Neither one is even in his league.....And I'm a PATS fan....

e-

MR

O.T. Highest Paid Safety In The NFL.....Troy Polamalu

O.T. Highest Paid Safety In The NFL.....Troy Polamalu

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