Troy Polamalu to retire

[NewYorkExpress]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000484645/article/troy-polamalu-retires-after-12-seasons-with-steelers

Troy Polamalu announced his retirement today after twelve seasons as one of Pittsburgh's best players in any sport. After a career that saw him win two Super Bowls (XL /2006 and XLII/2009), 3 AFC Championships (2005, 2008, 2010) a five-time All-Pro (2004, 2005, 2008, 2010, 2011) 8 Pro Bowl appearances (2004,2005,2006,2007,2008,2010, 2011, 2013), the AFC (and NFL) Defensive Player of the year once (2010), and a member of the NFL's 2000's All Decade Team, is he Canton-bound, and how quickly?

[free my dawg]

Harrison was better.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

My cousin Patrick will be devastated.

[dead0man]

is he Canton-bound, and how quickly?

Yes and as soon as eligible.  (but I'm a fan of him and the team...so biases)

[DemPGH]

Excellent football player at his position whose physical decline was as fast as it was sudden. It's no mystery that they were trying to talk him into retiring.

HOF? Objectively no, at least not in front of Gary Fencik. But then again if you're a Steeler or a Packer. . .

[© tweed]

but James Harrison continues to play.  lol.  I suppose he and Roethlisberger are the only holdovers from the 2005 team?  (I lost a lot of money when they won... as a 14-year-old with minimal capital I shouldn't have been offering 24/1 shots).

[NewYorkExpress]

but James Harrison continues to play.  lol.  I suppose he and Roethlisberger are the only holdovers from the 2005 team?  (I lost a lot of money when they won... as a 14-year-old with minimal capital I shouldn't have been offering 24/1 shots).

14-year olds are better served not being bookies, there's just too much liability.

Ben Roethlisberger, James Harrison and Heath Miller all remain from the 2005 title team.

[© tweed]

but James Harrison continues to play.  lol.  I suppose he and Roethlisberger are the only holdovers from the 2005 team?  (I lost a lot of money when they won... as a 14-year-old with minimal capital I shouldn't have been offering 24/1 shots).

14-year olds are better served not being bookies, there's just too much liability.

I made a lot of money   I offered two-team parlays at 2:1, three-team at 4:1, four-team at 9:1...  I offered every single game at -120, except for a selection of three to five "free bets" at even money every week (this was my way of personally betting on a team... if I liked a team, I'd offer the opposing team at even money).

I did get burned twice on futures.  Steelers '05 and Giants '07.  I should not have been messing around with 20:1 bets.  but generally I'd make $20-$25 on a weekly basis (with wide swings of course: my best week was +$60, my worst was -$50 or so).

it sounds silly now, but that's big money for a 15 year old.

[Dr. Cynic]

but James Harrison continues to play.  lol.  I suppose he and Roethlisberger are the only holdovers from the 2005 team?  (I lost a lot of money when they won... as a 14-year-old with minimal capital I shouldn't have been offering 24/1 shots).

14-year olds are better served not being bookies, there's just too much liability.

Ben Roethlisberger, James Harrison and Heath Miller all remain from the 2005 title team.

And the only reason Harrison remains is because the Steelers have drafted so poorly recently. Watching the team last year was an extremely stressful experience and I imagine it'll be even moreso this year. I don't have high hopes for the defense to stop anybody which is anathema to any Steeler fan. The offense is gonna put up points, but they have to get stops and I don't see them doing it this year and the thought of that makes me want to pull my hair out.

[© tweed]

it's shocking to me that Harrison put up 5.5 sacks last year.  I'm sure he's never on the field except in passing situations, he'd probably run a 5.5 40 yd dash.

[Replicator]

3/4 of the world is covered by water. The other 1/4 is covered by Troy Polamalu. I'll never forget his Tazmanian Devil hair, his shampoo commercials, the way he deceived Manning and other offenses in the 2005 playoffs, and who can forget all of the injuries he overcame. Him and Ike Taylor will be missed. Go Steelers!

[Replicator]

Harrison was better.

For 2007 and 2008 only. Harrison started his career late which has helped him play longer than most players but his prime was a little short as a result. The difference is Harrison will never be on the Canton ballot and Polamalu may wait one year of eligibility but that's it.