A truly excellent video sent to us by Adrian in Pittsburgh, examining a question that will stymie scholars for generations -- who is better, Ed Reed or Troy Polamalu?
Personally, I've always found this argument is a bit apples & oranges -- though they're both safetys, Ed Reed is a free safety and Troy is a strong safety. That's akin to comparing James Harrison and Ray Lewis. They're both linebackers, sure, but they play different positions. Reed has a year at hand on Polamalu and plays more deep coverage and hence has way more picks and touchdowns; Polamalu, more sacks and tackles.
Which player is more valuable to their team? Regular observers of the Steelers note that their defense isn't the same without him, and the Steelers might well be 5-0 right now with him in the lineup.
And one play that doesn't show up in those regular season stats, came when the two went head-to-head in the most important game in short but bloody history of the Steelers-Ravens rivalry: this one.
Finally, there's the matter of Super Bowl rings. Polamalu has two, Reed, none.
What do you think? Weigh in on the comments section.
But is your couch big enough?
Chuck Finder sends along this release from JC Penny's regarding a chance to watch a game with the Bus:
"Ever dreamed of watching the big game with
“The Bus?” Well, maybe you haven’t. But it would still be pretty
amazing if that dream came true. JCPenney and Levi’s are now offering
your readers a chance to host the most ultimate football party with Steelers
legend, Jerome Bettis.
If you win, you’ll get to invite 15 friends over
to hang out with The Bus as you park yourselves on the couch in front of your
new 52" TV! And if you’re feeling adventurous on that lazy Sunday, head
to the park and challenge Jerome to a little game of flag football – but I
can’t promise that you won’t get hurt. You and your crew can also update
your wardrobe with some new Levi’s jeans with your JCPenney gift cards - $200
for you and $50 for each of your guests. All you need to do is enter the
sweepstakes."
A couple of immediate questions come to mind:
1. Will J.C. Penny put an addition on your house to host this thing? Jerome wasn't exactly svelte in his playing days, let alone in retirement. Plus 15 other people?
2. Who is catering this shindig? Methinks The Bus plus 15 other dudes are going to annihilate some wings.
3. Do you think Jerome and his people might be ready to choke the PR person who suggested that it might be fun for the Bus to play touch football with 15 strangers? The guy managed to make it through a 13-season career of using his body as a battering ram, managed to come out without shredding his knees or becoming a dribbling vegetable, and now JC Penny's wants him to toss the pigskin around with a bunch of mopes like Brett Favre in those stupid Wrangler commercials.
Nonetheless, a very cool opportunity.
Posted
Oct 12 2009, 05:37 PM
by
Dan Gigler