PoppaPoe33

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pitt.../s_464176.html

Pittsburgh growing on Polamalu


By Mike Prisuta
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Tuesday, August 1, 2006


When you make All-Pro and win a Super Bowl, your legend grows uncontrollably, as Steelers strong safety Troy Polamalu discovered this offseason.
Perhaps you've heard the one about Polamalu dining at a local restaurant and, upon finishing his meal, announcing to the other patrons that he appreciated having his privacy respected so much he was picking up everyone's check.

Or the one that has Polamalu determined to bolt the Steelers and return to his native California as soon as his contract expires two seasons from now.

What could the rumor mill possibly churn out next?

"That I have like three kids coming, in Baltimore, Cincinnati and Cleveland," Polamalu said, jokingly, Monday afternoon at St. Vincent College. "And an affair with Angelina Jolie, as well, right?"

That Polamalu can laugh about such things reveals how comfortable he's become since arriving as an introspective No. 1 pick in 2003, one who seemingly had little interest in the daily media banter that's part of life for high-profile Steelers players...

-That's one cat that the Steelers need to keep, and keep happy.

*fixed*

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TNdolfan54

If I had just won the SB, i think everything would look a little bit better lol

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Professor

I know, the guy just comes into the league and wins a superbowl. that happened to Torry Holt if the rams, at least he can go out there and play at his hardest knowing that he has already accomplished the hardest part of your career.

btw, poppa, we can't post the whole article.

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Blitzburgh Steelers

That's a nice article, hopefully he'll like it well enough in Pittsburgh that it'll make resigning him in a year or 2 easy for both sides.

TNdolfan54

im sure u wont have a problem resigning him

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Blitzburgh Steelers

I don't know about that. We have a lot of good young guys to try and keep, and there are always vulture teams like the Redskins for example who overpay so a team can't keep their good young players. Granted Troy doesn't seem to be the greedy, egotistical type at all, but the Steelers aren't known to pay well, and some of the other star safeties are getting some big contracts lately. I sure hope you're right though!

K Train

Polamalu runs the defense, and i think he will have a huge payday because the steelers have no problem locking up the best defensive players long term. At the end of this season he will get a long term deal because the steelers pay good to the best, and let guys like chris hope and randel el go because they can be replaced, a guy like troy cant be.

Teams like the redskins are going to put themselves in salary cap hell and they will relize that a punt returner who can throw a nice ball isnt worth all that money, and brandon lloyd doesnt want to be a football player he wants to be a rapper.

Blitzburgh Steelers

That's my thoughts too, or at least my hope, but they're going to be pretty tight against the cap, and have to resign Taylor who will be a spendy signing. I expect them to get Troy there long term, but I am not sure it'll happen. They also have to either resign Porter or find someone to replace him after next season....he'll be spendy. I don't know Farrior's contract situation, but he's gotta be replaced soon, and I imagine his deal has to be close to over. Fast Willie will have to be resigned as well, and if he tears it up this year, he'll be really expensive too. The problem with being a deep, solid and talented team is affording them all.

K Train

I dont know about Willie, he doesnt seem greedy and he will get a real RB deal not a rookie free agent minimum base salary. The bus opened up alot of cap space and i dont think polamalu or willie will be an issue. Farrior will resign for less because he getting up in years and he will probally want to retire a steeler. Porter will probally resign, but i think hes locked up for a few more years, but keep in mind hes got knee problems and teams wont spend to much on him, he'll be a steeler for a while. They got money to spend, and even though they dont go out and get big free agents and just pick at the leftovers of free agency, they do know how to keep their own.

Blitzburgh Steelers

I don't think that Willie will be greedy. But if he plays as I expect, with his physical tools, man he could be really sought after, and thus require a large chunk of the salary cap to resign. I think he'll be a RFA after next season, but not sure. Troy isn't going to be greedy either...neither of them seem like that type of guy to me. But he'll have a high market value too...for him we know this for sure. He'll get either top safety money, or top 3 or so minimum. Porter's deal is up this year I think. He's a guy that will have a high market value as well. With his knee problems they might not want to invest much money into him....I actually expect him to be gone, unless he chooses to come back cheap...he doesn't seem like that kind of guy to me though. Farrior maybe the same, hard telling with him. As you said, they do a good job of keeping their own for the most part, but do they WANT to keep Porter, Farrior, etc...all those older guys like that?