The Shadow Knows
Okay, Steelers fans. You read it here first. I am officially coining a new nickname for one of our beloved Steelers players. In the future, if you hear me refer to one of the Steelers players as “The Shadow”, you need simply refer back to this blog post for an explanation of who I am talking about, and why I am calling him that.
For those of you who are too young to remember, The Shadow started off as a comic book series back in 1940. It was also a long-running radio series (Yes kiddies, before there was an internet, your parents or grandparents actually had to sit around the radio and listen to someone talk for entertainment). The Shadow had that all too familiar tagline, “Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows”.
The Shadow knows!
Am I giving this player the nickname “The Shadow” because he strike fear into the hearts of opposing teams? No. Am I calling him “The Shadow” because he is dark and mysterious? No. Am I giving him this nickname because his deeds are befitting a superhero? Hell to the naw (as Whitney “Crackhead” Houston would say). I am giving a certain Steelers player the nickname “The Shadow” because he is playing like a shadow of his former self. Who is this mystery man? Here are some clues:
- He used to be one of the Steelers’ best players.
- He has appeared in multiple Pro Bowls.
- He received a new contract in 2007 that made him the highest paid player in Steelers history (until Big Ben’s new contract eclipsed it).
- I think he injured himself while signing that new contract, and he has not played particularly well ever since.
- He made the Pro Bowl last year based on reputation alone, since he pretty much sucked last year (okay, this clue is actually true of 3 different current or former Steelers players).
- He is possibly the worst tackler on the entire team.
- He missed all of training camp this year.
- He had a whopping 3 tackles during the Steelers season opener against the Texans.
- He had no sacks and no interceptions in 2007.
- He was credited with an interception during the 2008 season opener, even though Texans QB Matt Schaub practically walked up to him and placed the ball in his hands.
Have you guessed who it is? Have you guessed, have you guessed?! Of course you have. The Shadow is none other than:
pittsburgh steelers
I agree not only with Troy but the same came be said for Casey Hampton and Alan Faneca who also made the Pro Bowl based on past achievements. Hopefully, 2008 will get Casey and Troy back on track leading the defense back to” Strking fear in the hearts of men”.
1Obviously, you guessed who the three Steelers were who I felt made the Pro Bowl last year based on their reputation rather than their actual performance last year. Was hurt last year and missed quite a few games. When he did play, he played terribly. Casey Hampton was out of shape, and he played uninspired. He seldom collapsed the pocket last hear, even though that was his only reason for being on the field. And Alan Faneca played a role in Ben Roethlisberger getting sacked 53 times last year. I can’t possibly be the only fan who noticed that Faneca was constantly getting bull rushed last year. Faneca is no longer the dominant guard that he once was. I think the Jets are going to regret paying him the big money the same way the Dolphins regret paying Joey Porter big money, and Redskins regret paying ARE.
2Exciting Blog… Here’s to a great season….
3Yeah. ummm hes leading in interceptions with 6 and still going. the only reason he had a bad year in the 07 season was because he had a injury. he has to be the best takler on the team. dont know where you get that from. sports writers call him on of the best nfl safeties. so far he is having one of his best years now AFTER THE CONTRACT.
4Dont you dare say enything about the Steelers when you don’t know what your talking about
5Tony,
6This article was written before the season. I’m glad to see that you’ve searched out some of my older material, but check some of the newer material. I’ve had nothing but good things to say about Troy this season. Read an article called “Troy Polamalu is back!!”. In that article, I officially declared that “The Shadow” was dead, and that Troy Polamalu was back.
Polamalu would eat your face off and swallow your children then go play the piano. He is the best safety to ever walk on god’s green and brown earth. He had one bad season because he was injured and all u had to say where bad things. He is still the best, the truth, the man, and he is unstoppable. and he is only like 26 or 27. He has a long career ahead of him. Go blog about someone else you faggot. Shean Alexander hasnt done shit since he broke the record for most touchdowns in a season go blog about him. The Patriots defence misses a shit load of tackles go blog about them. The Detroit Lions suck at life go blog about them. Antonio Cromartie had 10 interceptions last year and hasnt done shit this year go blog about him. Troy Polamalu is amazing and exciting and will go down in history as one of the best safties ever regardless of his one bad year. Go die in your Shadow.
7Wow, awesome, good call on Troy sucking. Considering were going to the Super Bowl, and he has paved a lot of the way.
8Okay, I’m going to say this one more time. I wrote this article at the end of the 2007 season. Troy had a terrible year in 2007. Since that time, I have written many great things about him. He has been amazing this year, and had it not been for the great year that James Harrison had, most Steelers fans would have been pimping Troy for Defensive Player of the Year.
Now will you guys please stop getting upset about me for something I wrote after a terrible season by Troy? If you were being unbiased, you’d have to admit that 2007 was a terrible year for Troy, and we all hope that he never has another season like that (statistically or injury-wise).
Shall we all move on now?
9u suck, troy polamalu is the best safety in the nfl he has won two sb’s with the steelers and who cares whether he is a good tackler or not he is doing his job and what do you know you are just a faggot who doesnt know what he’s talking about , now shut the fuck up because you dont know shit about the steelers you should be ashamed to be steelers fan their defense is 1ST IN THE ENTIRE NFL SO SHUT THE HELL UP!!!!!!!!! you pissed me off so much im gonna go to where ever you live and hit you in the face with my mom’s frying pan! and no i am not a 30 year old bachellor who lives with his mother im only 13 and i know more about the steelers’whole history than you do you fuck up !
10Sigh. What am I going to do with you people. I’ll say this one more time. The article that you have just read was written after the 2007 season, NOT the 2008 season. Troy had a terrible year last year, and I called him on it. I will always call them as I see them. NOBODY can deny that Troy had a bad season in 2007.
In 2008, Troy had a great season. He had the kind of season that we all expect from him, and that we all know that he has the ability to have. If he gets no sacks and no interceptions next year, and his tackles go down 50%, I will once again call him on it. It’s unfortunate that some of you Troy fans don’t seem to get that.
BTW, will someone wash that kid’s mouth out with soap? If he were my 13 year old kid, he certainly wouldn’t be using that type of language.
11“You suck!Pa-la-ma-lu is the best safety ever!”
Haha, you explained yourself like a dozen times and people read it and have nothing but hatred for you. It isnt as if you outright insulted him, but the question is always there, will this player or that hit the wall?
I must agree on your point that players consistently make pro-bowls based on fame and prior achievement, AKA Faneca and Favre this year.
I think it is acceptable to say that when Troy isnt fully healthy he sort-of misses a step or two. A few games this season he wasnt really a factor, he missed crucial angles, and a few tackles. He really wasnt a huge factor in the SB other than slowing Fitz down at the line. But then there are the games where he feels good, and he leaps over the line to grab Flacco before he can take a step…
There are a lot of people that just love Troy for some reason overlooking the rest of the stout players on defense such as ‘potsie’ or Aaron Smith, and Woodley… Who was a huge factor in the playoff run, got no love from anyone this year (except for me sporting my Woodley jersey to the last 5 Steelers games).
12I love Woodley and Aaron Smith, Im not going to jump on that Harrison bandwagon.
Thanks Gerrard. At least somebody gets it. It was an old article about Troy’s terrible 2007 season. Troy played terribly last year. He had multiple injuries, and in many games he was only able to use one arm because of a shoulder injury. Have fans so quickly forgotten the image of Troy running around with one arm hanging limply at his side? Apparently they have.
I agree with you completely about Faneca and Favre. They are both living off of reputation. Neither is among the best at their position anymore.
13I understand where you’re coming from. I also understand that regardless of Troy’s bad season, his fans sometimes won’t take criticism toward him lightly, true or not. I agree with you about his 2007 season, and now his 2010 season which was pretty much ended in game 1.
14I am a Steelers fan, but let’s shift to your Favre comment.
In my office we have fans of several different teams, but we all agree on one thing: Favre is not a “has been” just yet as the 2010 season proved. Never count him out until the final whistle blows or until he quits or his body can’t go on. He is one of the most amazing quarterbacks to play the game. In the office we call him “Brett Favre-ulous.” We really can’t say anything super bad about him and we all wonder when he will stop, but you have to admit, the man is amazing—-and he doesn’t try to force himself on women…….